SB 272

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  S. B. No. 272
       2025-2026
  Senator Koehler
  To amend section 3301.0712 of the Revised Code  1
  regarding a civics assessment in lieu of the  2
  American government end-of-course exam.  3
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That section 3301.0712 of the Revised Code be  4
amended to read as follows:  5
     Sec. 3301.0712. (A) The department of education and  6
workforce and the chancellor of higher education shall develop a  7
system of college and work ready assessments as described in  8
division (B) of this section to assess whether each student upon  9
graduating from high school is ready to enter college or the  10
workforce. Beginning with students who enter the ninth grade for  11
the first time on or after July 1, 2014, the system shall  12
replace the Ohio graduation tests prescribed in division (B)(1)  13
of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code as a measure of student  14
academic performance and one determinant of eligibility for a  15
high school diploma in the manner prescribed by rule adopted  16
under division (D) of this section.  17
     (B) The college and work ready assessment system shall  18
consist of the following:  19
     (1)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this  20
S. B. No. 272  Page 2
As Introduced
section, nationally standardized assessments that measure  21
college and career readiness and are used for college admission.  22
The assessments shall be selected jointly by the department and  23
the chancellor, and one of which shall be selected by each  24
school district or school to administer to its students. The  25
assessments prescribed under division (B)(1) of this section  26
shall be administered to all eleventh-grade students in the  27
spring of the school year.  28
       (b) Beginning with students who enter the ninth grade for  29
the first time on or after July 1, 2022, the parent or guardian  30
of a student may elect not to have a nationally standardized  31
assessment administered to that student. In that event, the  32
student's school district or school shall not administer the  33
nationally standardized assessment to that student.  34
       (2)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(b) of this  35
section, seven end-of-course examinations, one in each of the  36
areas of English language arts I, English language arts II,  37
science, Algebra I, geometry, American history, and American  38
government. The end-of-course examinations shall be selected  39
jointly by the department and the chancellor in consultation  40
with faculty in the appropriate subject areas at institutions of  41
higher education of the university system of Ohio. Advanced  42
placement examinations and international baccalaureate  43
examinations, as prescribed under section 3313.6013 of the  44
Revised Code, in the areas of science, American history, and  45
American government may be used as end-of-course examinations in  46
accordance with division (B)(4)(a)(i) of this section. Final  47
course grades for courses taken under any other advanced  48
standing program, as prescribed under section 3313.6013 of the  49
Revised Code, in the areas of science, American history, and  50
American government may be used in lieu of end-of-course  51
S. B. No. 272  Page 3
As Introduced
examinations in accordance with division (B)(4)(a)(ii) of this  52
section.  53
       (b) Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the  54
first time on or after July 1, 2019, five end-of-course  55
examinations, one in each areas of English language arts II,  56
science, Algebra I, American history, and American government.  57
However, only the end-of-course examinations in English language  58
arts II and Algebra I shall be required for graduation.  59
       A student may choose to take the civics assessment  60
described in division (B)(4)(a)(iii) of this section instead of  61
the American government end-of-course examination.  62
       The department shall, as necessary to implement division  63
(B)(2)(b) of this section, seek a waiver from the United States  64
secretary of education for testing requirements prescribed under  65
federal law to allow for the use and implementation of Algebra I  66
as the primary assessment of high school mathematics. If the  67
department does not receive a waiver under this division, the  68
end-of-course examinations for students described in division  69
(B)(2)(b) of this section also shall include an end-of-course  70
examination in the area of geometry. However, the geometry end-  71
of-course examination shall not be required for graduation.  72
       (3) The end-of-course examinations in American history and  73
American government shall require demonstration of mastery of  74
the American history and American government content for social  75
studies standards adopted under division (A)(1)(b) of section  76
3301.079 of the Revised Code and the topics required under  77
division (M) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.  78
       At least twenty per cent of the end-of-course examination  79
in American government shall address the topics on American  80
S. B. No. 272  Page 4
As Introduced
history and American government described in division (M) of  81
section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.  82
       (4)(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this  83
section, both offor divisions (B)(4)(a)(i) and (ii) of this  84
section, and beginning with the 2026-2027 school year for  85
division (B)(4)(a)(iii) of this section, the following shall  86
apply:  87
       (i) If a student is enrolled in an appropriate advanced  88
placement or international baccalaureate course, that student  89
shall take the advanced placement or international baccalaureate  90
examination in lieu of the science, American history, or  91
American government end-of-course examinations prescribed under  92
division (B)(2) of this section. The department shall specify  93
the score levels for each advanced placement examination and  94
international baccalaureate examination for purposes of  95
calculating the minimum cumulative performance score that  96
demonstrates the level of academic achievement necessary to earn  97
a high school diploma.  98
       (ii) If a student is enrolled in an appropriate course  99
under any other advanced standing program, as described in  100
section 3313.6013 of the Revised Code, that student shall not be  101
required to take the science, American history, or American  102
government end-of-course examination, whichever is applicable,  103
prescribed under division (B)(2) of this section. Instead, that  104
student's final course grade shall be used in lieu of the  105
applicable end-of-course examination prescribed under that  106
section. The department, in consultation with the chancellor,  107
shall adopt guidelines for purposes of calculating the  108
corresponding final course grades that demonstrate the level of  109
academic achievement necessary to earn a high school diploma.  110
S. B. No. 272  Page 5
As Introduced
       Division (B)(4)(a)(ii) of this section shall apply only to  111
courses for which students receive transcripted credit, as  112
defined in section 3365.01 of the Revised Code. It shall not  113
apply to remedial or developmental courses.  114
       (iii) If a student chooses to take the civics assessment  115
instead of the American government end-of-course assessment, the  116
civics assessment administered to that student shall be  117
identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used  118
by the United States citizenship and immigration services  119
agency.  120
       Each school district board of education shall determine  121
the method and manner in which to administer the assessment  122
prescribed under division (B)(4)(a)(iii) of this section.  123
       A student's successful completion of the assessment  124
prescribed under division (B)(4)(a)(iii) of this section shall  125
be demonstrated by answering correctly at least sixty per cent  126
of the questions included on the assessment. A student who does  127
not attain a passing score may retake the assessment until the  128
student obtains a passing score.  129
       (b) No student shall take a substitute examination or  130
examination prescribed under division (B)(4)(a) of this section  131
in place of the end-of-course examinations in English language  132
arts I, English language arts II, Algebra I, or geometry  133
prescribed under division (B)(2) of this section.  134
       (c) The department shall consider additional assessments  135
that may be used as substitute examinations in lieu of the end-  136
of-course examinations prescribed under division (B)(2) of this  137
section.  138
       (5) The department shall do all of the following:  139
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As Introduced
       (a) Determine and designate at least five ranges of scores  140
on each of the end-of-course examinations prescribed under  141
division (B)(2) of this section, and substitute examinations  142
prescribed under division (B)(4) of this section. Not later than  143
sixty days after the designation of ranges of scores, the  144
director of education and workforce shall conduct a public  145
presentation before the standing committees of the house of  146
representatives and the senate that consider primary and  147
secondary education legislation regarding the designated range  148
of scores. Each range of scores shall be considered to  149
demonstrate a level of achievement so that any student attaining  150
a score within such range has achieved one of the following:  151
       (i) An advanced level of skill;  152
       (ii) An accomplished level of skill;  153
       (iii) A proficient level of skill;  154
       (iv) A basic level of skill;  155
       (v) A limited level of skill.  156
       (b) Determine a method by which to calculate a cumulative  157
performance score based on the results of a student's end-of-  158
course examinations or substitute examinations;  159
       (c) Determine the minimum cumulative performance score  160
that demonstrates the level of academic achievement necessary to  161
earn a high school diploma under division (A)(2) of section  162
3313.618 of the Revised Code. However, no new minimum cumulative  163
performance score shall be determined after October 17, 2019.  164
       (d) Develop a table of corresponding score equivalents for  165
the end-of-course examinations and substitute examinations in  166
order to calculate student performance consistently across the  167
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As Introduced
different examinations.  168
       A score of two on an advanced placement examination or a  169
score of two or three on an international baccalaureate  170
examination shall be considered equivalent to a proficient level  171
of skill as specified under division (B)(5)(a)(iii) of this  172
section.  173
       (6)(a) A student who meets both of the following  174
conditions shall not be required to take an end-of-course  175
examination:  176
       (i) The student received high school credit prior to July  177
1, 2015, for a course for which the end-of-course examination is  178
prescribed.  179
       (ii) The examination was not available for administration  180
prior to July 1, 2015.  181
       Receipt of credit for the course described in division (B)  182
(6)(a)(i) of this section shall satisfy the requirement to take  183
the end-of-course examination. A student exempted under division  184
(B)(6)(a) of this section may take the applicable end-of-course  185
examination at a later date.  186
       (b) For purposes of determining whether a student who is  187
exempt from taking an end-of-course examination under division  188
(B)(6)(a) of this section has attained the cumulative score  189
prescribed by division (B)(5)(c) of this section, such student  190
shall select either of the following:  191
       (i) The student is considered to have attained a  192
proficient score on the end-of-course examination from which the  193
student is exempt;  194
       (ii) The student's final course grade shall be used in  195
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As Introduced
lieu of a score on the end-of-course examination from which the  196
student is exempt.  197
       The department, in consultation with the chancellor, shall  198
adopt guidelines for purposes of calculating the corresponding  199
final course grades and the minimum cumulative performance score  200
that demonstrates the level of academic achievement necessary to  201
earn a high school diploma.  202
       (7)(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this  203
section, the department may replace the algebra I end-of-course  204
examination prescribed under division (B)(2) of this section  205
with an algebra II end-of-course examination, beginning with the  206
2016-2017 school year for students who enter ninth grade on or  207
after July 1, 2016.  208
       (b) If the department replaces the algebra I end-of-course  209
examination with an algebra II end-of-course examination as  210
authorized under division (B)(7)(a) of this section, both of the  211
following shall apply:  212
       (i) A student who is enrolled in an advanced placement or  213
international baccalaureate course in algebra II shall take the  214
advanced placement or international baccalaureate examination in  215
lieu of the algebra II end-of-course examination.  216
       (ii) A student who is enrolled in an algebra II course  217
under any other advanced standing program, as described in  218
section 3313.6013 of the Revised Code, shall not be required to  219
take the algebra II end-of-course examination. Instead, that  220
student's final course grade shall be used in lieu of the  221
examination.  222
       (c) If a school district or school utilizes an integrated  223
approach to mathematics instruction, the district or school may  224
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As Introduced
do either or both of the following:  225
       (i) Administer an integrated mathematics I end-of-course  226
examination in lieu of the prescribed algebra I end-of-course  227
examination;  228
       (ii) Administer an integrated mathematics II end-of-course  229
examination in lieu of the prescribed geometry end-of-course  230
examination.  231
       (8)(a) For students entering the ninth grade for the first  232
time on or after July 1, 2014, but prior to July 1, 2015, the  233
assessment in the area of science shall be physical science or  234
biology. For students entering the ninth grade for the first  235
time on or after July 1, 2015, the assessment in the area of  236
science shall be biology.  237
       (b) Until July 1, 2019, the department shall make  238
available the end-of-course examination in physical science for  239
students who entered the ninth grade for the first time on or  240
after July 1, 2014, but prior to July 1, 2015, and who wish to  241
retake the examination.  242
       (c) The department shall adopt rules prescribing the  243
requirements for the end-of-course examination in science for  244
students who entered the ninth grade for the first time on or  245
after July 1, 2014, but prior to July 1, 2015, and who have not  246
met the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 of the  247
Revised Code by July 1, 2019, due to a student's failure to  248
satisfy division (A)(2) of section 3313.618 of the Revised Code.  249
       (9) The department shall not develop or administer an end-  250
of-course examination in the area of world history.  251
       (10) The department, in consultation with the chancellor  252
and the governor's office of workforce transformation, shall  253
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As Introduced
determine a competency score for both of the Algebra I and  254
English language arts II end-of-course examinations for the  255
purpose of graduation eligibility.  256
       (C) The department shall convene a group of national  257
experts, state experts, and local practitioners to provide  258
advice, guidance, and recommendations for the alignment of  259
standards and model curricula to the assessments and in the  260
design of the end-of-course examinations prescribed by this  261
section.  262
       (D) Upon completion of the development of the assessment  263
system, the department shall adopt rules prescribing all of the  264
following:  265
       (1) A timeline and plan for implementation of the  266
assessment system, including a phased implementation if the  267
department determines such a phase-in is warranted;  268
       (2) The date after which a person shall meet the  269
requirements of the entire assessment system as a prerequisite  270
for a diploma of adult education under section 3313.611 of the  271
Revised Code;  272
       (3) Whether and the extent to which a person may be  273
excused from an American history end-of-course examination and  274
an American government end-of-course examination under division  275
(H) of section 3313.61 and division (B)(3) of section 3313.612  276
of the Revised Code;  277
       (4) The date after which a person who has fulfilled the  278
curriculum requirement for a diploma but has not passed one or  279
more of the required assessments at the time the person  280
fulfilled the curriculum requirement shall meet the requirements  281
of the entire assessment system as a prerequisite for a high  282
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As Introduced
school diploma under division (B) of section 3313.614 of the  283
Revised Code;  284
       (5) The extent to which the assessment system applies to  285
students enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program  286
for purposes of division (F) of section 3313.603 or a dropout  287
prevention and recovery community school under section 3314.36  288
of the Revised Code.  289
       (E)(1) Any person enrolled in a nonchartered nonpublic  290
school or any person who is exempt from attendance at school for  291
the purpose of home education under section 3321.042 of the  292
Revised Code may choose to participate in the system of  293
assessments administered under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this  294
section. However, no such person shall be required to  295
participate in the system of assessments.  296
       (2) The department shall adopt rules for the  297
administration and scoring of any assessments under division (E)  298
(1) of this section.  299
       (F) The department shall select at least one nationally  300
recognized job skills assessment. Each school district shall  301
administer that assessment to those students who opt to take it.  302
The department shall reimburse a school district for the costs  303
of administering that assessment. The department shall establish  304
the minimum score a student must attain on the job skills  305
assessment in order to demonstrate a student's workforce  306
readiness and employability. The administration of the job  307
skills assessment to a student under this division shall not  308
exempt a school district from administering the assessments  309
prescribed in division (B) of this section to that student.  310
       Section 2. That existing section 3301.0712 of the Revised  311
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As Introduced
Code is hereby repealed.  312