Bill Text: OH HB211 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: To include content on specified historical documents in the state academic standards and in the high school American history and government curriculum.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 40-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-26 - To Education [HB211 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2011-HB211-Introduced.html

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As Introduced

129th General Assembly Regular Session 2011-2012

H. B. No. 211

Representative Adams, J. 

Cosponsors: Representatives Newbold, Burke, Roegner, Butler, Goodwin, Mecklenborg, Thompson, Hackett, McClain, Combs, Derickson, Slaby, Uecker, Hayes, McKenney, Young, Wachtmann, Huffman, Hottinger, Maag, Grossman, Stebelton, Sears, Antonio, Amstutz, Baker, Beck, Hall, Brenner, Bubp, Rosenberger, Buchy, Kozlowski, Landis, Dovilla, Ruhl, Martin, Boose, Blessing, Gonzales 

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A BILL

To amend sections 3301.079, 3313.60, and 3313.603 of

1

the Revised Code to include content on specified

2

historical documents in the state academic

3

standards and in the high school American history

4

and government curriculum.

5

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 3301.079, 3313.60, and 3313.603 of	6
the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:	7

Sec. 3301.079.  (A)(1) Not later than June 30, 2010, and at	8
least once every five years thereafter, the state board of	9
education shall adopt statewide academic standards with emphasis	10
on coherence, focus, and rigor for each of grades kindergarten	11
through twelve in English language arts, mathematics, science, and	12
social studies.	13

(a) The standards shall specify the following:

14

(a)(i) The core academic content and skills that students are	15
expected to know and be able to do at each grade level that will	16
allow each student to be prepared for postsecondary instruction	17
and the workplace for success in the twenty-first century;	18

(b)(ii) The development of skill sets as they relate to	19
creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving,	20
and communication and collaboration;	21

(c)(iii) The development of skill sets that promote	22
information, media, and technological literacy;	23

(d)(iv) The development of skill sets that promote personal	24
management, productivity and accountability, and leadership and	25
responsibility;	26

(e)(v) Interdisciplinary, project-based, real-world learning	27
opportunities.	28

(b) Not later than July 1, 2012, the state board shall	29
incorporate into the social studies standards for grades four to	30
twelve academic content regarding the original texts of the	31
Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, the	32
Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the Bill of	33
Rights, and the Ohio Constitution, and the role of these documents	34
in the development of a constitutional republic at the state and	35
federal levels. Not later than March 31, 2013, the state board	36
shall revise the model curricula adopted under division (B) of	37
this section as necessary to reflect the additional academic	38
content. Not later than December 31, 2013, the state board shall	39
revise the achievement assessments adopted under division (C) of	40
this section as necessary to reflect the academic content.	41

(2) After completing the standards required by division	42
(A)(1) of this section, the state board shall adopt standards and	43
model curricula for instruction in computer literacy, financial	44
literacy and entrepreneurship, fine arts, and foreign language for	45
grades kindergarten through twelve. The standards shall meet the	46
same requirements prescribed in divisionsdivision (A)(1)(a) to	47
(e) of this section.	48

(3) The state board shall adopt the most recent standards	49
developed by the national association for sport and physical	50
education for physical education in grades kindergarten through	51
twelve or shall adopt its own standards for physical education in	52
those grades and revise and update them periodically.	53

The department shall employ a full-time physical education	54
coordinator to provide guidance and technical assistance to	55
districts, community schools, and STEM schools in implementing the	56
physical education standards adopted under this division. The	57
superintendent of public instruction shall determine that the	58
person employed as coordinator is qualified for the position, as	59
demonstrated by possessing an adequate combination of education,	60
license, and experience.	61

(4) When academic standards have been completed for any	62
subject area required by this section, the state board shall	63
inform all school districts, all community schools established	64
under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, all STEM schools	65
established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, and all	66
nonpublic schools required to administer the assessments	67
prescribed by sections 3301.0710 and 3301.0712 of the Revised Code	68
of the content of those standards.	69

(B) Not later than March 31, 2011, the state board shall	70
adopt a model curriculum for instruction in each subject area for	71
which updated academic standards are required by division (A)(1)	72
of this section and for each of grades kindergarten through twelve	73
that is sufficient to meet the needs of students in every	74
community. The model curriculum shall be aligned with the	75
standards, to ensure that the academic content and skills	76
specified for each grade level are taught to students, and shall	77
demonstrate vertical articulation and emphasize coherence, focus,	78
and rigor. When any model curriculum has been completed, the state	79
board shall inform all school districts, community schools, and	80
STEM schools of the content of that model curriculum.	81

All school districts, community schools, and STEM schools may	82
utilize the state standards and the model curriculum established	83
by the state board, together with other relevant resources,	84
examples, or models to ensure that students have the opportunity	85
to attain the academic standards. Upon request, the department of	86
education shall provide technical assistance to any district,	87
community school, or STEM school in implementing the model	88
curriculum.	89

Nothing in this section requires any school district to	90
utilize all or any part of a model curriculum developed under this	91
division.	92

(C) The state board shall develop achievement assessments	93
aligned with the academic standards and model curriculum for each	94
of the subject areas and grade levels required by divisions (A)(1)	95
and (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.	96

When any achievement assessment has been completed, the state	97
board shall inform all school districts, community schools, STEM	98
schools, and nonpublic schools required to administer the	99
assessment of its completion, and the department of education	100
shall make the achievement assessment available to the districts	101
and schools.	102

(D)(1) The state board shall adopt a diagnostic assessment	103
aligned with the academic standards and model curriculum for each	104
of grades kindergarten through two in English language arts and	105
mathematics and for grade three in English language arts. The	106
diagnostic assessment shall be designed to measure student	107
comprehension of academic content and mastery of related skills	108
for the relevant subject area and grade level. Any diagnostic	109
assessment shall not include components to identify gifted	110
students. Blank copies of diagnostic assessments shall be public	111
records.	112

(2) When each diagnostic assessment has been completed, the	113
state board shall inform all school districts of its completion	114
and the department of education shall make the diagnostic	115
assessment available to the districts at no cost to the district.	116
School districts shall administer the diagnostic assessment	117
pursuant to section 3301.0715 of the Revised Code beginning the	118
first school year following the development of the assessment.	119

(E) The state board shall not adopt a diagnostic or	120
achievement assessment for any grade level or subject area other	121
than those specified in this section.	122

(F) Whenever the state board or the department of education	123
consults with persons for the purpose of drafting or reviewing any	124
standards, diagnostic assessments, achievement assessments, or	125
model curriculum required under this section, the state board or	126
the department shall first consult with parents of students in	127
kindergarten through twelfth grade and with active Ohio classroom	128
teachers, other school personnel, and administrators with	129
expertise in the appropriate subject area. Whenever practicable,	130
the state board and department shall consult with teachers	131
recognized as outstanding in their fields.	132

If the department contracts with more than one outside entity	133
for the development of the achievement assessments required by	134
this section, the department shall ensure the interchangeability	135
of those assessments.	136

(G) The fairness sensitivity review committee, established by	137
rule of the state board of education, shall not allow any question	138
on any achievement or diagnostic assessment developed under this	139
section or any proficiency test prescribed by former section	140
3301.0710 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to September	141
11, 2001, to include, be written to promote, or inquire as to	142
individual moral or social values or beliefs. The decision of the	143
committee shall be final. This section does not create a private	144
cause of action.	145

(H) Not later than forty-five days prior to the initial	146
deadline established under division (A)(1) of this section and the	147
deadline established under division (B) of this section, the	148
superintendent of public instruction shall present the academic	149
standards or model curricula, as applicable, to the respective	150
committees of the house of representatives and senate that	151
consider education legislation.	152

(I) As used in this section:

153

(1) "Coherence" means a reflection of the structure of the	154
discipline being taught.	155

(2) "Focus" means limiting the number of items included in a	156
curriculum to allow for deeper exploration of the subject matter.	157

(3) "Rigor" means more challenging and demanding when	158
compared to international standards.	159

(4) "Vertical articulation" means key academic concepts and	160
skills associated with mastery in particular content areas should	161
be articulated and reinforced in a developmentally appropriate	162
manner at each grade level so that over time students acquire a	163
depth of knowledge and understanding in the core academic	164
disciplines.	165

Sec. 3313.60.  Notwithstanding division (D) of section	166
3311.52 of the Revised Code, divisions (A) to (E)(D) of this	167
section do not apply to any cooperative education school district	168
established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section 3311.52 of	169
the Revised Code.	170

(A) The board of education of each city and exempted village	171
school district, the governing board of each educational service	172
center, and the board of each cooperative education school	173
district established pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised	174
Code shall prescribe a curriculum for all schools under their	175
control. Except as provided in division (E)(D) of this section, in	176
any such curriculum there shall be included the study of the	177
following subjects:	178

(1) The language arts, including reading, writing, spelling,	179
oral and written English, and literature;	180

(2) Geography, the history of the United States and of Ohio,	181
and national, state, and local government in the United States,	182
including a balanced presentation of the relevant contributions to	183
society of men and women of African, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and	184
American Indian descent as well as other ethnic and racial groups	185
in Ohio and the United States;	186

(3) Mathematics;

187

(4) Natural science, including instruction in the	188
conservation of natural resources;	189

(5) Health education, which shall include instruction in:

190

(a) The nutritive value of foods, including natural and	191
organically produced foods, the relation of nutrition to health,	192
and the use and effects of food additives;	193

(b) The harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the	194
use of drugs of abuse, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco;	195

(c) Venereal disease education, except that upon written	196
request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be	197
excused from taking instruction in venereal disease education;	198

(d) In grades kindergarten through six, instruction in	199
personal safety and assault prevention, except that upon written	200
request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be	201
excused from taking instruction in personal safety and assault	202
prevention;	203

(e) In grades seven through twelve, age-appropriate	204
instruction in dating violence prevention education, which shall	205
include instruction in recognizing dating violence warning signs	206
and characteristics of healthy relationships.	207

In order to assist school districts in developing a dating	208
violence prevention education curriculum, the department of	209
education shall provide on its web site links to free curricula	210
addressing dating violence prevention.	211

If the parent or legal guardian of a student less than	212
eighteen years of age submits to the principal of the student's	213
school a written request to examine the dating violence prevention	214
instruction materials used at that school, the principal, within a	215
reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall allow	216
the parent or guardian to examine those materials at that school.	217

(6) Physical education;

218

(7) The fine arts, including music;

219

(8) First aid, including a training program in	220
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, safety, and fire prevention, except	221
that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a	222
student shall be excused from taking instruction in	223
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.	224

(B) Except as provided in division (E)(D) of this section,	225
every school or school district shall include in the requirements	226
for promotion from the eighth grade to the ninth grade one year's	227
course of study of American history. A board may waive this	228
requirement for academically accelerated students who, in	229
accordance with procedures adopted by the board, are able to	230
demonstrate mastery of essential concepts and skills of the eighth	231
grade American history course of study.	232

(C) ExceptAs specified in divisions (B)(6) and (C)(6) of	233
section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, except as provided in	234
division (E)(D) of this section, every high school shall include	235
in the requirements for graduation from any curriculum one	236
one-half unit each of American history and government, including a	237
study of the constitutions of the United States and of Ohio.	238

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, basic	239
instruction in geography, United States history, the government of	240
the United States, the government of the state of Ohio, local	241
government in Ohio, the Declaration of Independence, the United	242
States Constitution, and the Constitution of the state of Ohio	243
shall be required before pupils may participate in courses	244
involving the study of social problems, economics, foreign	245
affairs, United Nations, world government, socialism and	246
communism.	247

(E) For each cooperative education school district	248
established pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised Code and	249
each city, exempted village, and local school district that has	250
territory within such a cooperative district, the curriculum	251
adopted pursuant to divisions (A) to (D)(C) of this section shall	252
only include the study of the subjects that apply to the grades	253
operated by each such school district. The curriculums for such	254
schools, when combined, shall provide to each student of these	255
districts all of the subjects required under divisions (A) to	256
(D)(C) of this section.	257

(F)(E) The board of education of any cooperative education	258
school district established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of	259
section 3311.52 of the Revised Code shall prescribe a curriculum	260
for the subject areas and grade levels offered in any school under	261
its control.	262

(G)(F) Upon the request of any parent or legal guardian of a	263
student, the board of education of any school district shall	264
permit the parent or guardian to promptly examine, with respect to	265
the parent's or guardian's own child:	266

(1) Any survey or questionnaire, prior to its administration	267
to the child;	268

(2) Any textbook, workbook, software, video, or other	269
instructional materials being used by the district in connection	270
with the instruction of the child;	271

(3) Any completed and graded test taken or survey or	272
questionnaire filled out by the child;	273

(4) Copies of the statewide academic standards and each model	274
curriculum developed pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised	275
Code, which copies shall be available at all times during school	276
hours in each district school building.	277

Sec. 3313.603.  (A) As used in this section:

278

(1) "One unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of	279
course instruction, except that for a laboratory course, "one	280
unit" means a minimum of one hundred fifty hours of course	281
instruction.	282

(2) "One-half unit" means a minimum of sixty hours of course	283
instruction, except that for physical education courses, "one-half	284
unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of course	285
instruction.	286

(B) Beginning September 15, 2001, except as required in	287
division (C) of this section and division (C) of section 3313.614	288
of the Revised Code, the requirements for graduation from every	289
high school shall include twenty units earned in grades nine	290
through twelve and shall be distributed as follows:	291

(1) English language arts, four units;

292

(2) Health, one-half unit;

293

(3) Mathematics, three units;

294

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

295

(5) Science, two units until September 15, 2003, and three	296
units thereafter, which at all times shall include both of the	297
following:	298

(a) Biological sciences, one unit;

299

(b) Physical sciences, one unit.

300

(6) Social studies, three unitsHistory and government, one	301
unit, which shall comply with division (M) of this section and	302
shall include both of the following:	303

(a) American history, one-half unit;

304

(b) American government, one-half unit.

305

(7) Social studies, two units in accordance with division (N)	306
of this section.	307

(8) Elective units, seven units until September 15, 2003, and	308
six units thereafter.	309

Each student's electives shall include at least one unit, or	310
two half units, chosen from among the areas of	311
business/technology, fine arts, and/or foreign language.	312

(C) Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the	313
first time on or after July 1, 2010, except as provided in	314
divisions (D) to (F) of this section, the requirements for	315
graduation from every public and chartered nonpublic high school	316
shall include twenty units that are designed to prepare students	317
for the workforce and college. The units shall be distributed as	318
follows:	319

(1) English language arts, four units;

320

(2) Health, one-half unit, which shall include instruction in	321
nutrition and the benefits of nutritious foods and physical	322
activity for overall health;	323

(3) Mathematics, four units, which shall include one unit of	324
algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II;	325

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

326

(5) Science, three units with inquiry-based laboratory	327
experience that engages students in asking valid scientific	328
questions and gathering and analyzing information, which shall	329
include the following, or their equivalent:	330

(a) Physical sciences, one unit;

331

(b) Life sciences, one unit;

332

(c) Advanced study in one or more of the following sciences,	333
one unit:	334

(i) Chemistry, physics, or other physical science;

335

(ii) Advanced biology or other life science;

336

(iii) Astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space	337
science.	338

(6) Social studies, three unitsHistory and government, one	339
unit, which shall comply with division (M) of this section and	340
shall include both of the following:	341

(a) American history, one-half unit;

342

(b) American government, one-half unit.

343

(7) Social studies, two units in accordance with division (N)	344
of this section.	345

Each school shall integrate the study of economics and	346
financial literacy, as expressed in the social studies academic	347
content standards adopted by the state board of education under	348
division (A)(1) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code and the	349
academic content standards for financial literacy and	350
entrepreneurship adopted under division (A)(2) of that section,	351
into one or more existing social studies credits required under	352
division (C)(6)(7) of this section, or into the content of another	353
class, so that every high school student receives instruction in	354
those concepts. In developing the curriculum required by this	355
paragraph, schools shall use available public-private partnerships	356
and resources and materials that exist in business, industry, and	357
through the centers for economics education at institutions of	358
higher education in the state.	359

(7)(8) Five units consisting of one or any combination of	360
foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education,	361
family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education,	362
a junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) program approved	363
by the congress of the United States under title 10 of the United	364
States Code, or English language arts, mathematics, science, or	365
social studies courses not otherwise required under division (C)	366
of this section.	367

Ohioans must be prepared to apply increased knowledge and	368
skills in the workplace and to adapt their knowledge and skills	369
quickly to meet the rapidly changing conditions of the	370
twenty-first century. National studies indicate that all high	371
school graduates need the same academic foundation, regardless of	372
the opportunities they pursue after graduation. The goal of Ohio's	373
system of elementary and secondary education is to prepare all	374
students for and seamlessly connect all students to success in	375
life beyond high school graduation, regardless of whether the next	376
step is entering the workforce, beginning an apprenticeship,	377
engaging in post-secondary training, serving in the military, or	378
pursuing a college degree.	379

The Ohio core curriculum is the standard expectation for all	380
students entering ninth grade for the first time at a public or	381
chartered nonpublic high school on or after July 1, 2010. A	382
student may satisfy this expectation through a variety of methods,	383
including, but not limited to, integrated, applied,	384
career-technical, and traditional coursework.	385

Whereas teacher quality is essential for student success in	386
completing the Ohio core curriculum, the general assembly shall	387
appropriate funds for strategic initiatives designed to strengthen	388
schools' capacities to hire and retain highly qualified teachers	389
in the subject areas required by the curriculum. Such initiatives	390
are expected to require an investment of $120,000,000 over five	391
years.	392

Stronger coordination between high schools and institutions	393
of higher education is necessary to prepare students for more	394
challenging academic endeavors and to lessen the need for academic	395
remediation in college, thereby reducing the costs of higher	396
education for Ohio's students, families, and the state. The state	397
board and the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents shall	398
develop policies to ensure that only in rare instances will	399
students who complete the Ohio core curriculum require academic	400
remediation after high school.	401

School districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic	402
schools shall integrate technology into learning experiences	403
whenever practicable across the curriculum in order to maximize	404
efficiency, enhance learning, and prepare students for success in	405
the technology-driven twenty-first century. Districts and schools	406
may use distance and web-based course delivery as a method of	407
providing or augmenting all instruction required under this	408
division, including laboratory experience in science. Districts	409
and schools shall whenever practicable utilize technology access	410
and electronic learning opportunities provided by the eTech Ohio	411
commission, the Ohio learning network, education technology	412
centers, public television stations, and other public and private	413
providers.	414

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a	415
student who enters ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010, and	416
before July 1, 2014, may qualify for graduation from a public or	417
chartered nonpublic high school even though the student has not	418
completed the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of	419
this section if all of the following conditions are satisfied:	420

(1) After the student has attended high school for two years,	421
as determined by the school, the student and the student's parent,	422
guardian, or custodian sign and file with the school a written	423
statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's	424
consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio	425
core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not	426
completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in	427
most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.	428

(2) The student and parent, guardian, or custodian fulfill	429
any procedural requirements the school stipulates to ensure the	430
student's and parent's, guardian's, or custodian's informed	431
consent and to facilitate orderly filing of statements under	432
division (D)(1) of this section.	433

(3) The student and the student's parent, guardian, or	434
custodian and a representative of the student's high school	435
jointly develop an individual career plan for the student that	436
specifies the student matriculating to a two-year degree program,	437
acquiring a business and industry credential, or entering an	438
apprenticeship.	439

(4) The student's high school provides counseling and support	440
for the student related to the plan developed under division	441
(D)(3) of this section during the remainder of the student's high	442
school experience.	443

(5) The student successfully completes, at a minimum, the	444
curriculum prescribed in division (B) of this section.	445

The department of education, in collaboration with the	446
chancellor, shall analyze student performance data to determine if	447
there are mitigating factors that warrant extending the exception	448
permitted by division (D) of this section to high school classes	449
beyond those entering ninth grade before July 1, 2014. The	450
department shall submit its findings and any recommendations not	451
later than August 1, 2014, to the speaker and minority leader of	452
the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of	453
the senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the	454
standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate	455
that consider education legislation, the state board of education,	456
and the superintendent of public instruction.	457

(E) Each school district and chartered nonpublic school	458
retains the authority to require an even more rigorous minimum	459
curriculum for high school graduation than specified in division	460
(B) or (C) of this section. A school district board of education,	461
through the adoption of a resolution, or the governing authority	462
of a chartered nonpublic school may stipulate any of the	463
following:	464

(1) A minimum high school curriculum that requires more than	465
twenty units of academic credit to graduate;	466

(2) An exception to the district's or school's minimum high	467
school curriculum that is comparable to the exception provided in	468
division (D) of this section but with additional requirements,	469
which may include a requirement that the student successfully	470
complete more than the minimum curriculum prescribed in division	471
(B) of this section;	472

(3) That no exception comparable to that provided in division	473
(D) of this section is available.	474

(F) A student enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery	475
program, which program has received a waiver from the department,	476
may qualify for graduation from high school by successfully	477
completing a competency-based instructional program administered	478
by the dropout prevention and recovery program in lieu of	479
completing the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of	480
this section. The department shall grant a waiver to a dropout	481
prevention and recovery program, within sixty days after the	482
program applies for the waiver, if the program meets all of the	483
following conditions:	484

(1) The program serves only students not younger than sixteen	485
years of age and not older than twenty-one years of age.	486

(2) The program enrolls students who, at the time of their	487
initial enrollment, either, or both, are at least one grade level	488
behind their cohort age groups or experience crises that	489
significantly interfere with their academic progress such that	490
they are prevented from continuing their traditional programs.	491

(3) The program requires students to attain at least the	492
applicable score designated for each of the assessments prescribed	493
under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code or,	494
to the extent prescribed by rule of the state board under division	495
(E)(6) of section 3301.0712 of the Revised Code, division (B)(2)	496
of that section.	497

(4) The program develops an individual career plan for the	498
student that specifies the student's matriculating to a two-year	499
degree program, acquiring a business and industry credential, or	500
entering an apprenticeship.	501

(5) The program provides counseling and support for the	502
student related to the plan developed under division (F)(4) of	503
this section during the remainder of the student's high school	504
experience.	505

(6) The program requires the student and the student's	506
parent, guardian, or custodian to sign and file, in accordance	507
with procedural requirements stipulated by the program, a written	508
statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's	509
consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio	510
core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not	511
completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in	512
most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.	513

(7) Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted	514
to the department an instructional plan that demonstrates how the	515
academic content standards adopted by the state board under	516
section 3301.079 of the Revised Code will be taught and assessed.	517

If the department does not act either to grant the waiver or	518
to reject the program application for the waiver within sixty days	519
as required under this section, the waiver shall be considered to	520
be granted.	521

(G) Every high school may permit students below the ninth	522
grade to take advanced work. If a high school so permits, it shall	523
award high school credit for successful completion of the advanced	524
work and shall count such advanced work toward the graduation	525
requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section if the	526
advanced work was both:	527

(1) Taught by a person who possesses a license or certificate	528
issued under section 3301.071, 3319.22, or 3319.222 of the Revised	529
Code that is valid for teaching high school;	530

(2) Designated by the board of education of the city, local,	531
or exempted village school district, the board of the cooperative	532
education school district, or the governing authority of the	533
chartered nonpublic school as meeting the high school curriculum	534
requirements.	535

Each high school shall record on the student's high school	536
transcript all high school credit awarded under division (G) of	537
this section. In addition, if the student completed a seventh- or	538
eighth-grade fine arts course described in division (K) of this	539
section and the course qualified for high school credit under that	540
division, the high school shall record that course on the	541
student's high school transcript.	542

(H) The department shall make its individual academic career	543
plan available through its Ohio career information system web site	544
for districts and schools to use as a tool for communicating with	545
and providing guidance to students and families in selecting high	546
school courses.	547

(I) Units earned in English language arts, mathematics,	548
science, and social studies that are delivered through integrated	549
academic and career-technical instruction are eligible to meet the	550
graduation requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section.	551

(J) The state board, in consultation with the chancellor,	552
shall adopt a statewide plan implementing methods for students to	553
earn units of high school credit based on a demonstration of	554
subject area competency, instead of or in combination with	555
completing hours of classroom instruction. The state board shall	556
adopt the plan not later than March 31, 2009, and commence phasing	557
in the plan during the 2009-2010 school year. The plan shall	558
include a standard method for recording demonstrated proficiency	559
on high school transcripts. Each school district, community	560
school, and chartered nonpublic school shall comply with the state	561
board's plan adopted under this division and award units of high	562
school credit in accordance with the plan. The state board may	563
adopt existing methods for earning high school credit based on a	564
demonstration of subject area competency as necessary prior to the	565
2009-2010 school year.	566

(K) This division does not apply to students who qualify for	567
graduation from high school under division (D) or (F) of this	568
section, or to students pursuing a career-technical instructional	569
track as determined by the school district board of education or	570
the chartered nonpublic school's governing authority.	571
Nevertheless, the general assembly encourages such students to	572
consider enrolling in a fine arts course as an elective.	573

Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first	574
time on or after July 1, 2010, each student enrolled in a public	575
or chartered nonpublic high school shall complete two semesters or	576
the equivalent of fine arts to graduate from high school. The	577
coursework may be completed in any of grades seven to twelve. Each	578
student who completes a fine arts course in grade seven or eight	579
may elect to count that course toward the five units of electives	580
required for graduation under division (C)(7)(8) of this section,	581
if the course satisfied the requirements of division (G) of this	582
section. In that case, the high school shall award the student	583
high school credit for the course and count the course toward the	584
five units required under division (C)(7)(8) of this section. If	585
the course in grade seven or eight did not satisfy the	586
requirements of division (G) of this section, the high school	587
shall not award the student high school credit for the course but	588
shall count the course toward the two semesters or the equivalent	589
of fine arts required by this division.	590

(L) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section,	591
the board of education of each school district and the governing	592
authority of each chartered nonpublic school may adopt a policy to	593
excuse from the high school physical education requirement each	594
student who, during high school, has participated in	595
interscholastic athletics, marching band, or cheerleading for at	596
least two full seasons or in the junior reserve officer training	597
corps for at least two full school years. If the board or	598
authority adopts such a policy, the board or authority shall not	599
require the student to complete any physical education course as a	600
condition to graduate. However, the student shall be required to	601
complete one-half unit, consisting of at least sixty hours of	602
instruction, in another course of study. In the case of a student	603
who has participated in the junior reserve officer training corps	604
for at least two full school years, credit received for that	605
participation may be used to satisfy the requirement to complete	606
one-half unit in another course of study.	607

(M) Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the	608
first time on or after July 1, 2010, the study of American history	609
and American government required by divisions (B)(6) and (C)(6) of	610
this section shall include the study of all of the following	611
documents for a cumulative period of time equivalent to at least	612
one-fourth unit:	613

(1) The Declaration of Independence;

614

(2) The Northwest Ordinance;

615

(3) The Constitution of the United States with emphasis on	616
the Bill of Rights;	617

(4) The Ohio Constitution.

618

The study of each of the documents prescribed in divisions	619
(M)(1) to (3) of this section shall include study of that document	620
in its original eighteenth-century context.	621

The study of American history and government required by	622
divisions (B)(6) and (C)(6) of this section shall include the	623
historical evidence of the role of documents such as the	624
Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers to firmly	625
establish the historical background leading to the establishment	626
of the provisions of the Constitution and Bill of Rights by the	627
founding fathers for the purpose of safeguarding our	628
constitutional republic.	629

(N) Before students may participate in courses involving the	630
study of social problems, economics, foreign affairs, the United	631
Nations, world history and government, socialism, and communism,	632
they first shall complete basic instruction in geography, United	633
States history, the government of the United States, the	634
government of the state of Ohio, local government in Ohio, the	635
Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and	636
the Constitution of the state of Ohio.	637

Section 2. That existing sections 3301.079, 3313.60, and	638
3313.603 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	639