Bill Text: OH SB190 | 2009-2010 | 128th General Assembly | Introduced

Ohio Senate Bill 190 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: To include Junior ROTC as a permitted elective within the Ohio Core curriculum.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-10-22 - To Education [SB190 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2009-SB190-Introduced.html

As Introduced

128th General Assembly

Regular Session

2009-2010

S. B. No. 190

Senators Schaffer, Turner

Cosponsors: Senators Cates, Husted, Hughes, Widener, Grendell, Seitz, Jones, Niehaus, Wagoner, Morano, Fedor, Schiavoni, Strahorn, Miller, R., Sawyer, Cafaro

A BILL

To amend section 3313.603 of the Revised Code to

include Junior ROTC as a permitted elective within

the Ohio Core curriculum.

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

Section 1. That section 3313.603 of the Revised Code be	4
amended to read as follows:	5

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

(1) "One unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of	7
course instruction, except that for a laboratory course, "one	8
unit" means a minimum of one hundred fifty hours of course	9
instruction.	10

(2) "One-half unit" means a minimum of sixty hours of course	11
instruction, except that for physical education courses, "one-half	12
unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of course	13
instruction.	14

(B) Beginning September 15, 2001, except as required in	15
division (C) of this section and division (C) of section 3313.614	16
of the Revised Code, the requirements for graduation from every	17
high school shall include twenty units earned in grades nine	18
through twelve and shall be distributed as follows:	19

(1) English language arts, four units;

(2) Health, one-half unit;

(3) Mathematics, three units;

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

(5) Science, two units until September 15, 2003, and three	24
units thereafter, which at all times shall include both of the	25
following:	26

(a) Biological sciences, one unit;

(b) Physical sciences, one unit.

(6) Social studies, three units, which shall include both of	29
the following:	30

(a) American history, one-half unit;

(b) American government, one-half unit.

(7) Elective units, seven units until September 15, 2003, and	33
six units thereafter.	34

Each student's electives shall include at least one unit, or	35
two half units, chosen from among the areas of	36
business/technology, fine arts, and/or foreign language.	37

(C) Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the	38
first time on or after July 1, 2010, except as provided in	39
divisions (D) to (F) of this section, the requirements for	40
graduation from every public and chartered nonpublic high school	41
shall include twenty units that are designed to prepare students	42
for the workforce and college. The units shall be distributed as	43
follows:	44

(1) English language arts, four units;

(2) Health, one-half unit;

(3) Mathematics, four units, which shall include one unit of	47
algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II;	48

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

(5) Science, three units with inquiry-based laboratory	50
experience that engages students in asking valid scientific	51
questions and gathering and analyzing information, which shall	52
include the following, or their equivalent:	53

(a) Physical sciences, one unit;

(b) Life sciences, one unit;

(c) Advanced study in one or more of the following sciences,	56
one unit:	57

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

(ii) Advanced biology or other life science;

(iii) Astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space	60
science.	61

(6) Social studies, three units, which shall include both of	62
the following:	63

(a) American history, one-half unit;

(b) American government, one-half unit.

Each school shall integrate the study of economics and	66
financial literacy, as expressed in the social studies academic	67
content standards adopted by the state board of education under	68
division (A)(1) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code and the	69
academic content standards for financial literacy and	70
entrepreneurship adopted under division (A)(2) of that section,	71
into one or more existing social studies credits required under	72
division (C)(6) of this section, or into the content of another	73
class, so that every high school student receives instruction in	74
those concepts. In developing the curriculum required by this	75
paragraph, schools shall use available public-private	76
partnerships and resources and materials that exist in business,	77
industry, and through the centers for economics education at	78
institutions of higher education in the state.	79

(7) Five units consisting of one or any combination of	80
foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education,	81
family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education,	82
a junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) program approved	83
by the congress of the United States under title 10 of the United	84
States Code, or English language arts, mathematics, science, or	85
social studies courses not otherwise required under division (C)	86
of this section.	87

Ohioans must be prepared to apply increased knowledge and	88
skills in the workplace and to adapt their knowledge and skills	89
quickly to meet the rapidly changing conditions of the	90
twenty-first century. National studies indicate that all high	91
school graduates need the same academic foundation, regardless of	92
the opportunities they pursue after graduation. The goal of Ohio's	93
system of elementary and secondary education is to prepare all	94
students for and seamlessly connect all students to success in	95
life beyond high school graduation, regardless of whether the next	96
step is entering the workforce, beginning an apprenticeship,	97
engaging in post-secondary training, serving in the military, or	98
pursuing a college degree.	99

The Ohio core curriculum is the standard expectation for all	100
students entering ninth grade for the first time at a public or	101
chartered nonpublic high school on or after July 1, 2010. A	102
student may satisfy this expectation through a variety of methods,	103
including, but not limited to, integrated, applied,	104
career-technical, and traditional coursework.	105

Whereas teacher quality is essential for student success in	106
completing the Ohio core curriculum, the general assembly shall	107
appropriate funds for strategic initiatives designed to strengthen	108
schools' capacities to hire and retain highly qualified teachers	109
in the subject areas required by the curriculum. Such initiatives	110
are expected to require an investment of $120,000,000 over five	111
years.	112

Stronger coordination between high schools and institutions	113
of higher education is necessary to prepare students for more	114
challenging academic endeavors and to lessen the need for academic	115
remediation in college, thereby reducing the costs of higher	116
education for Ohio's students, families, and the state. The state	117
board of education and the chancellor of the Ohio board of	118
regents shall develop policies to ensure that only in rare	119
instances will students who complete the Ohio core curriculum	120
require academic remediation after high school.	121

School districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic	122
schools shall integrate technology into learning experiences	123
whenever practicable across the curriculum in order to maximize	124
efficiency, enhance learning, and prepare students for success in	125
the technology-driven twenty-first century. Districts and schools	126
may use distance and web-based course delivery as a method of	127
providing or augmenting all instruction required under this	128
division, including laboratory experience in science. Districts	129
and schools shall whenever practicable utilize technology access	130
and electronic learning opportunities provided by the eTech Ohio	131
commission, the Ohio learning network, education technology	132
centers, public television stations, and other public and private	133
providers.	134

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a	135
student who enters ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010, and	136
before July 1, 2014, may qualify for graduation from a public or	137
chartered nonpublic high school even though the student has not	138
completed the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of	139
this section if all of the following conditions are satisfied:	140

(1) After the student has attended high school for two years,	141
as determined by the school, the student and the student's parent,	142
guardian, or custodian sign and file with the school a written	143
statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's	144
consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio	145
core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not	146
completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in	147
most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.	148

(2) The student and parent, guardian, or custodian fulfill	149
any procedural requirements the school stipulates to ensure the	150
student's and parent's, guardian's, or custodian's informed	151
consent and to facilitate orderly filing of statements under	152
division (D)(1) of this section.	153

(3) The student and the student's parent, guardian, or	154
custodian and a representative of the student's high school	155
jointly develop an individual career plan for the student that	156
specifies the student matriculating to a two-year degree program,	157
acquiring a business and industry credential, or entering an	158
apprenticeship.	159

(4) The student's high school provides counseling and support	160
for the student related to the plan developed under division	161
(D)(3) of this section during the remainder of the student's high	162
school experience.	163

(5) The student successfully completes, at a minimum, the	164
curriculum prescribed in division (B) of this section.	165

The department of education, in collaboration with the ~~the~~	166
chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, shall analyze student	167
performance data to determine if there are mitigating factors	168
that warrant extending the exception permitted by division (D)	169
of this section to high school classes beyond those entering	170
ninth grade before July 1, 2014. The department shall submit its	171
findings and any recommendations not later than August 1, 2014,	172
to the speaker and minority leader of the house of	173
representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate,	174
the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing	175
committees of the house of representatives and the senate that	176
consider education legislation, the state board of education, and	177
the superintendent of public instruction.	178

(E) Each school district and chartered nonpublic school	179
retains the authority to require an even more rigorous minimum	180
curriculum for high school graduation than specified in division	181
(B) or (C) of this section. A school district board of education,	182
through the adoption of a resolution, or the governing authority	183
of a chartered nonpublic school may stipulate any of the	184
following:	185

(1) A minimum high school curriculum that requires more than	186
twenty units of academic credit to graduate;	187

(2) An exception to the district's or school's minimum high	188
school curriculum that is comparable to the exception provided in	189
division (D) of this section but with additional requirements,	190
which may include a requirement that the student successfully	191
complete more than the minimum curriculum prescribed in division	192
(B) of this section;	193

(3) That no exception comparable to that provided in division	194
(D) of this section is available.	195

(F) A student enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery	196
program, which program has received a waiver from the department	197
of education, may qualify for graduation from high school by	198
successfully completing a competency-based instructional program	199
administered by the dropout prevention and recovery program in	200
lieu of completing the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division	201
(C) of this section. The department shall grant a waiver to a	202
dropout prevention and recovery program, within sixty days after	203
the program applies for the waiver, if the program meets all of	204
the following conditions:	205

(1) The program serves only students not younger than sixteen	206
years of age and not older than twenty-one years of age.	207

(2) The program enrolls students who, at the time of their	208
initial enrollment, either, or both, are at least one grade level	209
behind their cohort age groups or experience crises that	210
significantly interfere with their academic progress such that	211
they are prevented from continuing their traditional programs.	212

(3) The program requires students to attain at least the	213
applicable score designated for each of the assessments prescribed	214
under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code	215
or, to the extent prescribed by rule of the state board of	216
education under division (E)(6) of section 3301.0712 of the	217
Revised Code, division (B)(2) of that section.	218

(4) The program develops an individual career plan for the	219
student that specifies the student's matriculating to a two-year	220
degree program, acquiring a business and industry credential, or	221
entering an apprenticeship.	222

(5) The program provides counseling and support for the	223
student related to the plan developed under division (F)(4) of	224
this section during the remainder of the student's high school	225
experience.	226

(6) The program requires the student and the student's	227
parent, guardian, or custodian to sign and file, in accordance	228
with procedural requirements stipulated by the program, a written	229
statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's	230
consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio	231
core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not	232
completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in	233
most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.	234

(7) Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted	235
to the department an instructional plan that demonstrates how the	236
academic content standards adopted by the state board of education	237
under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code will be taught and	238
assessed.	239

If the department does not act either to grant the waiver or	240
to reject the program application for the waiver within sixty days	241
as required under this section, the waiver shall be considered to	242
be granted.	243

(G) Every high school may permit students below the ninth	244
grade to take advanced work. If a high school so permits, it	245
shall award high school credit for successful completion of the	246
advanced work and shall count such advanced work toward the	247
graduation requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section	248
if the advanced work was both:	249

(1) Taught by a person who possesses a license or certificate	250
issued under section 3301.071, 3319.22, or 3319.222 of the Revised	251
Code that is valid for teaching high school;	252

(2) Designated by the board of education of the city, local,	253
or exempted village school district, the board of the cooperative	254
education school district, or the governing authority of the	255
chartered nonpublic school as meeting the high school curriculum	256
requirements.	257

Each high school shall record on the student's high school	258
transcript all high school credit awarded under division (G) of	259
this section. In addition, if the student completed a seventh- or	260
eighth-grade fine arts course described in division (K) of this	261
section and the course qualified for high school credit under that	262
division, the high school shall record that course on the	263
student's high school transcript.	264

(H) The department shall make its individual academic career	265
plan available through its Ohio career information system web site	266
for districts and schools to use as a tool for communicating with	267
and providing guidance to students and families in selecting high	268
school courses.	269

(I) Units earned in English language arts, mathematics,	270
science, and social studies that are delivered through integrated	271
academic and career-technical instruction are eligible to meet the	272
graduation requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section.	273

(J) The state board of education, in consultation with the	274
chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, shall adopt a	275
statewide plan implementing methods for students to earn units	276
of high school credit based on a demonstration of subject area	277
competency, instead of or in combination with completing hours	278
of classroom instruction. The state board shall adopt the plan	279
not later than March 31, 2009, and commence phasing in the plan	280
during the 2009-2010 school year. The plan shall include a	281
standard method for recording demonstrated proficiency on high	282
school transcripts. Each school district, community school, and	283
chartered nonpublic school shall comply with the state board's	284
plan adopted under this division and award units of high school	285
credit in accordance with the plan. The state board may adopt	286
existing methods for earning high school credit based on a	287
demonstration of subject area competency as necessary prior to	288
the 2009-2010 school year.	289

(K) This division does not apply to students who qualify for	290
graduation from high school under division (D) or (F) of this	291
section, or to students pursuing a career-technical instructional	292
track as determined by the school district board of education or	293
the chartered nonpublic school's governing authority.	294
Nevertheless, the general assembly encourages such students to	295
consider enrolling in a fine arts course as an elective.	296

Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first	297
time on or after July 1, 2010, each student enrolled in a public	298
or chartered nonpublic high school shall complete two semesters or	299
the equivalent of fine arts to graduate from high school. The	300
coursework may be completed in any of grades seven to twelve. Each	301
student who completes a fine arts course in grade seven or eight	302
may elect to count that course toward the five units of electives	303
required for graduation under division (C)(7) of this section, if	304
the course satisfied the requirements of division (G) of this	305
section. In that case, the high school shall award the student	306
high school credit for the course and count the course toward the	307
five units required under division (C)(7) of this section. If the	308
course in grade seven or eight did not satisfy the requirements of	309
division (G) of this section, the high school shall not award the	310
student high school credit for the course but shall count the	311
course toward the two semesters or the equivalent of fine arts	312
required by this division.	313

(L) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section,	314
the board of education of each school district and the governing	315
authority of each chartered nonpublic school may adopt a policy to	316
excuse from the high school physical education requirement each	317
student who, during high school, has participated in	318
interscholastic athletics, marching band, or cheerleading for at	319
least two full seasons. If the board or authority adopts such a	320
policy, the board or authority shall not require the student to	321
complete any physical education course as a condition to	322
graduate. However, the student shall be required to complete	323
one-half unit, consisting of at least sixty hours of	324
instruction, in another course of study.	325