The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code in Ohio to enhance the assessment and performance evaluation of public schools. It introduces new sections 3314.35 and 3326.53 while repealing several existing sections related to the closure of poorly performing schools. The legislation establishes a new college and work-ready assessment system that will replace the current Ohio graduation tests for students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2014. This new system will include nationally standardized assessments and end-of-course examinations, with provisions allowing parents to opt-out of standardized assessments for their children starting from students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2022. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Education and Workforce in developing this assessment system and emphasizes the importance of aligning assessments with educational standards.

Additionally, the bill details the grading system for school districts and buildings, specifying performance measures and benchmarks that the Department of Education will use to assign letter grades. It mandates public presentations before adopting rules for performance assessments and includes provisions for disaggregating data by subgroups. The bill prohibits assigning overall letter grades for certain school years and establishes a framework for future grading based on various performance indicators. It also introduces new requirements for community schools, including criteria for high-performing schools and the process for addressing poorly performing schools. Overall, the bill aims to improve accountability and transparency in Ohio's education system while providing flexibility for students and parents regarding standardized testing.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3301.0712, 3302.03, 3302.034, 3302.036, 3302.12, 3313.413, 3314.012, 3314.016, 3314.017, 3314.0211, 3314.03, 3314.05, 3314.29, 3314.352, 3314.353, 3314.354, 3314.35, 3314.351, 3314.355, 3314.36