OGT News: Ohio Valley seniors waiting OGT results

A story in this week's Wheeling Intelligencer localized the AP wire story that ran on March 25 regarding the number of Ohio seniors left in limbo following the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) earlier this month.

This story explored the number of seniors in Ohio Valley schools who could be missing a diploma come June because they have not passed all five sections of the OGT. This year, for the first time, high school seniors will need to pass the test in order to graduate. The test replaced the old ninth grade proficiency test.

About 30,000 seniors statewide were in need of passing the test in early March. It will be May before they find out if they are good to go on graduation day. These are the students left not knowing their fates.

Bellaire schools are one of the districts that needs to improve test scores. Officials there said they are making improved scores a priority. Any Bellaire student who does not get a diploma in the spring will be eligible for an intervention class and a chance to retake the OGT in the summer.

Catholic school around Steubenville say their school have nothing to worry about. No student is in danger of not graduating due to the OGT.

State education officials insist the OGT is fair and this year's seniors, who have been taking the test since their sophomore year, have had plenty of time to prepare.

They remind districts that students have alternative ways of graduating, even if they don't pass all five sections of the OGT. They can graduate if they pass four sections and come within 10 points on the fifth; have a 97 percent attendance rate and no expulsions for the last four years; have a grade point average of 2.5 in the subject missed; obtain a letter of recommendation from each teacher in the subject area not passed, as well as one from the high school principal.

From now until September, IQ-ity is offering its OGT practice test at no charge to school districts across Ohio. This free trail period covers the important summer school and intervention period when students may be boning up for their last shot at the OGT. Local educators will have the opportunity to use the IQ-ity OGT prep tool and compare it to competitors like Study Island.