OGT News: Governor Strickland questions OGT
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland wants to revisit the Ohio Graduation Test and its impact on whether or not a student gets a diploma.
Strickland is taken back by the fact that about 30,000 Ohio high school seniors were denied graduation this spring because they failed to pass one or more of the five sections of the OGT.
As a child psychologist, he is worried about the impact that failing to graduate on time would have long-term on a student's life. He is also concerned about the weight the OGT is given when it comes to preparedness.
He cited the ACT and other instruments as good indicators of a student's aptitude to do college work - in some cases, even better indicators than the OGT.
Local news stories from around the state are full of student protests, court actions and other conflicts over the OGT and graduation ceremonies. In some cases, students who failed the OGT cannot participate in commencements. Other districts are allowing "walk throughs" for students who failed the OGT, but still want to have an active part in graduation ceremonies.
This is the first year that Ohio seniors have been required to pass all five sections of the OGT in order to get a diploma. The sections are math, reading, writing, science and social studies. Seniors have had about a half dozen opportunities to take and pass the test, beginning with the end of their sophomore years. Most districts are offering a summertime "prep" course for anyone who failed this year and another chance to take the test before fall. Larger districts offer fall commencement ceremonies for students who didn't graduate in the spring.
Strickland is taken back by the fact that about 30,000 Ohio high school seniors were denied graduation this spring because they failed to pass one or more of the five sections of the OGT.
As a child psychologist, he is worried about the impact that failing to graduate on time would have long-term on a student's life. He is also concerned about the weight the OGT is given when it comes to preparedness.
He cited the ACT and other instruments as good indicators of a student's aptitude to do college work - in some cases, even better indicators than the OGT.
Local news stories from around the state are full of student protests, court actions and other conflicts over the OGT and graduation ceremonies. In some cases, students who failed the OGT cannot participate in commencements. Other districts are allowing "walk throughs" for students who failed the OGT, but still want to have an active part in graduation ceremonies.
This is the first year that Ohio seniors have been required to pass all five sections of the OGT in order to get a diploma. The sections are math, reading, writing, science and social studies. Seniors have had about a half dozen opportunities to take and pass the test, beginning with the end of their sophomore years. Most districts are offering a summertime "prep" course for anyone who failed this year and another chance to take the test before fall. Larger districts offer fall commencement ceremonies for students who didn't graduate in the spring.
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