Ohio Core Curriculum

Help Give a Final Push to Stop Core Curriculum- Defend Public Schools from more UNFUNDED MANDATES!!! - OEA Opposed to SB 311/HB 565

The Ohio Core Curriculum legislation is close to being stopped in the House of Representatives. Help prevent the legislature from rushing this unfunded legislation by keeping the pressure on! Join the fight to defend public schools from more unfunded mandates by emailing your state representative. Give them some final encouragement to oppose the Core unless it is funded properly. Tell them to slow down and fix the problems with Ohio Core in the next General Assembly, where funding and capacity issues for school districts can be adequately addressed!!!

Political leaders are playing dirty to get the Core Curriculum passed despite significant opposition. Senate Bill 311 was recently passed out of House Education Committee, but only after John Husted, the Speaker of the House, removed five Republican members of the commitee who planned to vote NO. He replaced them with five other Republicans from his leadership team who promised him to vote YES. Take action now and help stop these tactics!!!

The Bill:

Senate Bill 311 and House Bill 565 propose the establishment of a new Ohio Core Curriculum with more math and science requirements.
Completion of the new curriculum would be required for graduation from all public, community, and private schools, beginning with the graduating Class of 2011-2012.
Completion of the new curriculum would be required in order to be eligible for admission to Ohio's 4-year universities.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Ohio Core

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please do not pass the Ohio Core Curriculum in lame-duck session! I am an advocate of academic rigor, but I oppose Senate Bill 311 because it is a huge unfunded mandate that does not provide my district the tools and resources to make it a reality. If the Core Curriculum is now Ohio's top education priority, it needs to be funded like a priority.

This legislation is too important to be rushed. It is better to do it right than to force it into law before we know how much it will cost and what tools school districts will need.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to following this process in the next General Assembly.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 28, 2006

Background Information

CORE CURRICULUM SPECIFICS:

The major elements of the plan are as follows:

1) Curriculum: Requires all students to take the Ohio Core, a more rigorous high school curriculum intended to prepare students for success in Ohio'

· Four years of mathematics, including Algebra II;

· Four years of English;

· Three years of science with laboratory experience including one unit of physical science, one unit of biology, and one unit of either chemistry, physics, advanced biology, engineering science, or biomedical science.

· Three years of social studies; and

· Five units of electives, which must consist of one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education or technology.

2) Opt-out: Students may opt-out of the Core Curriculum by following these procedures: A student who enters ninth grade on or after July 1, 2008, and before July 1, 2012, and has attended high school for two years, may qualify for high school graduation without completing the Ohio Core Curriculum. In order to do so, the student and the student's parent, guardian, or custodian must meet with the school counselor and principal to discuss the student's career or post-secondary plans and sign a written consent acknowledging the consequences of not completing the Ohio Core. Such a student must complete the existing curriculum under current law, and a career development plan must be developed with support and counseling from the school.

3) Higher Education Admissions: Completion of the Ohio Core Curriculum is required for admission into Ohio's state-funded four-year colleges and universities. This restriction does not apply to Central State University, Shawnee State

4) Remedial Classes: Focuses remedial and developmental education on Ohio's two-year college campuses, where costs are lower and more focused support systems can be put in place for students. Beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, the plan limits and phases-out over five years state operating funds for academic remedial or developmental courses, except for Central State University, Shawnee State University, Youngstown State University, university branches, community colleges, state community colleges, and technical colleges. State universities may continue to offer academic remedial and developmental courses at their main campuses beyond the extent for which operating subsidies are paid and after the subsidies are fully phased out.

5) Dual Enrollment: Requires each school district, community school and nonpublic high school to offer students in grades 9 to 12 the opportunity to participate in a dual enrollment program to earn college credit, e.g. Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO).