OH House vote planned on letter grades for schools - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

OH House vote planned on letter grades for schools

By By JULIE CARR SMYTH
AP Statehouse Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio schools would get old-fashioned A through F grades under a new performance ranking system moving swiftly through the Statehouse.

The Ohio House has scheduled a vote on the voluminous ratings overhaul Thursday. Senate President Tom Niehaus (NEE'-hows) has also set the proposal as a priority in that chamber before the 2-year session ends this month.

The bill would bestow A, B, C, D and F grades on school districts, school buildings, community schools, STEM schools and college-preparatory boarding schools based on 13 performance measures.

The grades would be phased in over three school years to replace the current 5-tier system of excellent, effective, continuous improvement, academic watch, and academic emergency.

Community schools serving mostly academically challenged students would see a different scale developed.

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