What is your district's graduation policy?
The following districts do not allow students
to participate in graduation ceremonies if they fail one or more portions of the Ohio Graduation Test:
Carlisle
Fairfield
Franklin
Hamilton
Middletown
The following schools do allow students to participate in graduation if they fail one or more portions of the Ohio Graduation Test:
Madison
Monroe
Edgewood: students must pass four of the five sections to participate
MIDDLETOWN — Senior Justin Carter’s purple graduation cap and gown have been lying in his car for days.
The 19-year-old, who’s overcome years of adversity, including dropping out and returning to school, has been eagerly anticipating walking to the podium Monday, May 24, to get his diploma.
But Carter is among 32 Middletown High School seniors who found out this week they won’t be allowed to participate in the Class of 2010 graduation. Those students didn’t pass all sections of the Ohio Graduation Test, a state requirement to earn a diploma.
Middletown schools’ policy, sent home to seniors in January, states that “seniors that do not pass the Ohio Graduation Test will not be permitted to participate in our graduation ceremonies in the spring.”
“I was supposed to be sitting right next to my little sister out there who is also graduating,” Carter said. “I just don’t understand why we found out so late. ”
High schools received the official OGT scores from the March test on Monday, May 17. This year, Middletown’s graduation ceremony is earlier than usual, which has caused a conflict with how much notice was given, said spokeswoman Debbie Alberico.
“The Middletown City School District has high expectations for all of our students,” said Superintendent Greg Rasmussen, who said he empathizes with the students and their families. “It is an unfortunate situation but we need to remember the most important thing is for the students to earn their diploma.”
Students, parents disappointed with rules on walking for graduation
When 19-year-old Justin Carter heard the news this week he failed the social studies portion of his Ohio Graduation Test and would not be allowed graduate, it was just one more obstacle in his journey to get his diploma.
Only one question made the difference in passing the exam and will keep Carter from walking with the rest of the Class of 2010. Although he’s earned the rest of his credits, school policy considers Carter ineligible to be at graduation by not passing the OGT.
“I made a lot of mistakes in the past,” said Carter, who dropped out of school after three years of being a freshman. “A couple of my buddies left school, so I thought I would, too. I thought I’d just get a job. I got laid off a couple of times and life sort of hit me in the face and said, 'Yeah, you did this even though everyone told you not to.’ ”
He was determined to get back to school, going to Edgewood High School to get enough credits to enroll back into Middletown, which initially rejected him because of his age. He earned a PTO scholarship less than a month ago for his accomplishments, yet he will not be there on Monday, May 24, for the graduation ceremony.
Carter is among 32 Middletown students who found out Tuesday, May 18, they did not pass the OGT and are barred from walking in their graduation ceremony.
Caps and gowns are bought, parties planned, invitations sent out and families far and wide are making their way to Middletown to celebrate an event that won’t happen for these students.
Parent Sherrell McCay said the last-minute notification is what hurts the most.
“I understand that they can’t get a diploma if they don’t pass,” she said. “If they’ve done everything else, to not let them walk is just unfair and it is something they can never get back.”
Tasha Hightower said she doesn’t understand how her daughter Kanesha Johnson has a grade-point average of 3.57, but still will not graduate.
“My daughter thinks she’s a failure,” Hightower said. “This is something we look forward to all of our lives and they don’t understand they are taking it away from us.”
The state will not grant a diploma without passing the OGT, but each district decides whether to allow a student to be a part of graduation, according to the Ohio Department of Education.
Middletown City Schools has an all-or-nothing policy in meeting academic requirements to be at graduation. Seniors who pass the June test will receive their diploma at a summer ceremony, according to Superintendent Greg Rasmussen.
Students first take the OGT in 10th grade and can retake the test until they pass all five sections of the exam, according to the ODE. The test is offered at least three times a year and intervention classes are available at many schools during the summer.
Three local districts, Edgewood, Madison and Monroe, will allow seniors to walk at graduation even if they haven’t passed all sections of the OGT. However, Edgewood requires that students pass four of five sections to participate.
“We often confuse the ceremonial part of graduation and receiving the diploma as one and the same,” said Madison Superintendent Tom York. “Our policy is that if students are able to pass the test in the summer, we let them be part of the ceremony .”
Middletown and Franklin stand by their policies to not allow students to participate if they won’t be receiving a diploma, saying it keeps students accountable and academic standards high.
“It’s a state requirement for students to pass the OGT,” said Franklin Superintendent Arnol Elam. “Graduation is a celebration of completing all of the requirements. If the students don’t meet the requirements, then they cannot participate.”
Carter, who plans to go into the U.S. Army this fall, said he understands rules that must be followed, but admitted his exclusion was a sting.
“I’ve hit road blocks before,” he said quietly. “I’m not going to stop until I get what I want. I’m going to take the test in the summer and I am going to make it. I’ve come too far not to.”
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