Ohio is changing how it evaluates and communicates the academic performance of its schools and districts.

Schools and districts will no longer receive labels like “Excellent” or “Continuous Improvement.” In its place, they will receive letter grades on several measures in the same way a student receives grades for his or her classes.

The new report card will be phased in over several years, starting this year. Beginning in August 2015, schools and districts will receive grades on measures like the four-year graduation rate. The grades for measures will be combined into six broad categories, called components, which also will receive a grade. Finally, the component grades will be combined into an overall grade for the school or district.

The six components that will be on the new report card are:
1. Achievement: This component measures absolute academic achievement compared to national standards of success.

2. Progress: This component measures the average annual improvement for each student (i.e., whether a student gained more or less a year of knowledge and skills each year).

3. Gap Closing: This component measures how well a school or district is doing in narrowing gaps in reading, math and graduation rate among students according to socioeconomic, racial, ethnic or disability status.

4. Graduation Rate: This component measures the percentage of students who entered the 9th grade and graduated in four and five years.

5. K-3 Literacy: This component measures the improvement in reading for students in kindergarten through grade three.

6. Prepared for Success: This component measures whether students who graduate are prepared for college or a career.

The transition to the new report card begins right away. In August 2013, the report card will have nine measures that receive grades. There will be no component or overall grades until August 2015. This will give schools time to adjust to the new system and focus their efforts on being successful in all areas that are being measured. The report card will also be interactive on ODE’s website, so everyone can find the information they need.

In coming months, the State Board of Education will be working with educators and communities to determine how to award letter grades in each of the categories listed above.

For more information on each of the components, refer to the one page summaries posted on ODE’s website: newreportcard.education.ohio.gov.