(A) The state board of education shall adopt, by rule, standards for awarding high school credit equivalent to credit for completion of high school academic and vocational education courses to applicants for diplomas under this section. The standards may permit high school credit to be granted to an applicant for any of the following:

(1) Work experiences or experiences as a volunteer;

(2) Completion of academic, vocational, or self-improvement courses offered to persons over the age of twenty-one by a chartered public or nonpublic school;

(3) Completion of academic, vocational, or self-improvement courses offered by an organization, individual, or educational institution other than a chartered public or nonpublic school;

(4) Other life experiences considered by the board to provide knowledge and learning experiences comparable to that gained in a classroom setting.

(B) The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district that operates a high school shall grant a diploma of adult education to any applicant if all of the following apply:

(1) The applicant is a resident of the district;

(2) The applicant is over the age of twenty-one and has not been issued a diploma as provided in section 3313.61 of the Revised Code;

(3) Subject to section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, the applicant has met the assessment requirements of division (B)(3)(a) or (b) of this section, as applicable.

(a) Prior to July 1, 2014, the applicant either:

(i) Has attained the applicable scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all of the assessments required by that division or was excused or exempted from any such assessment pursuant to section 3313.532 or was exempted from attaining the applicable score on any such assessment pursuant to division (H) or (L) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code;

(ii) Has satisfied the alternative conditions prescribed in section 3313.615 of the Revised Code.

(b) On or after July 1, 2014, has met the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 of the Revised Code, except and only to the extent that the applicant is excused from some portion of that section pursuant to section 3313.532 of the Revised Code or division (H) or (L) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code.

(4) The district board determines, in accordance with the standards adopted under division (A) of this section, that the applicant has attained sufficient high school credits, including equivalent credits awarded under such standards, to qualify as having successfully completed the curriculum required by the district for graduation.

(C) If a district board determines that an applicant is not eligible for a diploma under division (B) of this section, it shall inform the applicant of the reason the applicant is ineligible and shall provide a list of any courses required for the diploma for which the applicant has not received credit. An applicant may reapply for a diploma under this section at any time.

(D) If a district board awards an adult education diploma under this section, the president and treasurer of the board and the superintendent of schools shall sign it. Each diploma shall bear the date of its issuance, be in such form as the district board prescribes, and be paid for from the district's general fund, except that the state board may by rule prescribe standard language to be included on each diploma.

(E) As used in this division, " English learner" has the same meaning as in division (C)(3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding division (C)(3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, no English learner who has not either attained the applicable scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the assessments required by that division, or has not met the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 of the Revised Code, shall be awarded a diploma under this section.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 487, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 09-16-2004