Title
To Support the Extension of Graduation Options to the Classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021
Body
WHEREAS, young people in Columbus deserve every opportunity to succeed, and ensuring a level playing field as they work to graduate from high school is an important component of empowering them for future success; and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio implemented new, more rigorous testing standards for the class of 2018 as a requirement for graduation which raised concern that without adequate time to prepare, these students would not be fully prepared to successfully meet these new testing standards; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the immense challenges presented to students, their families, and entire communities when large numbers of individuals fail to graduate from high school, the 132nd Ohio General Assembly created two alternative pathways to high school graduation for the class of 2018 in section 733.67 of House Bill 49; and
WHEREAS, the same challenges faced by the class of 2018 are still present for the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021, with the 2019 class alone having nearly 10,000 students at risk of not receiving a high school diploma if they are not afforded the two additional paths to graduation being granted to the 2018 class; and
WHEREAS, school districts across Ohio are seeking to extend the additional pathways to graduation to the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021 in order to offer the same equitable options to graduate being granted to the class of 2018; and
WHEREAS, while a long term policy solution to graduation pathways is being deliberated by the Ohio General Assembly, immediate legislative action is necessary to prevent the irreparable damage that would result from thousands of students failing to receive a high school diploma who would otherwise successfully graduate if they were provided the same opportunities as the class of 2018; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby support...
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