What happened to the Ohio Proficiency Test?

Testing and graduation requirements in Ohio have changed for high school students. The Ohio Ninth-Grade Proficiency Tests are being phased out and replaced with the Ohio Graduation tests.

The proficiency tests measured student learning in grades 4, 6, 9 and 12. The 12th grade proficiency test was discontinued a few years ago and March 2005 was the last administration of the 4th and 6th grade tests. All students in grades 3-8 will now be taking the new state achievement tests based on Ohio’s Academic Content Standards. The High School Ohio Graduation Tests will be administered to 10th graders as a graduation requirement.

There are still a number of students who were freshmen in 2004, taking the 9th grade proficiency test, but it will be administered for the last time in September of 2008. Sophomores in March 2005(graduating class of 2007) were the first class responsible for taking the Ohio Graduation Test and passing all five tests as a graduation requirement.

Additional information on the standards is available at the Ohio Department of Education Website
Ohio Statewide Testing Information