(A) For the purposes of this rule, "advanced science" refers to courses in the Ohio curriculum as defined in division (C)(5)(c) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, an AP/IB science course, or a college credit plus science course.

(B) Each school district shall award the diploma with honors to any student who is determined to be eligible in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Successfully completes the high school curriculum or the individualized education program developed for the student by the high school or demonstrates technical expertise in a career-technical education program;

(2) Has satisfied the assessment requirements referenced in division (A)(2)(a)(i) or (A)(2)(b) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code; and

(3) Meets the criteria for honors as provided in this rule.

(C) No school district shall require students to apply for or declare intention to qualify for the diploma with honors.

(D) Upon initial receipt of this rule after its adoption, and each school year thereafter, each school district shall notify all high school students and their parents of the adoption of this rule and of the criteria required for earning the diplomas provided by this rule.

(E) The school district shall not add to, nor delete from, the criteria provided in paragraphs (I) to (P) of this rule.

(F) The provisions of paragraph (E) of this rule shall not be interpreted to prohibit a school district from recognizing academic excellence in additional ways that the local district board of education deems appropriate.

(G) Each school district that enrolls students in a joint vocational school shall involve the joint vocational district in the development of any policy, guidelines, or procedures adopted pursuant to this rule. Each joint vocational school district shall provide at least annually to the appropriate home district information regarding the status with respect to this rule of each student who is enrolled at the vocational school.

(H) The diploma awarded in accordance with this rule shall be in such form as the district board of education prescribes; bear the date of its issue; and contain the signatures of the president and treasurer of the district board of education, the superintendent of schools, and the principal of the high school.

(I) To be awarded a diploma with honors, the student shall be required to meet at least all but one of the criteria for the specified type of honors diploma. A student shall not be required to meet more than the specified number of criteria, nor shall any student be required to meet any one specified criterion.

(1) Any student who receives high school credit for a course in accordance with the provisions of former Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code (postsecondary enrollment options) or current Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code (college credit plus) or in accordance with the provisions of division (G) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code (credit for advanced work below ninth grade), shall receive credit for the course toward the requirements of this rule provided the course is related to a subject area listed in the criteria for the honors diploma.

(2) For the academic honors diploma, the international baccalaureate diploma, and the career tech honors diploma, students entering the ninth grade between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2017 may choose to pursue the diploma by meeting the requirements of the former rule or by meeting the requirements set forth herein.

(3) Students entering the ninth grade on or after July 1, 2017 must meet all of the requirements set forth in this rule to receive one of those honors diplomas. Upon the effective date of this rule, any student may earn a STEM honors diploma, arts honors diploma, or social science and civic engagement honors diploma by meeting the requirements set forth herein.

(J) The following are part of the criteria for any honors diploma for any student.

(1) An overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale maintained up to the last grading period of the senior year; and

(2) A composite score of twenty-seven on the 2016 ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score of twelve hundred eighty on the 2016 SAT math and evidence-based reading and writing sections, or an equivalent score on future ACT or SAT assessments. A table aligning new ACT and SAT assessment scores with old assessment scores is available on the department of educations website at education.ohio.gov.

(K) The following are additional criteria for the academic honors diploma:

(1) At least four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course, or a four course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) At least four units of science including two units of advanced science;

(3) Four units of social studies;

(4) Either three units of one world language or no less than two units of each of two world languages studied; and

(5) One unit of fine arts.

(L) A student seeking the international baccalaureate honors diploma shall complete all requirements established by the international baccalaureate organization for the international baccalaureate diploma programme. The following are additional criteria for the international baccalaureate honors diploma:

(1) Earn four units of mathematics including algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course, or complete a four course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) Earn four units of science including biology, chemistry, and at least one unit of advanced science;

(3) Earn four units of social studies;

(4) Earn four units of world languages (with at least two units for each language studied);

(5) Earn one unit of fine arts;

(6) Complete a field experience and document the experience in a portfolio specific to the students international baccalaureate area of focus; and

(7) Develop a comprehensive portfolio of work based on the students field experience or a topic related to the students international baccalaureate area of focus that is reviewed and validated by external experts.

(M) The following are additional criteria for a student who completes the career technical honors diploma:

(1) At least four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course, or a four course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) At least four units of science including two units of advanced science;

(3) Four units of social studies;

(4) Four units in a career-technical education program that leads to an industry recognized credential, results in an apprenticeship, or is part of an articulated career pathway which can lead to post-secondary credit. If the student's program design does not provide for any of these outcomes, then the student must achieve the proficiency benchmark established for the applicable Ohio career-technical competency assessment or the equivalent;

(5) Achieve the proficiency benchmark established for the Ohio career-technical competency assessment available at webxam.org (additional content available at education.ohio.gov) or an equivalent assessment aligned with state-approved and industry validated technical standards;

(6) Two units of one world language;

(7) Complete a field experience and document the experience in a portfolio specific to the students career technical area of focus;

(8) Develop a comprehensive portfolio of work based on the students field experience or a topic related to the students career technical area of focus that is reviewed and validated by external experts; and

(9) For the purposes of the criteria referenced in paragraph (J)(2) of this rule, a score of least six on the ACT WorkKeys reading for information assessment section and a score of at least six on the ACT WorkKeys applied mathematics section satisfies the requirement.

(N) The following are the additional criteria for the STEM honors diploma:

(1) Five units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course, or a four course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) Five units of science including two units of advanced science. One single course may fulfill the fifth required credit in both science and mathematics for the STEM honors diploma.

(3) Either three units of one world language or no less than two units of each of two world languages studied;

(4) One unit of fine arts;

(5) Two units of electives with a focus in STEM coursework;

(6) Complete a field experience and document the experience in a portfolio specific to the students STEM area of focus; and

(7) Develop a comprehensive portfolio of work based on the students field experience or a topic related to the students STEM area of focus that is reviewed and validated by external experts.

(O) The following are the additional criteria for the arts honors diploma:

(1) Four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course or a four course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) Three units of science including one unit of advanced science;

(3) Either three units of one world language or no less than two units of each of two world languages studied;

(4) Four units of fine arts;

(5) Two units of electives with a focus in fine arts coursework;

(6) Complete a field experience and document the experience in a portfolio specific to the students art area of focus; and

(7) Develop a comprehensive portfolio of work based on the students field experience or a topic related to the students art area of focus that is reviewed and validated by external experts.

(P) The following are the additional criteria for the social science and civic engagement honors diploma:

(1) Four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or equivalent), and one other higher level course, or a four course sequence which contains equivalent or higher content;

(2) Three units of science including one unit of advanced science;

(3) Five units of social studies;

(4) Either three units of one world language or no less than two units of each of two world languages studied;

(5) One unit of fine arts;

(6) Three units of electives with a focus in social science and/or civics coursework;

(7) Complete a field experience and document the experience in a portfolio specific to the students social studies area of focus; and

(8) Develop a comprehensive portfolio of work based on the students field experience or a topic related to the students social studies area of focus that is reviewed and validated by external experts.