Ohio Department of Education School Options

These documents are designed to provide school and district leaders guidance on how to implement their credit flexibility policy in ways that better ensure compliance and safeguard critical operations (e.g., state and federal accountability and school funding).

Policymakers intended credit flexibility to be implemented and customized to local circumstances. As a result, state-level assistance is limited. ODE cannot anticipate every question or circumstance a district might face. Local customization allows for a variety of approaches to implementation. Guidance reflects our best thinking to date, and answers may change as this process is iterative. Where feasible and appropriate, ODE is working in partnership with local administrators to consider ways of improving system design and operations.

General Information

• General Implementation FAQs (updated 12/9/10)
• Appeals Process (3/1/10)
• Appeals Procedures (1/4/11)
• EMIS Data Requirements (4/9/10)

Highly Qualified Teachers

• HQT Requirements (updated 3/17/10)
• HQT update: Expert Contracted from Outside Company, Computer as Instructor (9/15/10)

Funding Information

• School Finance (updated 5/26/10)
• Who Pays the Costs? (updated 10/15/10)
• Credit Flexibility Fee Flowchart (4/9/10)

Assessment/Gifted Information

• Assessment (3/30/10)
• Advanced Placement Exams (updated 10/15/10)
• Gifted Education (updated 8/20/10)

Physical Education/Athletic Eligibility Information

• Physical Education (updated 10/15/10)
• NCAA interpretation of “nontraditional coursework” (10/15/10)
• Athletic Eligibility (6/3/10)
• Physical Education and Credit Flexibility (Web page)

Career-Technical Information

• Career-Tech Credit Flex Presentation (10/29/10)
• Career-Tech Credit Flex (updated 8/23/10)

Students with Disabilities

• Students with Disabilities (2/10/12)

Over time, additional guidance topics may be identified and developed. Based on experiences during the 2010-11 school year, revisions to these documents also may be required.

• World Languages
  • Credit Flexibility and World Languages
  • Supporting Data - Proficiency and Course Credit
  • Language Proficiency
  • Frequently Asked Questions 
  • Existing Credit Flexibility World Languages Program in Ohio
  • Stark County Educational Service Center Recommendations
  • Jackson Local Credit Flexibility Competency Demonstration
• Arts Education (in development)
• Resources for online Educational Options (in development)
• Career/Technical Education
  • Academic/CTE credit self-assessment
  • Recommendations from ACTE report Reinventing the American High School
• Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA)
  • Policy guidance (from the OSBA policy manual)
  • Featured article on Credit Flexibility (from the July issue of OSBA's PDQ)
• Ohio High School Athletics Association (OHSAA)
  • Guidance for athletics eligibility (four-page pdf from OHSAA website - see especially page four, checkboxes two and three)
  • Credit Flexibility and the OHSAA (PowerPoint)
• Oregon State education flexibility policy language

Contact Information
Click here for ODE Credit Flexibility contact list, or call toll-free (877) 644-6338 and ask to speak to someone about high school credit flexibility.