(A) The department of education and workforce shall establish a system of state diploma seals for the purposes of allowing a student to qualify for graduation under section3313.618of the Revised Code. State diploma seals may be attached or affixed to the high school diploma of a student enrolled in a public or chartered nonpublic school. The system of state diploma seals shall consist of all of the following:
(1) The state seal of biliteracy established under section3313.6111of the Revised Code;
(2) The OhioMeansJobs-readiness seal established under section3313.6112of the Revised Code;
(3) The state diploma seals prescribed under division (C) of this section.
(B) A school district, community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code, or chartered nonpublic school shall attach or affix the state seals prescribed under division (C) of this section to the diploma and transcript of a student enrolled in the district or school who meets the requirements established under that division.
(C) The department shall establish all of the following state diploma seals:
(1) An industry-recognized credential seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by doing either of the following:
(a) Earning an industry-recognized credential, or group of credentials, approved under section3313.6113of the Revised Code that meets the criteria established under section3313.6113of the Revised Code to qualify for a high school diploma and aligns to a job that is determined to be in demand in this state and its regions under section6301.11of the Revised Code.
(b) Obtaining a license approved under section3313.6113of the Revised Code that is issued by a state agency or board for practice in a vocation that requires an examination for issuance of that license.
(2) A college-ready seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by attaining a score that is remediation-free, in accordance with standards adopted under division (F) of section3345.061of the Revised Code, on a nationally standardized assessment prescribed under division (B)(1) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code or by attaining a passing score, as determined by the department of education and workforce and aligned with current statewide college-level examination program scores identified by the chancellor of higher education, on a college-level examination program examination.
(3) A military seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by doing one of the following:
(a) Providing evidence that the student has enlisted in a branch of the armed services of the United States as defined in section5910.01of the Revised Code;
(b) Participating in a junior reserve officer training program approved by the congress of the United States under title 10 of the United States Code;
(c) Providing evidence that the student has accepted a scholarship to enter the reserve officer training corps;
(d) Providing evidence that the student has been appointed to a United States military service academy.
(4) A citizenship seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by doing any of the following:
(a) Demonstrating at least a proficient level of skill as prescribed under division (B)(5)(a) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code on both the American history and American government end-of-course examinations prescribed under division (B)(2) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code;
(b) Attaining a score level prescribed under division (B)(5)(d) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code that is at least the equivalent of a proficient level of skill in appropriate advanced placement or international baccalaureate examinations or by attaining a passing score, as determined by the department, on a college-level examination program examination in lieu of the American history and American government end-of-course examinations;
(c) In lieu of the American history and American government end-of-course examinations, attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in either:
(i) An American history course and an American government course that are offered by the student's high school;
(ii) Appropriate courses taken through the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code.
(d) In the case of a student who takes an alternate assessment in accordance with division (C)(1) of section3301.0711of the Revised Code, attaining a score established by the department on the alternate assessment in social studies;
(e) In the case of a student who transfers into an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school from another state or who enrolls in an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school after receiving home education or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school in the previous school year, attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in courses that correspond with the American history and American government end-of-course examinations and that the student completed in the state from which the student transferred or completed while receiving home education or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school. Division (C)(4)(e) of this section does not apply to any such student with respect to an American history or American government course for which an end-of-course examination is associated that the student takes after enrolling in the high school.
(5) A science seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by doing any of the following:
(a) Demonstrating at least a proficient level of skill as prescribed under division (B)(5)(a) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code on the science end-of-course examination prescribed under division (B)(2) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code;
(b) Attaining a score level prescribed under division (B)(5)(d) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code that is at least the equivalent of a proficient level of skill in an appropriate advanced placement or international baccalaureate examination or by attaining a passing score, as determined by the department, on a college-level examination program examination in lieu of the science end-of-course examination;
(c) In lieu of the science end-of-course examination, attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in either:
(i) A science course listed in divisions (C)(5)(c)(i) to (iii) of section3313.603of the Revised Code that is offered by the student's high school;
(ii) An appropriate course taken through the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code.
(d) In the case of a student who takes an alternate assessment in accordance with division (C)(1) of section3301.0711of the Revised Code, attaining a score established by the department on the alternate assessment in science;
(e) In the case of a student who transfers into an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school from another state or enrolls in an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school after receiving home education or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school in the previous school year, attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in a course that corresponds with the science end-of-course examination and that the student completed in the state from which the student transferred or completed while receiving home instruction or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school. Division (C)(5)(e) of this section does not apply to any such student who takes a science course for which an end-of-course examination is associated after enrolling in the high school.
(6) An honors diploma seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by meeting the additional criteria for an honors diploma under division (B) of section3313.61of the Revised Code.
(7) A technology seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by doing any of the following:
(a) Subject to division (B)(5)(d) of section3301.0712of the Revised Code, attaining a score level that is at least the equivalent of a proficient level of skill in an appropriate advanced placement or international baccalaureate examination or by attaining a passing score, as determined by the department of education and workforce and aligned with the current statewide college-level examination program scores identified by the chancellor of higher education, on a college-level examination program examination;
(b) Attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in an appropriate course taken through the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code;
(c) Completing a course offered through the student's district or school that meets guidelines developed by the department. However, a district or school shall not be required to offer a course that meets those guidelines.
(d) In the case of a student who transfers into an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school from another state or enrolls in an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school after receiving home education or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school in the previous school year, attaining a final course grade that is the equivalent of a "B" or higher in an appropriate course, as determined by the district or school, that the student completed in the state from which the student transferred or completed while receiving home education or attending a nonchartered, nontax-supported school.
(8) A community service seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by completing a community service project that is aligned with guidelines adopted by the student's district board or school governing authority.
(9) A fine and performing arts seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by demonstrating skill in the fine or performing arts according to an evaluation that is aligned with guidelines adopted by the student's district board or school governing authority.
(10) A student engagement seal. A student shall meet the requirement for this seal by participating in extracurricular activities such as athletics, clubs, or student government to a meaningful extent, as determined by guidelines adopted by the student's district board or school governing authority.
(D)(1) Each district or school shall develop guidelines for at least one of the state seals prescribed under divisions (C)(8) to (10) of this section.
(2) For the purposes of determining whether a student who transfers to a district or school has satisfied the state diploma seal requirement under division (B)(2) of section3313.618of the Revised Code, each district or school shall recognize a state diploma seal prescribed under divisions (C)(8) to (10) of this section and earned by a student at another district or a different public or chartered nonpublic school regardless of whether the district or school to which the student transfers has developed guidelines under this section for that state seal.
(3) In guidelines developed for a state diploma seal prescribed under divisions (C)(8) to (10) of this section, each district or school shall include a method to give, to the extent feasible, a student who transfers into the district or school a proportional amount of credit for any progress the student was making toward earning that state seal at the school district or different public or chartered nonpublic school from which the student transfers.
(E) Each district or school shall maintain appropriate records to identify students who have met the requirements prescribed under division (C) of this section for earning the state seals established under that division.
(F) The department shall prepare and deliver to each district or school an appropriate mechanism for assigning a state diploma seal established under division (C) of this section.
(G) A student shall not be charged a fee to be assigned a state seal prescribed under division (C) of this section on the student's diploma and transcript.
Last updated July 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM