(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Approved industry credential or certificate" means a credential or certificate that is approved by the chancellor of higher education.
(2) "Approved institution" means an eligible institution that has been approved to participate in the adult diploma pilot program under this section.
(3) "Approved program of study" means a program of study offered by an approved institution that satisfies the requirements of division (B) of this section.
(4) An eligible student's "career pathway training program amount" means the following:
(a) If the student is enrolled in a tier one career pathway training program, $4,800;
(b) If the student is enrolled in a tier two career pathway training program, $3,200;
(c) If the student is enrolled in a tier three career pathway training program, $1,600.
(5) "Eligible institution" means any of the following:
(a) A community college established under Chapter 3354. of the Revised Code;
(b) A technical college established under Chapter 3357. of the Revised Code;
(c) A state community college established under Chapter 3358. of the Revised Code;
(d) An Ohio technical center recognized by the chancellor that provides post-secondary workforce education.
(6) "Eligible student" means an individual who is at least eighteen years of age and has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence, as defined in section4109.06of the Revised Code.
(7) A "tier one career pathway training program" is a career pathway training program that requires more than six hundred hours of technical training, as determined by the department of education and workforce.
(8) A "tier two career pathway training program" is a career pathway training program that requires more than three hundred hours of technical training but less than six hundred hours of technical training, as determined by the department.
(9) A "tier three career pathway training program" is a career pathway training program that requires three hundred hours or less of technical training, as determined by the department.
(10) An eligible student's "work readiness training amount" means the following:
(a) If the student's grade level upon initial enrollment in an approved program of study at an approved institution is below the ninth grade, as determined in accordance with rules adopted under division (E) of this section, $1,500.
(b) If the student's grade level upon initial enrollment in an approved program of study at an approved institution is at or above the ninth grade, as determined in accordance with rules adopted under division (E) of this section, $750.
(B) The adult diploma pilot program is hereby established to permit an eligible institution to obtain approval from the department of education and workforce and the chancellor to develop and offer a program of study that allows an eligible student to obtain a high school diploma. A program shall be eligible for this approval if it satisfies all of the following requirements:
(1) The program allows an eligible student to complete the requirements for obtaining a high school diploma that are specified in rules adopted under division (E) of this section while also completing requirements for an approved industry credential or certificate.
(2) The program includes career advising and outreach.
(3) The program includes opportunities for students to receive a competency-based education.
(C) Notwithstanding sections3313.61,3313.611,3313.613,3313.614,3313.618, and3313.619of the Revised Code, the department shall grant a high school diploma to each eligible student who enrolls in an approved program of study at an approved institution and completes the requirements for obtaining a high school diploma that are specified in rules adopted under division (E) of this section.
(D)(1) The department shall calculate the following amount for each eligible student enrolled in each approved institution's approved program of study:
(The student's career pathway training program amount + the student's work readiness training amount) X 1.2
(2) Except as provided in division (D)(4) of this section, the department shall pay the amount calculated for an eligible student under division (D)(1) of this section to the approved institution in which the student is enrolled in the following manner:
(a) Twenty-five per cent of the amount calculated under division (D)(1) of this section shall be paid to the approved institution after the student successfully completes the first third of the approved program of study, as determined by the department;
(b) Twenty-five per cent of the amount calculated under division (D)(1) of this section shall be paid to the approved institution after the student successfully completes the second third of the approved program of study, as determined by the department;
(c) Fifty per cent of the amount calculated under division (D)(1) of this section shall be paid to the approved institution after the student successfully completes the final third of the approved program of study, as determined by the department.
(3) Of the amount paid to an approved institution under division (D)(2) of this section, the institution may use the amount that is in addition to the student's career pathway training amount and the student's work readiness training amount for the associated services of the approved program of study. These services include counseling, advising, assessment, and other services as determined or required by the department.
(4) If the department and the chancellor determine that it is appropriate for an entity other than the department to make full or partial payments for an eligible student under division (D)(2) of this section, that entity shall make those payments and the department shall not make those payments.
(E) The director of education and workforce, in consultation with the chancellor, shall adopt rules for the implementation of the adult diploma pilot program, including all of the following:
(1) The requirements for applying for program approval;
(2) The requirements for obtaining a high school diploma through the program, including the requirement to obtain a passing score on an assessment that is appropriate for the career pathway training program that is being completed by the eligible student, and the date on which these requirements take effect;
(3) The assessment or assessments that may be used to complete the assessment requirement for each career pathway training program under division (E)(2) of this section and the score that must be obtained on each assessment in order to pass the assessment;
(4) Guidelines regarding the funding of the program under division (D) of this section, including a method of funding for students who transfer from one approved institution to another approved institution prior to completing an approved program of study;
(5) Circumstances under which an eligible student may be charged for tuition, supplies, or associated fees while enrolled in an approved institution's approved program of study;
(6) A requirement that an eligible student may not be charged for tuition, supplies, or associated fees while enrolled in an approved institution's approved program of study except in the circumstances described under division (E)(5) of this section;
(7) The payment of federal funds that are to be used by approved programs of study at approved institutions.
Last updated September 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM