To enact section 3313.603 of the Revised Code to codify the minimum requirements for graduation from high school; to increase the total number of units of credit necessary for graduation from eighteen to twenty; to increase the required units of English language arts from three to four; to increase the required units of each of the areas of mathematics and social studies from two to three; to increase the required units of science incrementally from one to three; to reduce the elective units incrementally from nine to six; and to require the Ohio Board of Regents to recommend a plan to increase the number of math and science teachers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 3313.603. (A) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

(1) "ONE UNIT" MEANS A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY HOURS OF COURSE INSTRUCTION, EXCEPT THAT FOR A LABORATORY COURSE, "ONE UNIT" MEANS A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOURS OF COURSE INSTRUCTION.

(2) "ONE-HALF UNIT" MEANS A MINIMUM OF SIXTY HOURS OF COURSE INSTRUCTION, EXCEPT THAT FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES, "ONE-HALF UNIT" MEANS A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY HOURS OF COURSE INSTRUCTION.

(B) BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 15, 2001, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION FROM EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SHALL INCLUDE TWENTY UNITS EARNED IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE AND SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS:

(1) ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, FOUR UNITS;

(2) HEALTH, ONE-HALF UNIT;

(3) MATHEMATICS, THREE UNITS;

(4) PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ONE-HALF UNIT;

(5) SCIENCE, TWO UNITS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2003, AND THREE UNITS THEREAFTER, WHICH AT ALL TIMES SHALL INCLUDE BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:

(a) BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ONE UNIT;

(b) PHYSICAL SCIENCES, ONE UNIT.

(6) SOCIAL STUDIES, THREE UNITS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:

(a) AMERICAN HISTORY, ONE-HALF UNIT;

(b) AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, ONE-HALF UNIT.

(7) ELECTIVE UNITS, SEVEN UNITS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2003, AND SIX UNITS THEREAFTER.

(C) EVERY HIGH SCHOOL MAY PERMIT STUDENTS BELOW THE NINTH GRADE TO TAKE ADVANCED WORK FOR CREDIT. A HIGH SCHOOL SHALL COUNT SUCH ADVANCED WORK TOWARD THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION IF THE ADVANCED WORK WAS BOTH:

(1) TAUGHT BY A PERSON WHO POSSESSES A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 3319.22 OR 3319.222 OF THE REVISED CODE THAT IS VALID FOR TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL;

(2) DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY, LOCAL, OR EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE BOARD OF THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT AS MEETING THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS.

(D) UNITS EARNED IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES THAT ARE DELIVERED THROUGH INTEGRATED ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION ARE ELIGIBLE TO MEET THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS OF DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(E) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES NOT INTEND TO REQUIRE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCREASE THEIR TOTAL NUMBER OF TEACHING POSITIONS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION. NOTWITHSTANDING SECTIONS 3319.16 AND 3319.17 of the Revised Code, A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY ELIMINATE TEACHING POSITIONS WITHIN ELECTIVE SUBJECT AREAS WHEN IT HIRES ADDITIONAL TEACHERS WITHIN THE CORE SUBJECT AREAS OF DIVISIONS (B)(1) TO (6) OF THIS SECTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS SECTION.