July 1987: State-wide high school proficiency testing program in reading, writing, mathematics and citizenship
November 1988: State Board of Education adopts learning outcomes for proficiency tests
Fall 1990: Legislation enacted to require a four-part test be given to ninth grade students
March 1992: Proficiency testing added for students in grades 4 and 6
1994: All students must successfully pass all four parts of ninth grade test to earn a public high school diploma
1995: Science proficiency added to tests
1998: Graduates required to pass five parts of ninth grade proficiency test to receive diploma

Fourth Grade: All fourth graders take tests in reading, writing, mathematics, citizenship and science.

• Administered in March
• Results in June
• Summer of 1999 district remediation must be offered to students who are below in 3 or more of the tests

Sixth Grade: All sixth graders take tests in reading, writing, mathematics, citizenship and science.

• Administered in March
• Results in June
• Summer of 1999: District remediation must be offered to students who are below proficient in three or more of the tests.
• July 1, 1999: Districts may retain students who are below in three or more of the tests.

Ninth Grade: All ninth graders take tests in reading, writing, mathematics, citizenship and science.

• Administered to 9th -11th graders in October
• Results in December and January
• Re-administered to 8th -11th graders in March
• Results in April and May
• Summer intervention must be offered to students who do not pass ninth grade proficiency tests.

July 2001: Districts must retain 4th grade students who do not meet proficiency requirements in reading.
July 2001: 4th grade reading proficiency test will be given in the fall, spring, and summer

• State Department of Education has recommended choosing a grade between 4th and 10th to replace the 6th grade proficiency tests (not yet decided.)
• 9th grade proficiency tests will be phased out

By being open for business on evenings, on weekends, and throughout summer, public libraries are in a unique position to serve these student patrons. By developing outreach activities and community partnerships, public libraries in Ohio are well positioned to become active participants within the proficiency support network.

The Project Coordinators are Gretchen Hamann and Jean Sylak of HandS Educational Consultants based in Cleveland.

The Regional Library Systems wish to acknowledge the State Library of Ohio for the support and encouragement for the project, and for the state aid received for this and other collaborative programs.

The Regional Library Systems listed below have provided funding and
participated in the development of these Partnerships For Proficiency
Testing workshops: