Ohio School Districts Rework Graduation Ceremonies to Accommodate COVID-19 Era
May 10, 2020
After recently receiving a one-year waiver from ESSA’s testing and accountability requirements, Ohio legislators “subsequently passed emergency legislation canceling the spring administration of Ohio’s state tests and waiving report card requirements other than reporting of some limited, available data.” Shortly thereafter, Governor Mike DeWine “announced Ohio school buildings would remain closed for the remainder of the year.” Now, as the school year winds down, districts are coming up with creative ways to “bring the Class of 2020 some pomp and circumstance in this unprecedented time of social distancing and learning at home.” From video-based commencements to staggered, in-person ceremonies that practice social distancing to events held in cars “at drive-thrus and even drive-ins,” graduation plans continue to move forward.