Ohio House OKs plan to give schools letter grades

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio schools would get old-fashioned A through F grades under a new performance ranking system that has cleared the Ohio House.

Representatives voted 58-27 to pass the voluminous ratings overhaul on Thursday, sending it to the Senate.

Senate President Tom Niehaus has also made the proposal a priority in that chamber before the two-year session ends next month.

The bill would bestow A, B, C, D and F grades on school districts, school buildings, community schools, STEM schools and college-preparatory boarding schools based on 13 performance measures.

The grades would be phased in over three school years to replace the current five-tier system of excellent, effective, continuous improvement, academic watch, and academic emergency.

Community schools serving mostly academically challenged students would see a different scale developed.