"No matter what you choose to do after high school, you'll need a strong academic background and to be ready and prepared to continue to learn," Taft said. "The Ohio Core is your best bet for success and now is the time to shape your future with every class you take."

Taft, Mumper and Reinhard participated in a roundtable discussion with Ridgedale Local Superintendent Eric Hoffman, Ridgedale High School Principal Bill Born, eighth grade students and two high school seniors during the students' first week back at school. The panel talked about career aspirations and the importance of taking rigorous high school classes regardless of whether the next step after graduation is college, the workplace, the military or an apprenticeship.

"Now is the time for students to start thinking about what they want out of life and what they need to do to accomplish their goals," said Senator Mumper. "We're in Morral today to hear from eighth graders at Ridgedale High School about how they see their future and how school can best prepare them for success."

If enacted by the legislature, the Ohio Core would establish a rigorous core curriculum as the default standard for all of Ohio's high school students, beginning with the class of 2011.

The plan would:

• Require all students to incorporate the Ohio Core, a set of rigorous high school expectations that include four years of math, including Algebra II; three years of lab-based science, including physical science and biology and one year selected from the disciplines of chemistry, physics or higher-level biology; four years of English; three years of social studies; and two years of a foreign language. Students may still take a variety of paths to graduation including Tech Prep, career tech programs, Project Lead the Way and others that will integrate the rigor of the Ohio Core into the program;
• Make completing the Ohio Core a condition of admission to Ohio's state-funded, four-year colleges and universities;
• Focus remedial education to Ohio's two-year campuses, where costs are lower;
• Require all students to take a college and work-ready assessment during their junior year to help determine if they are on track to be prepared for college and work after high school; and
• Add a measure to the School Report Card to indicate how well high schools are preparing students for college and work.

"In today's competitive, global economy, more is being demanded of our students entering college, the military and the workplace than ever before," said Representative Reinhard. "As Ridgedale's students start another school year, this is a great time to remind our eighth graders that if they challenge themselves in school, they can succeed at whatever comes next."

In June, Taft signed into law House Bill 115, which includes $13.2 million for FY 07 to build teacher capacity and student learning in high school math, science and foreign language in preparation for the Ohio Core. To date, a total of $4.1 million has been allocated to Ohio institutions of higher education and educational service centers to train 410 Ohio teachers and mid-career professionals in high-need and hard-to-staff subject areas.