Ohio schools have second highest dropout rate - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

Ohio schools have second highest dropout rate

Ohio's school dropout rate is the second highest in the country.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Ohio's rate rose to 4.2 percent in 2009. The national average for that year was at 4.1 percent.

Assistant Superintendent Jill Ackerman says Ohio is in the process of changing the requirements for graduation.

Instead of making students take a test, schools will conduct an assessment of the work they've done over the course of four years.

Ackerman hopes this system will lower the dropout rate.

Ohio governor John Kasich addressed the problem in his state of the state speech this year.

He suggests holding students back if they can't pass reading tests by the end of third grade.