This section shall apply to diplomas awarded after September 15, 2006, to students who are required to take the five Ohio graduation tests prescribed by division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code. This section does not apply to any student who enters ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2014.

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(A) As an alternative to the requirement that a person attain the scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the assessments required under that division in order to be eligible for a high school diploma or an honors diploma under sections 3313.61, 3313.612, or 3325.08 of the Revised Code or for a diploma of adult education under section 3313.611 of the Revised Code, a person who has attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all but one of the assessments required by that division and from which the person was not excused or exempted, pursuant to division (L) of section 3313.61, division (B)(1) of section 3313.612, or section 3313.532 of the Revised Code, may be awarded a diploma or honors diploma if the person has satisfied all of the following conditions:

(1) On the one assessment required under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code for which the person failed to attain the designated score, the person missed that score by ten points or less;

(2) Has a ninety-seven per cent school attendance rate in each of the last four school years, excluding any excused absences;

(3) Has not been expelled from school under section 3313.66 of the Revised Code in any of the last four school years;

(4) Has a grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or its equivalent as designated in rules adopted by the department of education and workforce, in the subject area of the assessment required under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code for which the person failed to attain the designated score;

(5) Has completed the high school curriculum requirements prescribed in section 3313.603 of the Revised Code or has qualified under division (D) or (F) of that section;

(6) Has taken advantage of any intervention programs provided by the school district or school in the subject area described in division (A)(4) of this section and has a ninety-seven per cent attendance rate, excluding any excused absences, in any of those programs that are provided at times beyond the normal school day, school week, or school year or has received comparable intervention services from a source other than the school district or school;

(7) Holds a letter recommending graduation from each of the person’s high school teachers in the subject area described in division (A)(4) of this section and from the person’s high school principal.

(B) The department shall establish rules designating grade point averages equivalent to the average specified in division (A)(4) of this section for use by school districts and schools with different grading systems.

(C) Any student who is exempt from attaining the applicable score designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on the Ohio graduation test in social studies pursuant to division (H) of section 3313.61 or division (B)(3) of section 3313.612 of the Revised Code shall not qualify for a high school diploma under this section, unless, notwithstanding the exemption, the student attains the applicable score on that assessment. If the student attains the applicable score on that assessment, the student may qualify for a diploma under this section in the same manner as any other student who is required to take the five Ohio graduation tests prescribed by division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.