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Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE) - Archived


ACE has been repealed in July 2016. This content will be removed soon.
 
ACE graduation requirements are for students who entered the ninth grade in 2008-2009 and since then. Our page contains information for teachers and administrators regarding the ACE Graduation Requirements in the following categories below.
 

Overview

Introduction 

The Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE) is a statewide effort to raise expectations for student achievement in Oklahoma public schools. It provides a framework for all Oklahoma school systems to implement standards, curriculum, and assessments with the rigor and relevance necessary for Oklahoma students to be prepared for college and the world of work.

ACE sets forth requirements that must be met in order for a student to earn a diploma from an Oklahoma public high school.  An Oklahoma high school diploma tells admission officers at college, universities, and career and technology schools that the bearer is ready for the rigors of post-secondary education. It also tells potential employers that the graduate possesses the reading, writing, and mathematical skills required for success in the workplace.

ACE has three major components: Curriculum, Testing, and Remediation & Intervention. On this page, you will find information and frequently asked questions related to each of these components along with a number of Resources that will help explain and implement the ACE laws.

General resources include:

ACE Curriculum Requirements 

All students must be enrolled in the ACE College Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum unless their parents/guardians opt them out of that curriculum and into the Core Curriculum.

All students must also complete a Passport to Financial Literacy.

Curriculum Resources Include:

  • Frequently Asked Questions (imbedded in the ACE Implementation Guide) 
  • Helpful Links 
  • Higher Education Enrollment Information 

ACE Testing Requirements 

“Beginning with students who enter the ninth grade in the 2008-2009 school year, every student shall demonstrate mastery of the state academic content standards in the following subject areas in order to graduate from a public high school with a standard diploma.” (70 O.S. § 1210.523)

Except as explained in the sections that follow, to demonstrate mastery in the subject areas listed below, all students must score Proficient* or Advanced on the associated End-of-Instruction (EOI) exams. 

ACE Algebra I; 
ACE English II; and
Two of the following five:

ACE Algebra II,
ACE Biology I,
ACE English III,
ACE Geometry, or
ACE United States History 

School districts must offer remediation opportunities for students who do not score Proficient* or Advanced on one or more of the required EOI exams. Students may retake required EOI exams up to three times per calendar year if necessary.

If a parent/guardian refuses remediation opportunities or retake opportunities, this must be documented with parent/guardian signature and should be noted on the student’s ACE Cumulative Record. 

*Scores earned prior to 2009 may be classified as Satisfactory instead of Proficient

 Testing Resources Include:

  • ACE Cumulative Record 
  • Alternate Test List 
  • Approved Tests from Other States 
  • Business and Industry-Recognized Endorsements List 
  • Frequently Asked Questions (imbedded in the ACE Implementation Guide) 

Alternate Tests

Students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on one of the required EOI exams may use one or more alternate tests to meet this requirement. In order to use an alternate test, the student must have earned a score equal to or greater than the minimum scores listed in the document below.

Approved Alternate Tests with Minimum Scores (Out-of-State Assessments)

If an alternate test is used to meet the ACE Testing Requirements, the alternate test must be recorded on the student’s ACE Cumulative Record.

End of Course Projects

Students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on one of the required EOI exams after the first attempt may use one or more End-of-Course Projects to meet this requirement. Some End of Course projects were approved by the State Board of Education on December 16, 2010. More projects will be developed and submitted for approval in the future.

If an End-of-Course project is used to meet the ACE Testing Requirements, the project must be recorded on the student’s ACE Cumulative Record.

Special Circumstances

Students from Out-of-State

Students who transfer into Oklahoma after completing one or more of the courses that are required for the ACE Testing Requirements may use tests given in the state where they took the course, one or more alternate tests, one or more End-of-Course Projects, or the EOI exams to meet this requirement.

Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) may be able to meet the ACE Testing Requirements through modified assessments (OMAAP), portfolio assessments (OAAP), accommodations to the regular assessments (OCCT), or modified proficiency scores.  More information regarding the process for applying a modified proficiency score will be posted when modified proficiency scores are available for student use.

Students with Other Special Circumstances

Some students may have other special circumstances related to meeting the ACE Testing Requirements. Some examples of students with special circumstances include, but are not limited to, students who used proficiency based promotion to earn credit in one of the required courses, students who transferred to a public school from a private school or home school, or students with medical conditions that make testing difficult.  Students with special circumstances may be able to meet the ACE Testing Requirements through alternate tests or End-of-Course Projects instead of taking the EOI exams.  More information about students with special circumstances is available in the ACE Implementation Guide. 

ACE Remediation & Intervention Requirements 

In order to prepare students to meet the testing requirements mentioned above, each district is required to provide remediation and intervention opportunities to students who score Limited Knowledge or Unsatisfactory on one or more of the state tests listed below.

  • Seventh Grade Reading 
  • Seventh Grade Math 
  • Eighth Grade Reading 
  • Eighth Grade Math 
  • Any End-of-Instruction Exam 

Some examples of how districts might offer remediation include: extra classes during the day, tutoring before or after school, tutoring at lunch or during homeroom, online programs, computer software, summer school, and Saturday school.  These opportunities are designed to help students pass the tests required so that they can graduate on time.

Districts will be provided with ACE Remediation Funds based on the number of students who qualify for remediation.  Allocations are made on a per-student basis.  Allocation and payment notices are sent to the respective school districts prior to September 1 of each year.

  • The amount per student for those scoring Unsatisfactory is up to a maximum of $240; 
  • The amount per student for those scoring Limited Knowledge is up to a maximum of $180. 

All related expenditures of these funds should use the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) Reporting Code 362.

Districts must develop a District ACE Remediation Plan that is approved by their local board of education prior to November 15 of each school year.  This plan must be kept on file at the local school district.  The plan must include:

  • How remediation funds will be spent, 
  • When and where remediation will be provided, 
  • What content will be addressed, 
  • How instruction will be delivered, and 
  • Who will provide the instruction, including the highly qualified status of the instructor or supervisor. 

Remediation Resources Include:

  • Frequently Asked Questions (imbedded in the ACE Implementation Guide) 
  • Research-based remediation and integration strategies 

Plans may include variations for different subject areas and/or grade levels.

Districts must also complete and submit a District Remediation Report each year as requested through the School District Reporting Site (SDRS). 

Where to Find Resources 

Additional information, resources, presentations, and videos are available on the Resources page.  In particular, the ACE Implementation Guide includes a vast array of frequently asked questions and answers as well as many of the other resources necessary to implement ACE.  

ACE Resources page

 

 

ACE Information  

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Last updated on January 22, 2018


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