FAQ for Parents about Services for Students with Special Needs

Great Oaks is a career-technical high school in southwest Ohio, serving 36 school districts. As part of the Great Oaks district, there are four career development campuses that offer high school programs:

• Diamond Oaks on the west side of Cincinnati
• Laurel Oaks in Wilmington
• Live Oaks in Milford
• Scarlet Oaks in Sharonville

At these campuses there are over 40 different programs to choose from. Students complete these programs in their junior and senior year as they prepare for continuing education, the workplace, and/or the military.

Most students attend Great Oaks the entire school day. Students come to the Career/Technical lab for half of the day and take regular high school academics the other half of day.

Students who have completed all your high school credits for graduation may choose to attend just the lab (2 ½ hours).

Most labs require a uniform. These only need to be worn during the lab part of the school day.

Your IEP team will discuss and plan for any additional help needed to be successful. Each student on an IEP is assigned to an Intervention Specialist, who would assist with any concerns or issues.

The staff will work with you to find the right furniture, technology, equipment or accommodations needed.

A school bus will pick students up at the home high school or at a designated spot. If your child is attending a half-day program, transportation will be arranged through your high school. Any student with a driver's license may drive to school.

If your child meets all high school credit requirements while attending Great Oaks, he or she will graduate with his or her high school class. There is also a “Senior Ceremony” at each Great Oaks campus in which students will receive a certificate in their field and a Career Passport, which documents achievements while at Great Oaks.

If your child does not complete graduation requirements in time to graduate with their high school class, they may not take part in high school graduation ceremonies. However, your child can continue to complete the high school credit requirements toward your diploma at Great Oaks, and graduate from your high school at the end of your Career and Technical Program.

You and your IEP team may choose to defer your graduation so that your child can attend a Great Oaks program after completing all high school graduation requirements. With this option, your child may still participate in high school graduation ceremonies.

Yes! However, the IEP team including the student needs to determine the best course of action in order to ensure one of the Ohio graduation requirements is met so the student can graduate.

The Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) have been phased out.  Students who took the OGT and did not pass the OGT will have additional opportunities to retake the test(s).  However, students who are in high school now will need to either pass the End of Course Exams, Work Keys, or achieve a high enough ACT or SAT score to meet the new Ohio Graduation requirements.  The home school, IEP team, and Great Oaks staff can assist the student and parent with understanding and determining what will be used to meet the Ohio Graduation Requirements.

There are 7 End of Course Exams (EOC) which are given to students throughout high school.  The student must earn at least 18 points on all 7 EOCs and earn enough points in math (at least four points in the two tests), English (at least four points on the two tests), and Science/Social Studies (at least 6 points in total on these assessments) in order to fulfill this graduation requirement.  Most students will employ this End of Course Exam process to fulfill Ohio’s graduation requirement.  EOCs may be retaken after remediation is given to the student so that the student may raise his or her EOC score.

Some students may meet the WorkKeys assessment graduation requirement.  A score of 13 or higher would need to be achieved. This is another assessment.  Most students will not take this pathway to meet the graduation requirement.

Some students may achieve the established ACT/SAT score which would suffice for the graduation requirement, which is:  ACT English=18 or higher, ACT Mathematics=22 or higher, ACT Reading=22 or higher, SAT Writing=430 or higher, SAT Mathematics=520 or higher, SAT Reading=450 or higher.  During grade 11, the schools will offer a one-time free statewide spring test in either the ACT or SAT for all students.

Again, the home school staff and counselors, Great Oaks staff and counselors, and the IEP team, which includes the student, will be able to discuss and determine the best route and choice for the student in order to fulfill the Ohio Graduation requirements.  Visit the Ohio Department of Education (www.education.ohio.gov) and search for Graduation Requirements for additional information.