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Under Ohio’s long-term graduation requirements, students must demonstrate readiness as a part of their pathway to earning a high school diploma. To demonstrate readiness, students must earn at least two seals, one of which must be a state-defined seal. The OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal is a state-defined seal.
Ohio Revised Code 3313.6112
To earn the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal, motivated high school students must demonstrate specific professional skills required for success in the workplace. Students must work with at least three experienced and trusted mentors who validate the demonstration of these skills in school, work or the community.
Students will earn the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal by satisfying each of the following:
Professional Skills
Students must demonstrate proficiency in each of the following professional skills to meet the requirements of the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal:
MENTORSHIP AND DEMONSTRATION OF SKILLS
Students are required to document how they demonstrated each of the 15 professional skills. At least two environments must be reflected among the demonstrated skills. A minimum of three mentors must be involved in the overall validation process and sign the form. Students must choose mentors they worked with, activities they participated in and skills they demonstrated while in high school.
School: The student demonstrates professional skills in a school environment during the school day or during extracurricular activities. School mentors include teachers, school leaders (for example, administrators, advisors, or others) and coaches. These activities are separate from work-based or community-based activities.
Work: The student demonstrates professional skills in a work environment. Work mentors may include supervisors, hiring managers, experienced co-workers and others. These activities are separate from school-based or community-based activities.
Community: The student demonstrates professional skills in a community environment. Community mentors may include volunteer coordinators, faith-based leaders and others. These activities are separate from school-based or work-based activities.
The OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal is a designation for high school students. Its purpose is to allow students to document professional skills that have value in the workplace and can contribute to success in higher education. To earn the seal, motivated high school students must demonstrate 15 particular professional skills required for success in the workplace. High schools can print the seal on students’ transcripts and diplomas to show students are ready for work.
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Students can begin working towards earning the seal beginning their 9th grade year.
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Mentors validate the student demonstrated the required professional skills. Mentors are experienced and trusted advisors who students have worked with in professional settings during high school. Students must choose three mentors to validate their demonstration of professional skills from at least two of the following environments – school, work or community.
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Yes, students can cite experiences they had at any point during their high school years. The experience must be validated by a mentor who supervised the student during that time.
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At least one mentor is required to validate each skill. However, a minimum of three mentors must be involved in the overall validation process and are required to sign the form.
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Students must demonstrate all 15 skills to earn the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal. A student is only required to document how he or she demonstrated each skill in one of three possible environments – school, work or community. But, the student cannot document all 15 skills in the same environment, for example, school. At least two environments must be reflected among the demonstrated skills.
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Local schools can implement the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal in the ways that work best for them.
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Yes, a student who earns the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal, can use it towards a supporting demonstration for the Career Focused alternative competency pathway. They would also meet the requirement of earning one state defined seal.
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Students can earn the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal on their transcripts and diplomas. The Ohio Department of Education developed an OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal image file. The image file is compatible with each school’s transcript management software. Schools also may place the seal on student diplomas ordered through their diploma vendor.
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Students who earn the seal demonstrate they are ready to work. The Ohio Department of Education is working with its partners to increase awareness among business and higher education communities about the value of the seal. Students who obtain the seal will be at a competitive advantage when applying for jobs or higher education.
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The Ohio Department of Education, Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and Ohio Department of Higher Education identified an initial list of professional skills. State partners selected these skills based on reports by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in partnership with The Conference Board, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the Society for Human Resource Management and Corporate Voices for Working Families. To better meet the needs of Ohio businesses, state partners surveyed Ohio’s business community to select the most “essential” or “important” skills for workplace success. Through the survey, 230 business leaders identified the 15 skills that students must demonstrate to earn the seal.
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Students who earn the seal demonstrate the following characteristics and traits: a commitment to being drug free, reliability, a strong work ethic, punctuality, discipline, professionalism, learning agility, critical thinking and problem-solving, leadership, creativity and innovation, good oral and written communication skills, an understanding of digital technology, global and cultural fluency, and career management. You can find more information about these skills in the guidance documents here.
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Last Modified: 5/24/2024 3:13:06 PM
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