130th Ohio General Assembly
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(126th General Assembly)
(Amended Substitute Senate Bill Number 311)



AN ACT
To amend sections 2151.011, 3301.41, 3301.42, 3313.472, 3313.48, 3313.533, 3313.603, 3313.61, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.62, 3314.012, 3314.03, 3317.01, 3317.029, 3325.08, and 3345.06; to enact new section 3313.481 and sections 3301.43, 3301.46, 3302.032, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3319.0811, 3319.233, 3319.234, 3333.163, 3333.34, 3345.061, and 3345.062; and to repeal sections 3313.481 and 3313.482 of the Revised Code and to amend Section 6 of Sub. H.B. 115 of the 126th General Assembly to establish the Ohio Core curriculum, to calculate the minimum school year based on hours, rather than days, of instruction, to restructure admission requirements and remedial courses in state universities, to implement other initiatives to enhance secondary and post-secondary education in Ohio, and to make an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. That sections 2151.011, 3301.41, 3301.42, 3313.472, 3313.48, 3313.533, 3313.603, 3313.61, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.62, 3314.012, 3314.03, 3317.01, 3317.029, 3325.08, and 3345.06 be amended and new section 3313.481 and sections 3301.43, 3301.46, 3302.032, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3319.0811, 3319.233, 3319.234, 3333.163, 3333.34, 3345.061, and 3345.062 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 2151.011.  (A) As used in the Revised Code:

(1) "Juvenile court" means whichever of the following is applicable that has jurisdiction under this chapter and Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code:

(a) The division of the court of common pleas specified in section 2101.022 or 2301.03 of the Revised Code as having jurisdiction under this chapter and Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code or as being the juvenile division or the juvenile division combined with one or more other divisions;

(b) The juvenile court of Cuyahoga county or Hamilton county that is separately and independently created by section 2151.08 or Chapter 2153. of the Revised Code and that has jurisdiction under this chapter and Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code;

(c) If division (A)(1)(a) or (b) of this section does not apply, the probate division of the court of common pleas.

(2) "Juvenile judge" means a judge of a court having jurisdiction under this chapter.

(3) "Private child placing agency" means any association, as defined in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code, that is certified under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code to accept temporary, permanent, or legal custody of children and place the children for either foster care or adoption.

(4) "Private noncustodial agency" means any person, organization, association, or society certified by the department of job and family services that does not accept temporary or permanent legal custody of children, that is privately operated in this state, and that does one or more of the following:

(a) Receives and cares for children for two or more consecutive weeks;

(b) Participates in the placement of children in certified foster homes;

(c) Provides adoption services in conjunction with a public children services agency or private child placing agency.

(B) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Adequate parental care" means the provision by a child's parent or parents, guardian, or custodian of adequate food, clothing, and shelter to ensure the child's health and physical safety and the provision by a child's parent or parents of specialized services warranted by the child's physical or mental needs.

(2) "Adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older.

(3) "Agreement for temporary custody" means a voluntary agreement authorized by section 5103.15 of the Revised Code that transfers the temporary custody of a child to a public children services agency or a private child placing agency.

(4) "Certified foster home" means a foster home, as defined in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code, certified under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Child" means a person who is under eighteen years of age, except that the juvenile court has jurisdiction over any person who is adjudicated an unruly child prior to attaining eighteen years of age until the person attains twenty-one years of age, and, for purposes of that jurisdiction related to that adjudication, a person who is so adjudicated an unruly child shall be deemed a "child" until the person attains twenty-one years of age.

(6) "Child day camp," "child care," "child day-care center," "part-time child day-care center," "type A family day-care home," "certified type B family day-care home," "type B home," "administrator of a child day-care center," "administrator of a type A family day-care home," "in-home aide," and "authorized provider" have the same meanings as in section 5104.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Child care provider" means an individual who is a child-care staff member or administrator of a child day-care center, a type A family day-care home, or a type B family day-care home, or an in-home aide or an individual who is licensed, is regulated, is approved, operates under the direction of, or otherwise is certified by the department of job and family services, department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, or the early childhood programs of the department of education.

(8) "Chronic truant" has the same meaning as in section 2152.02 of the Revised Code.

(9) "Commit" means to vest custody as ordered by the court.

(10) "Counseling" includes both of the following:

(a) General counseling services performed by a public children services agency or shelter for victims of domestic violence to assist a child, a child's parents, and a child's siblings in alleviating identified problems that may cause or have caused the child to be an abused, neglected, or dependent child.

(b) Psychiatric or psychological therapeutic counseling services provided to correct or alleviate any mental or emotional illness or disorder and performed by a licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or a person licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code to engage in social work or professional counseling.

(11) "Custodian" means a person who has legal custody of a child or a public children services agency or private child placing agency that has permanent, temporary, or legal custody of a child.

(12) "Delinquent child" has the same meaning as in section 2152.02 of the Revised Code.

(13) "Detention" means the temporary care of children pending court adjudication or disposition, or execution of a court order, in a public or private facility designed to physically restrict the movement and activities of children.

(14) "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code.

(15) "Foster caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code.

(16) "Guardian" means a person, association, or corporation that is granted authority by a probate court pursuant to Chapter 2111. of the Revised Code to exercise parental rights over a child to the extent provided in the court's order and subject to the residual parental rights of the child's parents.

(17) "Habitual truant" means any child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend for five or more consecutive school days, seven or more school days in one school month, or twelve or more school days in a school year.

(18) "Juvenile traffic offender" has the same meaning as in section 2152.02 of the Revised Code.

(19) "Legal custody" means a legal status that vests in the custodian the right to have physical care and control of the child and to determine where and with whom the child shall live, and the right and duty to protect, train, and discipline the child and to provide the child with food, shelter, education, and medical care, all subject to any residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities. An individual granted legal custody shall exercise the rights and responsibilities personally unless otherwise authorized by any section of the Revised Code or by the court.

(20) A "legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(a) The fact that the child in question has enrolled in and is attending another public or nonpublic school in this or another state;

(b) The fact that the child in question is excused from attendance at school for any of the reasons specified in section 3321.04 of the Revised Code;

(c) The fact that the child in question has received an age and schooling certificate in accordance with section 3331.01 of the Revised Code.

(21) "Mental illness" and "mentally ill person subject to hospitalization by court order" have the same meanings as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(22) "Mental injury" means any behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorder in a child caused by an act or omission that is described in section 2919.22 of the Revised Code and is committed by the parent or other person responsible for the child's care.

(23) "Mentally retarded person" has the same meaning as in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code.

(24) "Nonsecure care, supervision, or training" means care, supervision, or training of a child in a facility that does not confine or prevent movement of the child within the facility or from the facility.

(25) "Of compulsory school age" has the same meaning as in section 3321.01 of the Revised Code.

(26) "Organization" means any institution, public, semipublic, or private, and any private association, society, or agency located or operating in the state, incorporated or unincorporated, having among its functions the furnishing of protective services or care for children, or the placement of children in certified foster homes or elsewhere.

(27) "Out-of-home care" means detention facilities, shelter facilities, certified children's crisis care facilities, certified foster homes, placement in a prospective adoptive home prior to the issuance of a final decree of adoption, organizations, certified organizations, child day-care centers, type A family day-care homes, child care provided by type B family day-care home providers and by in-home aides, group home providers, group homes, institutions, state institutions, residential facilities, residential care facilities, residential camps, day camps, public schools, chartered nonpublic schools, educational service centers, hospitals, and medical clinics that are responsible for the care, physical custody, or control of children.

(28) "Out-of-home care child abuse" means any of the following when committed by a person responsible for the care of a child in out-of-home care:

(a) Engaging in sexual activity with a child in the person's care;

(b) Denial to a child, as a means of punishment, of proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical care, or other care necessary for a child's health;

(c) Use of restraint procedures on a child that cause injury or pain;

(d) Administration of prescription drugs or psychotropic medication to the child without the written approval and ongoing supervision of a licensed physician;

(e) Commission of any act, other than by accidental means, that results in any injury to or death of the child in out-of-home care or commission of any act by accidental means that results in an injury to or death of a child in out-of-home care and that is at variance with the history given of the injury or death.

(29) "Out-of-home care child neglect" means any of the following when committed by a person responsible for the care of a child in out-of-home care:

(a) Failure to provide reasonable supervision according to the standards of care appropriate to the age, mental and physical condition, or other special needs of the child;

(b) Failure to provide reasonable supervision according to the standards of care appropriate to the age, mental and physical condition, or other special needs of the child, that results in sexual or physical abuse of the child by any person;

(c) Failure to develop a process for all of the following:

(i) Administration of prescription drugs or psychotropic drugs for the child;

(ii) Assuring that the instructions of the licensed physician who prescribed a drug for the child are followed;

(iii) Reporting to the licensed physician who prescribed the drug all unfavorable or dangerous side effects from the use of the drug.

(d) Failure to provide proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical care, or other individualized care necessary for the health or well-being of the child;

(e) Confinement of the child to a locked room without monitoring by staff;

(f) Failure to provide ongoing security for all prescription and nonprescription medication;

(g) Isolation of a child for a period of time when there is substantial risk that the isolation, if continued, will impair or retard the mental health or physical well-being of the child.

(30) "Permanent custody" means a legal status that vests in a public children services agency or a private child placing agency, all parental rights, duties, and obligations, including the right to consent to adoption, and divests the natural parents or adoptive parents of all parental rights, privileges, and obligations, including all residual rights and obligations.

(31) "Permanent surrender" means the act of the parents or, if a child has only one parent, of the parent of a child, by a voluntary agreement authorized by section 5103.15 of the Revised Code, to transfer the permanent custody of the child to a public children services agency or a private child placing agency.

(32) "Person" means an individual, association, corporation, or partnership and the state or any of its political subdivisions, departments, or agencies.

(33) "Person responsible for a child's care in out-of-home care" means any of the following:

(a) Any foster caregiver, in-home aide, or provider;

(b) Any administrator, employee, or agent of any of the following: a public or private detention facility; shelter facility; certified children's crisis care facility; organization; certified organization; child day-care center; type A family day-care home; certified type B family day-care home; group home; institution; state institution; residential facility; residential care facility; residential camp; day camp; school district; community school; chartered nonpublic school; educational service center; hospital; or medical clinic;

(c) Any person who supervises or coaches children as part of an extracurricular activity sponsored by a school district, public school, or chartered nonpublic school;

(d) Any other person who performs a similar function with respect to, or has a similar relationship to, children.

(34) "Physically impaired" means having one or more of the following conditions that substantially limit one or more of an individual's major life activities, including self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, and self-direction:

(a) A substantial impairment of vision, speech, or hearing;

(b) A congenital orthopedic impairment;

(c) An orthopedic impairment caused by disease, rheumatic fever or any other similar chronic or acute health problem, or amputation or another similar cause.

(35) "Placement for adoption" means the arrangement by a public children services agency or a private child placing agency with a person for the care and adoption by that person of a child of whom the agency has permanent custody.

(36) "Placement in foster care" means the arrangement by a public children services agency or a private child placing agency for the out-of-home care of a child of whom the agency has temporary custody or permanent custody.

(37) "Planned permanent living arrangement" means an order of a juvenile court pursuant to which both of the following apply:

(a) The court gives legal custody of a child to a public children services agency or a private child placing agency without the termination of parental rights.

(b) The order permits the agency to make an appropriate placement of the child and to enter into a written agreement with a foster care provider or with another person or agency with whom the child is placed.

(38) "Practice of social work" and "practice of professional counseling" have the same meanings as in section 4757.01 of the Revised Code.

(39) "Sanction, service, or condition" means a sanction, service, or condition created by court order following an adjudication that a child is an unruly child that is described in division (A)(4) of section 2152.19 of the Revised Code.

(40) "Protective supervision" means an order of disposition pursuant to which the court permits an abused, neglected, dependent, or unruly child to remain in the custody of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian and stay in the child's home, subject to any conditions and limitations upon the child, the child's parents, guardian, or custodian, or any other person that the court prescribes, including supervision as directed by the court for the protection of the child.

(41) "Psychiatrist" has the same meaning as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(42) "Psychologist" has the same meaning as in section 4732.01 of the Revised Code.

(43) "Residential camp" means a program in which the care, physical custody, or control of children is accepted overnight for recreational or recreational and educational purposes.

(44) "Residential care facility" means an institution, residence, or facility that is licensed by the department of mental health under section 5119.22 of the Revised Code and that provides care for a child.

(45) "Residential facility" means a home or facility that is licensed by the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities under section 5123.19 of the Revised Code and in which a child with a developmental disability resides.

(46) "Residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities" means those rights, privileges, and responsibilities remaining with the natural parent after the transfer of legal custody of the child, including, but not necessarily limited to, the privilege of reasonable visitation, consent to adoption, the privilege to determine the child's religious affiliation, and the responsibility for support.

(47) "School day" means the school day established by the state board of education of the applicable school district pursuant to section 3313.48 3313.481 of the Revised Code.

(48) "School month" and "school year" have has the same meanings meaning as in section 3313.62 of the Revised Code.

(49) "Secure correctional facility" means a facility under the direction of the department of youth services that is designed to physically restrict the movement and activities of children and used for the placement of children after adjudication and disposition.

(50) "Sexual activity" has the same meaning as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

(51) "Shelter" means the temporary care of children in physically unrestricted facilities pending court adjudication or disposition.

(52) "Shelter for victims of domestic violence" has the same meaning as in section 3113.33 of the Revised Code.

(53) "Temporary custody" means legal custody of a child who is removed from the child's home, which custody may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the court or, if the legal custody is granted in an agreement for temporary custody, by the person who executed the agreement.

(C) For the purposes of this chapter, a child shall be presumed abandoned when the parents of the child have failed to visit or maintain contact with the child for more than ninety days, regardless of whether the parents resume contact with the child after that period of ninety days.

Sec. 3301.41. (A) The partnership for continued learning is hereby established. The partnership shall consist of the following members:

(1) The governor;

(2) The superintendent of public instruction;

(3) The chancellor of the Ohio board of regents;

(4) The director of development;

(5) Three representatives of the private sector, appointed by the governor;

(6) Two representatives of organizations that have formed regional partnerships to foster collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education, appointed by the governor;

(7) One member of the student access and success coordinating council of Ohio, appointed by the governor;

(8) Two representatives of elementary and secondary schools, one of whom shall be a member of the state board of education and one of whom shall represent chartered nonpublic schools, appointed by the governor;

(9) Two representatives of institutions of higher education, one of whom shall be a member of the Ohio board of regents and one of whom shall represent nonprofit institutions of higher education that hold certificates of authorization issued by the board of regents under section 1713.02 of the Revised Code, appointed by the governor;

(10) One member of the state workforce policy board prescribed by section 6301.04 of the Revised Code, appointed by the governor;

(11) One teacher who teaches any of grades kindergarten through twelve in a school district, appointed by the governor;

(12) One teacher who teaches any of grades kindergarten through twelve in a chartered nonpublic school, appointed by the governor;

(13) One teacher who teaches in any of grades nine through twelve in a career center, appointed by the governor;

(14) One representative of a comprehensive or compact career-technical school, appointed by the governor;

(15) The chairpersons and ranking minority members of the education committees of the senate and house of representatives.

(B) Appointed members of the partnership shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.

(C) The governor shall serve as chairperson of the partnership. The partnership shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon the call of the chairperson to conduct its business.

Sec. 3301.42.  The partnership for continued learning shall promote systemic approaches to education by supporting regional efforts to foster collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education, identifying the workforce needs of private sector employers in the state, and making recommendations for facilitating collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education and for maintaining a high-quality workforce in the state. Copies of the recommendations shall be provided to the governor, the president and minority leader of the senate, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives that consider education legislation, the chairperson of the Ohio board of regents, and the president of the state board of education. The recommendations shall address at least the following issues:

(A) Expansion of access to preschool and other learning opportunities for children under five years old;

(B) Increasing opportunities for students to earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education while enrolled in high school, including expanded opportunities for students to earn that credit on their high school campuses; a definition of "in good standing" for purposes of section 3313.6013 of the Revised Code; and legislative changes that the partnership, in consultation with the Ohio board of regents and the state board of education, determines would improve the operation of the post-secondary enrollment options program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code and other dual enrollment programs. The recommendations for legislative changes required by this division shall be issued not later than May 31, 2007.

(C) Expansion of access to workforce development programs administered by school districts, institutions of higher education, and other providers of career-technical education;

(D) Alignment of the statewide academic standards for grades nine through twelve adopted under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, the Ohio graduation tests prescribed by division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code, and the curriculum requirements for a high school diploma prescribed by section 3313.603 of the Revised Code with the expectations of employers and institutions of higher education regarding the knowledge and skills that high school graduates should attain prior to entering the workforce or enrolling in an institution of higher education;

(E) Improving the science and mathematics skills of students and employees to meet the needs of a knowledge-intensive economy;

(F) Reducing the number of students who need academic remediation after enrollment in an institution of higher education;

(G) Expansion of school counseling career and educational programs, access programs, and other strategies to overcome financial, cultural, and organizational barriers that interfere with students' planning for postsecondary education and that prevent students from obtaining a postsecondary education;

(H) Alignment of teacher preparation programs approved by the state board of education pursuant to section 3319.23 of the Revised Code with the instructional needs and expectations of school districts;

(I) Strategies for retaining more graduates of Ohio institutions of higher education in the state and for attracting talented individuals from outside Ohio to work in the state;

(J) Strategies for promoting life-long lifelong continuing education as a component of maintaining a strong workforce and economy;

(K) Appropriate measures of the impact of statewide efforts to promote collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education and to develop a high-quality workforce and strategies for collecting and sharing data relevant to such measures;

(L) Strategies for developing and improving opportunities and for removing barriers to achievement for children identified as gifted under Chapter 3324. of the Revised Code.;

(M) Legislative changes to establish criteria by which state universities may waive the general requirement, under division (B) of section 3345.06 of the Revised Code, that a student complete the Ohio core curriculum to be admitted as an undergraduate. The partnership at least shall consider criteria for waiving the requirement for students who have served in the military and students who entered ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010, in another state and moved to Ohio prior to high school graduation. The recommendations for legislative changes under this division shall be developed in consultation with the Ohio board of regents and shall be issued not later than July 1, 2007.

Sec. 3301.43.  The partnership for continued learning, in collaboration with the Ohio board of regents and the state board of education, shall recommend a means of assessing high school students' college and work readiness, especially in English and mathematics. The partnership shall recommend one or more assessments that can achieve the following goals:

(A) Measure students' skills against identified college and work-ready expectations in English and mathematics and serve as an indicator of students' readiness to successfully complete introductory level coursework at an institution of higher education and to avoid remedial coursework;

(B) Promote consistency in high school academic course content, quality, and expectations;

(C) Provide individual students with information to assist in planning the remaining high school learning experience;

(D) Serve as one indicator for college admission or placement;

(E) Assist institutions of higher education in aligning remedial coursework with the college and work-ready expectations measured by the assessments.

In evaluating the range of assessment tools, the partnership shall consult with the state board of education and the board of regents to consider the suitability for this purpose of existing state and commercial assessments, including the Ohio graduation tests. The partnership's recommendations shall describe how its recommended assessments fit within the existing system of state achievement tests established under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.

The partnership shall submit its recommendations not later than July 30, 2007, to the governor, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate that consider education legislation, the state board of education, the superintendent of public instruction, the board of regents, and the chancellor of the board of regents.

Sec. 3301.46.  Not later than April 30, 2009, the department of education and the Ohio board of regents jointly shall propose a standard method and form for documenting on high school transcripts high school credits earned that are compatible with the standards for credit transfer and articulation adopted by the board of regents under sections 3333.16 and 3333.161 of the Revised Code and any electronic clearinghouse for student transcript transfer developed by the board of regents. The proposal shall be submitted to the state board of education, the chancellor of the board of regents, the partnership for continued learning, the governor, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate that consider education legislation.

Sec. 3302.032.  Not later than June 30, 2012, the state board of education shall select one or more methods of measuring high school graduates' preparedness for higher education and the workforce. The measures may include, but need not be limited to, student performance on the assessments recommended under section 3301.43 of the Revised Code, the percentage of students who earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education while enrolled in high school, or the percentage of students who take remedial coursework upon enrollment in an institution of higher education.

The department of education annually shall include the school district's or school building's performance on each applicable measure on the report card issued for that district or building under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, beginning with the report cards issued for the 2012-2013 school year. The department shall not apply the measures to the school district's or building's rating under division (B) of that section. Prior to selecting the measures, the state board shall consult with the partnership for continued learning and the Ohio board of regents.

Sec. 3313.472.  (A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, local, and joint vocational school district shall adopt a policy on parental involvement in the schools of the district. The policy shall be designed to build consistent and effective communication between the parents and foster caregivers of students enrolled in the district and the teachers and administrators assigned to the schools their children or foster children attend. The policy shall provide the opportunity for parents and foster caregivers to be actively involved in their children's or foster children's education and to be informed of the following:

(A)(1) The importance of the involvement of parents and foster caregivers in directly affecting the success of their children's or foster children's educational efforts;

(B)(2) How and when to assist their children or foster children in and support their children's or foster children's classroom learning activities;

(C)(3) Techniques, strategies, and skills to use at home to improve their children's or foster children's academic success and to support their children's or foster children's academic efforts at school and their children's or foster children's development as future responsible adult members of society.

(B) The state board of education shall adopt recommendations for the development of parental involvement policies under this section. Prior to adopting the recommendations, the state board shall consult with the national center for parents at the university of Toledo.

Sec. 3313.48.  (A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, local, and joint vocational school district shall provide for the free education of the youth of school age within the district under its jurisdiction, at such places as will be most convenient for the attendance of the largest number thereof. Except as provided in section 3313.481 of the Revised Code, each Each school so provided and each chartered nonpublic school shall be open for instruction with pupils in attendance, including scheduled classes, supervised activities, and approved education options but excluding lunch and breakfast periods and extracurricular activities, for not less than one hundred eighty-two days four hundred fifty-five hours in the case of pupils in kindergarten unless such pupils are provided all-day kindergarten, as defined in section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, in which case the pupils shall be in attendance for nine hundred ten hours; nine hundred ten hours in the case of pupils in grades one through six; and one thousand one hours in the case of pupils in grades seven through twelve in each school year, which may include all of the following:

(A)(1) Up to four school days ten hours per year in which classes are dismissed one-half day early or the equivalent amount of time during a different number of days in grades kindergarten through six and up to eleven hours per year in grades seven through twelve during which pupils would otherwise be in attendance but are not required to attend for the purpose of individualized parent-teacher conferences and reporting periods;

(B)(2) Up to two days ten hours per year during which pupils would otherwise be in attendance but are not required to attend for professional meetings of teachers when such days occur during a regular school week and schools are not in session of grades kindergarten through six, and up to eleven hours per year for such meetings of teachers of grades seven through twelve;

(C) The number of days the school is closed as a result of public calamity, as provided in section 3317.01 of the Revised Code (3) Morning and afternoon recess periods of not more than fifteen minutes duration per period for pupils in grades kindergarten through six.

The state board of education shall adopt standards for defining "school day" as used in sections 3313.48 and 3317.01 of the Revised Code.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, each day for grades seven through twelve shall consist of not less than five clock hours with pupils in attendance, except in such emergency situations, including lack of classroom space, as are approved by the state board of education. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each day for grades one through six shall consist of not less than five clock hours with pupils in attendance which may include fifteen minute morning and afternoon recess periods, except in such emergency situations, including lack of classroom space, as are approved by the state board of education.

(B) No school operated by a city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district shall reduce the number of hours in each school year and the number days in each school week that the school is scheduled to be open for instruction from the number of hours per year and the number of days per week the school was open for instruction during the previous school year unless either reduction is approved by a resolution adopted by the district board of education. Any reduction so approved shall not result in fewer hours of instruction per school year than the applicable number of hours required under this section.

(C) Prior to making any change in the hours or days in which a high school under its jurisdiction is open for instruction, the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall consider the compatibility of the proposed change with the scheduling needs of any joint vocational school district in which any of the high school's students are also enrolled. The board shall consider the impact of the proposed change on student access to the instructional programs offered by the joint vocational school district, incentives for students to participate in vocational education, transportation, and the timing of graduation. The board shall provide the joint vocational school district board with advance notice of the proposed change and the two boards shall enter into a written agreement prescribing reasonable accommodations to meet the scheduling needs of the joint vocational school district prior to implementation of the change.

(D) Prior to making any change in the hours or days in which the schools under its jurisdiction are open for instruction, the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall consult with the chartered nonpublic schools and community schools, established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, to which the district is required to transport students under section 3314.09 or 3327.01 of the Revised Code and shall consider the effect of the proposed change on the schedule for transportation of those students to their nonpublic or community schools.

Sec. 3313.481. Wherever in Title XXXIII of the Revised Code the term "school day" is used, unless otherwise specified, that term shall be construed to mean the time during a calendar day other than Saturday or Sunday that a school is open for instruction pursuant to the schedule adopted by the board of education of the school district or the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school in accordance with section 3313.48 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3313.533.  (A) The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a resolution to establish and maintain an alternative school in accordance with this section. The resolution shall specify, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The purpose of the school, which purpose shall be to serve students who are on suspension, who are having truancy problems, who are experiencing academic failure, who have a history of class disruption, who are exhibiting other academic or behavioral problems specified in the resolution, or who have been discharged or released from the custody of the department of youth services under section 5139.51 of the Revised Code;

(2) The grades served by the school, which may include any of grades kindergarten through twelve;

(3) A requirement that the school be operated in accordance with this section. The board of education adopting the resolution under division (A) of this section shall be the governing board of the alternative school. The board shall develop and implement a plan for the school in accordance with the resolution establishing the school and in accordance with this section. Each plan shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:

(a) Specification of the reasons for which students will be accepted for assignment to the school and any criteria for admission that are to be used by the board to approve or disapprove the assignment of students to the school;

(b) Specification of the criteria and procedures that will be used for returning students who have been assigned to the school back to the regular education program of the district;

(c) An evaluation plan for assessing the effectiveness of the school and its educational program and reporting the results of the evaluation to the public.

(B) Notwithstanding any provision of Title XXXIII of the Revised Code to the contrary, the alternative school plan may include any of the following:

(1) A requirement that on each school day students must attend school or participate in other programs specified in the plan or by the chief administrative officer of the school for a period equal to the minimum school day set by the state board of education under section 3313.48 of the Revised Code plus any additional time required in the plan or by the chief administrative officer;

(2) Restrictions on student participation in extracurricular or interscholastic activities;

(3) A requirement that students wear uniforms prescribed by the district board of education.

(C) In accordance with the alternative school plan, the district board of education may employ teachers and nonteaching employees necessary to carry out its duties and fulfill its responsibilities or may contract with a nonprofit or for profit entity to operate the alternative school, including the provision of personnel, supplies, equipment, or facilities.

(D) An alternative school may be established in all or part of a school building.

(E) If a district board of education elects under this section, or is required by section 3313.534 of the Revised Code, to establish an alternative school, the district board may join with the board of education of one or more other districts to form a joint alternative school by forming a cooperative education school district under section 3311.52 or 3311.521 of the Revised Code, or a joint educational program under section 3313.842 of the Revised Code. The authority to employ personnel or to contract with a nonprofit or for profit entity under division (C) of this section applies to any alternative school program established under this division.

(F) Any individual employed as a teacher at an alternative school operated by a nonprofit or for profit entity under this section shall be licensed and shall be subject to background checks, as described in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, in the same manner as an individual employed by a school district.

(G) Division (G) of this section applies only to any alternative school that is operated by a nonprofit or for profit entity under contract with the school district.

(1) In addition to the specifications authorized under division (B) of this section, any plan adopted under that division for an alternative school to which division (G) of this section also applies shall include the following:

(a) A description of the educational program provided at the alternative school, which shall include:

(i) Provisions for the school to be configured in clusters or small learning communities;

(ii) Provisions for the incorporation of education technology into the curriculum;

(iii) Provisions for accelerated learning programs in reading and mathematics.

(b) A method to determine the reading and mathematics level of each student assigned to the alternative school and a method to continuously monitor each student's progress in those areas. The methods employed under this division shall be aligned with the curriculum adopted by the school district board of education under section 3313.60 of the Revised Code.

(c) A plan for social services to be provided at the alternative school, such as, but not limited to, counseling services, psychological support services, and enrichment programs;

(d) A plan for a student's transition from the alternative school back to a school operated by the school district;

(e) A requirement that the alternative school maintain financial records in a manner that is compatible with the form prescribed for school districts by the auditor of state to enable the district to comply with any rules adopted by the auditor of state.

(2) Notwithstanding division (A)(2) of this section, any alternative school to which division (G) of this section applies shall include only grades six through twelve.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in division (A)(3)(a) of this section to the contrary, the characteristics of students who may be assigned to an alternative school to which division (G) of this section applies shall include only disruptive and low-performing students.

(H) When any district board of education determines to contract with a nonprofit or for profit entity to operate an alternative school under this section, the board shall use the procedure set forth in this division.

(1) The board shall publish notice of a request for proposals in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once each week for a period of at least two consecutive weeks prior to the date specified by the board for receiving proposals. Notices of requests for proposals shall contain a general description of the subject of the proposed contract and the location where the request for proposals may be obtained. The request for proposals shall include all of the following information:

(a) Instructions and information to respondents concerning the submission of proposals, including the name and address of the office where proposals are to be submitted;

(b) Instructions regarding communications, including at least the names, titles, and telephone numbers of persons to whom questions concerning a proposal may be directed;

(c) A description of the performance criteria that will be used to evaluate whether a respondent to which a contract is awarded is meeting the district's educational standards or the method by which such performance criteria will be determined;

(d) Factors and criteria to be considered in evaluating proposals, the relative importance of each factor or criterion, and a description of the evaluation procedures to be followed;

(e) Any terms or conditions of the proposed contract, including any requirement for a bond and the amount of such bond;

(f) Documents that may be incorporated by reference into the request for proposals, provided that the request for proposals specifies where such documents may be obtained and that such documents are readily available to all interested parties.

(2) After the date specified for receiving proposals, the board shall evaluate the submitted proposals and may hold discussions with any respondent to ensure a complete understanding of the proposal and the qualifications of such respondent to execute the proposed contract. Such qualifications shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Demonstrated competence in performance of the required services as indicated by effective implementation of educational programs in reading and mathematics and at least three years of experience successfully serving a student population similar to the student population assigned to the alternative school;

(b) Demonstrated performance in the areas of cost containment, the provision of educational services of a high quality, and any other areas determined by the board;

(c) Whether the respondent has the resources to undertake the operation of the alternative school and to provide qualified personnel to staff the school;

(d) Financial responsibility.

(3) The board shall select for further review at least three proposals from respondents the board considers qualified to operate the alternative school in the best interests of the students and the district. If fewer than three proposals are submitted, the board shall select each proposal submitted. The board may cancel a request for proposals or reject all proposals at any time prior to the execution of a contract.

The board may hold discussions with any of the three selected respondents to clarify or revise the provisions of a proposal or the proposed contract to ensure complete understanding between the board and the respondent of the terms under which a contract will be entered. Respondents shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion regarding clarifications or revisions. The board may terminate or discontinue any further discussion with a respondent upon written notice.

(4) Upon further review of the three proposals selected by the board, the board shall award a contract to the respondent the board considers to have the most merit, taking into consideration the scope, complexity, and nature of the services to be performed by the respondent under the contract.

(5) Except as provided in division (H)(6) of this section, the request for proposals, submitted proposals, and related documents shall become public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code after the award of the contract.

(6) Any respondent may request in writing that the board not disclose confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets contained in the proposal submitted by the respondent to the board. Any such request shall be accompanied by an offer of indemnification from the respondent to the board. The board shall determine whether to agree to the request and shall inform the respondent in writing of its decision. If the board agrees to nondisclosure of specified information in a proposal, such information shall not become a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. If the respondent withdraws its proposal at any time prior to the execution of a contract, the proposal shall not be a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(I) Upon a recommendation from the department and in accordance with section 3301.16 of the Revised Code, the state board of education may revoke the charter of any alternative school operated by a school district that violates this section.

Sec. 3313.603.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "One unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of course instruction, except that for a laboratory course, "one unit" means a minimum of one hundred fifty hours of course instruction.

(2) "One-half unit" means a minimum of sixty hours of course instruction, except that for physical education courses, "one-half unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of course instruction.

(B) Beginning September 15, 2001, except as required in division (C) of this section and division (C) of section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, the requirements for graduation from every high school shall include twenty units earned in grades nine through twelve and shall be distributed as follows:

(1) English language arts, four units;

(2) Health, one-half unit;

(3) Mathematics, three units;

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

(5) Science, two units until September 15, 2003, and three units thereafter, which at all times shall include both of the following:

(a) Biological sciences, one unit;

(b) Physical sciences, one unit.

(6) Social studies, three units, which shall include both of the following:

(a) American history, one-half unit;

(b) American government, one-half unit.

(7) Elective units, seven units until September 15, 2003, and six units thereafter.

Each student's electives shall include at least one unit, or two half units, chosen from among the areas of business/technology, fine arts, and/or foreign language.

(C) Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, except as provided in divisions (D) to (F) of this section, the requirements for graduation from every public and chartered nonpublic high school shall include twenty units that are designed to prepare students for the workforce and college. The units shall be distributed as follows:

(1) English language arts, four units;

(2) Health, one-half unit;

(3) Mathematics, four units, which shall include one unit of algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II;

(4) Physical education, one-half unit;

(5) Science, three units with inquiry-based laboratory experience that engages students in asking valid scientific questions and gathering and analyzing information, which shall include the following, or their equivalent:

(a) Physical sciences, one unit;

(b) Biology, one unit;

(c) Advanced study in one or more of the following sciences, one unit:

(i) Chemistry, physics, or other physical science;

(ii) Advanced biology or other life science;

(iii) Astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space science.

(6) Social studies, three units, which shall include both of the following:

(a) American history, one-half unit;

(b) American government, one-half unit.

Each school shall integrate the study of economics and financial literacy, as expressed in the social studies academic content standards adopted by the state board of education under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, into one or more existing social studies credits required under division (C)(6) of this section, or into the content of another class, so that every high school student receives instruction in those concepts. In developing the curriculum required by this paragraph, schools shall use available public-private partnerships and resources and materials that exist in business, industry, and through the centers for economics education at institutions of higher education in the state.

(7) Five units consisting of one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education, or English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies courses not otherwise required under division (C) of this section.

Ohioans must be prepared to apply increased knowledge and skills in the workplace and to adapt their knowledge and skills quickly to meet the rapidly changing conditions of the twenty-first century. National studies indicate that all high school graduates need the same academic foundation, regardless of the opportunities they pursue after graduation. The goal of Ohio's system of elementary and secondary education is to prepare all students for and seamlessly connect all students to success in life beyond high school graduation, regardless of whether the next step is entering the workforce, beginning an apprenticeship, engaging in post-secondary training, serving in the military, or pursuing a college degree.

The Ohio core curriculum is the standard expectation for all students entering ninth grade for the first time at a public or chartered nonpublic high school on or after July 1, 2010. A student may satisfy this expectation through a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, integrated, applied, career-technical, and traditional coursework.

Whereas teacher quality is essential for student success in completing the Ohio core curriculum, the general assembly shall appropriate funds for strategic initiatives designed to strengthen schools' capacities to hire and retain highly qualified teachers in the subject areas required by the curriculum. Such initiatives are expected to require an investment of $120,000,000 over five years.

Stronger coordination between high schools and institutions of higher education is necessary to prepare students for more challenging academic endeavors and to lessen the need for academic remediation in college, thereby reducing the costs of higher education for Ohio's students, families, and the state. The state board of education, the Ohio board of regents, and the partnership for continued learning shall develop policies to ensure that only in rare instances will students who complete the Ohio core curriculum require academic remediation after high school.

School districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic schools shall integrate technology into learning experiences whenever practicable across the curriculum in order to maximize efficiency, enhance learning, and prepare students for success in the technology-driven twenty-first century. Districts and schools may use distance and web-based course delivery as a method of providing or augmenting all instruction required under this division, including laboratory experience in science. Districts and schools shall whenever practicable utilize technology access and electronic learning opportunities provided by the eTech Ohio commission, the Ohio learning network, education technology centers, public television stations, and other public and private providers.

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a student who enters ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010, and before July 1, 2014, may qualify for graduation from a public or chartered nonpublic high school even though the student has not completed the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of this section if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) After the student has attended high school for two years, as determined by the school, the student and the student's parent, guardian, or custodian sign and file with the school a written statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.

(2) The student and parent, guardian, or custodian fulfill any procedural requirements the school stipulates to ensure the student's and parent's, guardian's, or custodian's informed consent and to facilitate orderly filing of statements under division (D)(1) of this section.

(3) The student and the student's parent, guardian, or custodian and a representative of the student's high school jointly develop an individual career plan for the student that specifies the student matriculating to a two-year degree program, acquiring a business and industry credential, or entering an apprenticeship.

(4) The student's high school provides counseling and support for the student related to the plan developed under division (D)(3) of this section during the remainder of the student's high school experience.

(5) The student successfully completes, at a minimum, the curriculum prescribed in division (B) of this section.

The partnership for continued learning, in collaboration with the department of education and the Ohio board of regents, shall analyze student performance data to determine if there are mitigating factors that warrant extending the exception permitted by division (D) of this section to high school classes beyond those entering ninth grade before July 1, 2014. The partnership shall submit its findings and any recommendations not later than August 1, 2014, to the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate that consider education legislation, the state board of education, and the superintendent of public instruction.

(E) Each school district and chartered nonpublic school retains the authority to require an even more rigorous minimum curriculum for high school graduation than specified in division (B) or (C) of this section. A school district board of education, through the adoption of a resolution, or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school may stipulate any of the following:

(1) A minimum high school curriculum that requires more than twenty units of academic credit to graduate;

(2) An exception to the district's or school's minimum high school curriculum that is comparable to the exception provided in division (D) of this section but with additional requirements, which may include a requirement that the student successfully complete more than the minimum curriculum prescribed in division (B) of this section;

(3) That no exception comparable to that provided in division (D) of this section is available.

(F) A student enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program, which program has received a waiver from the department of education, may qualify for graduation from high school by successfully completing a competency-based instructional program administered by the dropout prevention and recovery program in lieu of completing the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of this section. The department shall grant a waiver to a dropout prevention and recovery program, within sixty days after the program applies for the waiver, if the program meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The program serves only students not younger than sixteen years of age and not older than twenty-one years of age.

(2) The program enrolls students who, at the time of their initial enrollment, either, or both, are at least one grade level behind their cohort age groups or experience crises that significantly interfere with their academic progress such that they are prevented from continuing their traditional programs.

(3) The program requires students to attain at least the applicable score designated for each of the tests prescribed under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.

(4) The program develops an individual career plan for the student that specifies the student's matriculating to a two-year degree program, acquiring a business and industry credential, or entering an apprenticeship.

(5) The program provides counseling and support for the student related to the plan developed under division (F)(4) of this section during the remainder of the student's high school experience.

(6) The program requires the student and the student's parent, guardian, or custodian to sign and file, in accordance with procedural requirements stipulated by the program, a written statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's consent to the student's graduating without completing the Ohio core curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not completing the Ohio core curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.

(7) Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted to the department an instructional plan that demonstrates how the academic content standards adopted by the state board of education under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code will be taught and assessed.

If the department does not act either to grant the waiver or to reject the program application for the waiver within sixty days as required under this section, the waiver shall be considered to be granted.

(G) Every high school may permit students below the ninth grade to take advanced work for high school credit. A high school shall count such advanced work toward the graduation requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section if the advanced work was both:

(1) Taught by a person who possesses a license or certificate issued under section 3301.071, 3319.22, or 3319.222 of the Revised Code that is valid for teaching high school;

(2) Designated by the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, the board of the cooperative education school district, or the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school as meeting the high school curriculum requirements.

(D) Each high school shall record on the student's high school transcript all high school credit awarded under division (G) of this section. In addition, if the student completed a seventh- or eighth-grade fine arts course described in division (K) of this section and the course qualified for high school credit under that division, the high school shall record that course on the student's high school transcript.

(H) The department shall make its individual academic career plan available through its Ohio career information system web site for districts and schools to use as a tool for communicating with and providing guidance to students and families in selecting high school courses.

(I) Units earned in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies that are delivered through integrated academic and technical career-technical instruction are eligible to meet the graduation requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section.

(J) The state board of education, in consultation with the Ohio board of regents and the partnership for continued learning, shall adopt a statewide plan implementing methods for students to earn units of high school credit based on a demonstration of subject area competency, instead of or in combination with completing hours of classroom instruction. The state board shall adopt the plan not later than March 31, 2009, and commence phasing in the plan during the 2009-2010 school year. The plan shall include a standard method for recording demonstrated proficiency on high school transcripts. Each school district, community school, and chartered nonpublic school shall comply with the state board's plan adopted under this division and award units of high school credit in accordance with the plan. The state board may adopt existing methods for earning high school credit based on a demonstration of subject area competency as necessary prior to the 2009-2010 school year.

(K) This division does not apply to students who qualify for graduation from high school under division (D) or (F) of this section, or to students pursuing a career-technical instructional track as determined by the school district board of education or the chartered nonpublic school's governing authority. Nevertheless, the general assembly encourages such students to consider enrolling in a fine arts course as an elective.

Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, each student enrolled in a public or chartered nonpublic high school shall complete two semesters or the equivalent of fine arts to graduate from high school. The coursework may be completed in any of grades seven to twelve. Each student who completes a fine arts course in grade seven or eight may elect to count that course toward the five units of electives required for graduation under division (C)(7) of this section, if the course satisfied the requirements of division (G) of this section. In that case, the high school shall award the student high school credit for the course and count the course toward the five units required under division (C)(7) of this section. If the course in grade seven or eight did not satisfy the requirements of division (G) of this section, the high school shall not award the student high school credit for the course but shall count the course toward the two semesters or the equivalent of fine arts required by this division.

(L) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the board of education of each school district and the governing authority of each chartered nonpublic school may adopt a policy to excuse from the high school physical education requirement each student who, during high school, has participated in interscholastic athletics, marching band, or cheerleading for at least two full seasons. If the board or authority adopts such a policy, the board or authority shall not require the student to complete any physical education course as a condition to graduate. However, the student shall be required to complete one-half unit, consisting of at least sixty hours of instruction, in another course of study.

Sec. 3313.6013. (A) As used in this section, "dual enrollment program" means a program that enables a student to earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education while enrolled in high school or that enables a student to complete coursework while enrolled in high school that may earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education upon the student's attainment of a specified score on an examination covering the coursework. Dual enrollment programs may include any of the following:

(1) The post-secondary enrollment options program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code;

(2) Advanced placement courses;

(3) Any similar program established pursuant to an agreement between a school district or chartered nonpublic high school and an institution of higher education.

(B) Each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district and each chartered nonpublic high school shall provide students enrolled in grades nine through twelve with the opportunity to participate in a dual enrollment program. For this purpose, each school district and chartered nonpublic high school shall offer at least one dual enrollment program in accordance with division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, as applicable.

(1) A city, local, or exempted village school district meets the requirements of this division through its mandatory participation in the post-secondary enrollment options program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code. However, a city, local, or exempted village school district may offer any other dual enrollment program, in addition to the post-secondary enrollment options program, and each joint vocational school district shall offer at least one other duel enrollment program, to students in good standing, as defined by the partnership for continued learning under section 3301.42 of the Revised Code.

(2) A chartered nonpublic high school that elects to participate in the post-secondary enrollment options program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code meets the requirements of this division. Each chartered nonpublic high school that elects not to participate in the post-secondary enrollment options program instead shall offer at least one other dual enrollment program to students in good standing, as defined by the partnership for continued learning under section 3301.42 of the Revised Code.

(C) Each school district and each chartered nonpublic high school shall provide information about the dual enrollment programs offered by the district or school to all students enrolled in grades eight through eleven.

Sec. 3313.6014.  The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall by resolution adopt a procedure for notifying the parent, guardian, or custodian of each student enrolled in a high school operated by the district or enrolled in a school operated by the joint vocational school district to which the city, exempted village, or local district belongs of the requirements of the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in section 3313.603 of the Revised Code and that one consequence of not completing that curriculum is ineligibility to enroll in most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.

This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right.

Sec. 3313.61.  (A) A diploma shall be granted by the board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district that operates a high school to any person to whom all of the following apply:

(1) The person has successfully completed the curriculum in any high school or the individualized education program developed for the person by any high school pursuant to section 3323.08 of the Revised Code, or has qualified under division (D) or (F) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, provided that no school district shall require a student to remain in school for any specific number of semesters or other terms if the student completes the required curriculum early;

(2) Subject to section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, the person either:

(a) Has attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests required by that division unless the person was excused from taking any such test pursuant to section 3313.532 of the Revised Code or unless division (H) or (L) of this section applies to the person;

(b) Has satisfied the alternative conditions prescribed in section 3313.615 of the Revised Code.

(3) The person is not eligible to receive an honors diploma granted pursuant to division (B) of this section.

Except as provided in divisions (C), (E), (J), and (L) of this section, no diploma shall be granted under this division to anyone except as provided under this division.

(B) In lieu of a diploma granted under division (A) of this section, an honors diploma shall be granted, in accordance with rules of the state board of education, by any such district board to anyone who successfully accomplishes all of the following:

(1) Successfully completes the curriculum in any high school or the individualized education program developed for the person by any high school pursuant to section 3323.08 of the Revised Code, who has attained subject;

(2) Subject to section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, either:

(a) Has attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests required by that division, or has;

(b) Has satisfied the alternative conditions prescribed in section 3313.615 of the Revised Code, and who has.

(3) Has met additional criteria established by the state board for the granting of such a diploma. Except

An honors diploma shall not be granted to a student who is subject to the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code but elects the option of division (D) or (F) of that section. Except as provided in divisions (C), (E), and (J) of this section, no honors diploma shall be granted to anyone failing to comply with this division and no more than one honors diploma shall be granted to any student under this division.

The state board shall adopt rules prescribing the granting of honors diplomas under this division. These rules may prescribe the granting of honors diplomas that recognize a student's achievement as a whole or that recognize a student's achievement in one or more specific subjects or both. The rules may prescribe the granting of an honors diploma recognizing technical expertise for a career-technical student. In any case, the rules shall designate two or more criteria for the granting of each type of honors diploma the board establishes under this division and the number of such criteria that must be met for the granting of that type of diploma. The number of such criteria for any type of honors diploma shall be at least one less than the total number of criteria designated for that type and no one or more particular criteria shall be required of all persons who are to be granted that type of diploma.

(C) Any such district board administering any of the tests required by section 3301.0710 or 3301.0712 of the Revised Code to any person requesting to take such test pursuant to division (B)(8)(b) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code shall award a diploma to such person if the person attains at least the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests administered and if the person has previously attained the applicable scores on all the other tests required by division (B) of that section or has been exempted or excused from attaining the applicable score on any such test pursuant to division (H) or (L) of this section or from taking any such test pursuant to section 3313.532 of the Revised Code.

(D) Each diploma awarded under this section shall be signed by the president and treasurer of the issuing board, the superintendent of schools, and the principal of the high school. Each diploma shall bear the date of its issue, be in such form as the district board prescribes, and be paid for out of the district's general fund.

(E) A person who is a resident of Ohio and is eligible under state board of education minimum standards to receive a high school diploma based in whole or in part on credits earned while an inmate of a correctional institution operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof, shall be granted such diploma by the correctional institution operating the programs in which such credits were earned, and by the board of education of the school district in which the inmate resided immediately prior to the inmate's placement in the institution. The diploma granted by the correctional institution shall be signed by the director of the institution, and by the person serving as principal of the institution's high school and shall bear the date of issue.

(F) Persons who are not residents of Ohio but who are inmates of correctional institutions operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof, and who are eligible under state board of education minimum standards to receive a high school diploma based in whole or in part on credits earned while an inmate of the correctional institution, shall be granted a diploma by the correctional institution offering the program in which the credits were earned. The diploma granted by the correctional institution shall be signed by the director of the institution and by the person serving as principal of the institution's high school and shall bear the date of issue.

(G) The state board of education shall provide by rule for the administration of the tests required by section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code to inmates of correctional institutions.

(H) Any person to whom all of the following apply shall be exempted from attaining the applicable score on the test in social studies designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code or the test in citizenship designated under former division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to September 11, 2001:

(1) The person is not a citizen of the United States;

(2) The person is not a permanent resident of the United States;

(3) The person indicates no intention to reside in the United States after the completion of high school.

(I) Notwithstanding division (D) of section 3311.19 and division (D) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code, this section and section 3311.611 of the Revised Code do not apply to the board of education of any joint vocational school district or any cooperative education school district established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code.

(J) Upon receipt of a notice under division (D) of section 3325.08 of the Revised Code that a student has received a diploma under that section, the board of education receiving the notice may grant a high school diploma under this section to the student, except that such board shall grant the student a diploma if the student meets the graduation requirements that the student would otherwise have had to meet to receive a diploma from the district. The diploma granted under this section shall be of the same type the notice indicates the student received under section 3325.08 of the Revised Code.

(K) As used in this division, "limited English proficient student" has the same meaning as in division (C)(3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding division (C)(3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, no limited English proficient student who has not attained the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests required by that division shall be awarded a diploma under this section.

(L) Any student described by division (A)(1) of this section may be awarded a diploma without attaining the applicable scores designated on the tests prescribed under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code provided an individualized education program specifically exempts the student from attaining such scores. This division does not negate the requirement for such a student to take all such tests or alternate assessments required by division (C)(1) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code for the purpose of assessing student progress as required by federal law.

Sec. 3313.614.  (A) As used in this section, a person "fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma" at the time one of the following conditions is satisfied:

(1) The person successfully completes the high school curriculum of a school district, a community school, a chartered nonpublic school, or a correctional institution.

(2) The person successfully completes the individualized education program developed for the person under section 3323.08 of the Revised Code.

(3) A board of education issues its determination under section 3313.611 of the Revised Code that the person qualifies as having successfully completed the curriculum required by the district.

(B) This division specifies the testing requirements that must be fulfilled as a condition toward granting high school diplomas under sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, and 3325.08 of the Revised Code.

(1) A person who fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma before September 15, 2000, is not required to pass any proficiency test or achievement test in science as a condition to receiving a diploma.

(2) Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, a person who fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma prior to September 15, 2006, is not required to pass the Ohio graduation test in any subject as a condition to receiving a diploma once the person has passed the ninth grade proficiency test in the same subject, so long as the person passed the ninth grade proficiency test prior to September 15, 2008. However, any such person who passes the Ohio graduation test in any subject prior to passing the ninth grade proficiency test in the same subject shall be deemed to have passed the ninth grade proficiency test in that subject as a condition to receiving a diploma. For this purpose, the ninth grade proficiency test in citizenship substitutes for the Ohio graduation test in social studies. If a person fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma prior to September 15, 2006, but does not pass a ninth grade proficiency test or the Ohio graduation test in a particular subject before September 15, 2008, and passage of a test in that subject is a condition for the person to receive a diploma, the person must pass the Ohio graduation test instead of the ninth grade proficiency test in that subject to receive a diploma.

(3) A person who begins tenth grade after July 1, 2004, in a school district, community school, or chartered nonpublic school is not eligible to receive a diploma based on passage of ninth grade proficiency tests. Each such person must pass Ohio graduation tests to meet the testing requirements applicable to that person as a condition to receiving a diploma.

(C) This division specifies the curriculum requirement that shall be completed as a condition toward granting high school diplomas under sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, and 3325.08 of the Revised Code.

(1) A person who is under twenty-two years of age when the person fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma shall complete the curriculum required by the school district or school issuing the diploma for the first year that the person originally enrolled in high school, except for a person who qualifies for graduation from high school under either division (D) or (F) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

(2) Once a person fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma, the person is never required, as a condition of receiving a diploma, to meet any different curriculum requirements that take effect pending the person's passage of proficiency or achievement tests, including changes mandated by section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, the state board, a school district board of education, or a governing authority of a community school or chartered nonpublic school.

Sec. 3313.615.  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) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.

(A) As an alternative to the requirement that a person attain the scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests 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) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all but one of the tests required by that division and from which the person was not excused or exempted, pursuant to division (H) or (L) of section 3313.61, division (B) 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 test required under division (B) 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 state board of education in the subject area of the test required under division (B) 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 in the subject area described in division (A)(4) of this 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 state board of education 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.

Sec. 3313.62.  The school year shall begin on the first day of July of each calendar year and close on the thirtieth day of June of the succeeding calendar year. A school week shall consist of up to five days, and a school month of four school weeks shall not include Saturday or Sunday.

Sec. 3314.012.  (A) Within ninety days of September 28, 1999, the superintendent of public instruction shall appoint representatives of the department of education, including employees who work with the education management information system and employees of the office of community schools established by section 3314.11 of the Revised Code, to a committee to develop report card models for community schools. The director of the legislative office of education oversight shall also appoint representatives to the committee. The committee shall design model report cards appropriate for the various types of community schools approved to operate in the state. Sufficient models shall be developed to reflect the variety of grade levels served and the missions of the state's community schools. All models shall include both financial and academic data. The initial models shall be developed by March 31, 2000.

(B) The department of education shall issue an annual report card for each community school. The report card shall report the academic and financial performance of the school utilizing one of the models developed under division (A) of this section. The report card shall include all information applicable to school buildings under division (A) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code and section 3302.032 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon receipt of a copy of a contract between a sponsor and a community school entered into under this chapter, the department of education shall notify the community school of the specific model report card that will be used for that school.

(D) Report cards shall be distributed to the parents of all students in the community school, to the members of the board of education of the school district in which the community school is located, and to any person who requests one from the department.

(E) No report card shall be issued for any community school under this section until the school has been open for instruction for two full school years.

Sec. 3314.03.  A copy of every contract entered into under this section shall be filed with the superintendent of public instruction.

(A) Each contract entered into between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school shall specify the following:

(1) That the school shall be established as either of the following:

(a) A nonprofit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, if established prior to April 8, 2003;

(b) A public benefit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, if established after April 8, 2003;

(2) The education program of the school, including the school's mission, the characteristics of the students the school is expected to attract, the ages and grades of students, and the focus of the curriculum;

(3) The academic goals to be achieved and the method of measurement that will be used to determine progress toward those goals, which shall include the statewide achievement tests;

(4) Performance standards by which the success of the school will be evaluated by the sponsor. If the sponsor will evaluate the school in accordance with division (D) of section 3314.36 of the Revised Code, the contract shall specify the number of school years that the school will be evaluated under that division.

(5) The admission standards of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and, if applicable, section 3314.061 of the Revised Code;

(6)(a) Dismissal procedures;

(b) A requirement that the governing authority adopt an attendance policy that includes a procedure for automatically withdrawing a student from the school if the student without a legitimate excuse fails to participate in one hundred five consecutive hours of the learning opportunities offered to the student.

(7) The ways by which the school will achieve racial and ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves;

(8) Requirements for financial audits by the auditor of state. The contract shall require financial records of the school to be maintained in the same manner as are financial records of school districts, pursuant to rules of the auditor of state, and the audits shall be conducted in accordance with section 117.10 of the Revised Code.

(9) The facilities to be used and their locations;

(10) Qualifications of teachers, including a requirement that the school's classroom teachers be licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, except that a community school may engage noncertificated persons to teach up to twelve hours per week pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;

(11) That the school will comply with the following requirements:

(a) The school will provide learning opportunities to a minimum of twenty-five students for a minimum of nine hundred twenty hours per school year;

(b) The governing authority will purchase liability insurance, or otherwise provide for the potential liability of the school;

(c) The school will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and will not be operated by a sectarian school or religious institution;

(d) The school will comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.18, 3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712, 3301.0715, 3313.472, 3313.50, 3313.536, 3313.608, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662, 3313.67, 3313.671, 3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.80, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.321, 3319.39, 3321.01, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3321.191, 3327.10, 4111.17, 4113.52, and 5705.391 and Chapters 117., 1347., 2744., 3365., 3742., 4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167. of the Revised Code as if it were a school district and will comply with section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code in the manner specified in section 3314.17 of the Revised Code;

(e) The school shall comply with Chapter 102. and section 2921.42 of the Revised Code;

(f) The school will comply with sections 3313.61, 3313.611, and 3313.614 of the Revised Code, except that for students who enter ninth grade for the first time before July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum in any high school prior to receiving a high school diploma may be met by completing the curriculum adopted by the governing authority of the community school rather than the curriculum specified in Title XXXIII of the Revised Code or any rules of the state board of education;. Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum of a high school prior to receiving a high school diploma shall be met by completing the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, unless the person qualifies under division (D) or (F) of that section. Each school shall comply with the plan for awarding high school credit based on demonstration of subject area competency, adopted by the state board of education under division (J) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

(g) The school governing authority will submit within four months after the end of each school year a report of its activities and progress in meeting the goals and standards of divisions (A)(3) and (4) of this section and its financial status to the sponsor and the parents of all students enrolled in the school.

(h) The school, unless it is an internet- or computer-based community school, will comply with section 3313.801 of the Revised Code as if it were a school district.

(12) Arrangements for providing health and other benefits to employees;

(13) The length of the contract, which shall begin at the beginning of an academic year. No contract shall exceed five years unless such contract has been renewed pursuant to division (E) of this section.

(14) The governing authority of the school, which shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of the contract;

(15) A financial plan detailing an estimated school budget for each year of the period of the contract and specifying the total estimated per pupil expenditure amount for each such year. The plan shall specify for each year the base formula amount that will be used for purposes of funding calculations under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code. This base formula amount for any year shall not exceed the formula amount defined under section 3317.02 of the Revised Code. The plan may also specify for any year a percentage figure to be used for reducing the per pupil amount of the subsidy calculated pursuant to section 3317.029 of the Revised Code the school is to receive that year under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code.

(16) Requirements and procedures regarding the disposition of employees of the school in the event the contract is terminated or not renewed pursuant to section 3314.07 of the Revised Code;

(17) Whether the school is to be created by converting all or part of an existing public school or is to be a new start-up school, and if it is a converted public school, specification of any duties or responsibilities of an employer that the board of education that operated the school before conversion is delegating to the governing board of the community school with respect to all or any specified group of employees provided the delegation is not prohibited by a collective bargaining agreement applicable to such employees;

(18) Provisions establishing procedures for resolving disputes or differences of opinion between the sponsor and the governing authority of the community school;

(19) A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt a policy regarding the admission of students who reside outside the district in which the school is located. That policy shall comply with the admissions procedures specified in sections 3314.06 and 3314.061 of the Revised Code and, at the sole discretion of the authority, shall do one of the following:

(a) Prohibit the enrollment of students who reside outside the district in which the school is located;

(b) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in districts adjacent to the district in which the school is located;

(c) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in any other district in the state.

(20) A provision recognizing the authority of the department of education to take over the sponsorship of the school in accordance with the provisions of division (C) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code;

(21) A provision recognizing the sponsor's authority to assume the operation of a school under the conditions specified in division (B) of section 3314.073 of the Revised Code;

(22) A provision recognizing both of the following:

(a) The authority of public health and safety officials to inspect the facilities of the school and to order the facilities closed if those officials find that the facilities are not in compliance with health and safety laws and regulations;

(b) The authority of the department of education as the community school oversight body to suspend the operation of the school under section 3314.072 of the Revised Code if the department has evidence of conditions or violations of law at the school that pose an imminent danger to the health and safety of the school's students and employees and the sponsor refuses to take such action;

(23) A description of the learning opportunities that will be offered to students including both classroom-based and non-classroom-based learning opportunities that is in compliance with criteria for student participation established by the department under division (L)(2) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code;

(24) The school will comply with section 3302.04 of the Revised Code, including division (E) of that section to the extent possible, except that any action required to be taken by a school district pursuant to that section shall be taken by the sponsor of the school. However, the sponsor shall not be required to take any action described in division (F) of that section.

(25) Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the school will open for operation not later than the thirtieth day of September each school year, unless the mission of the school as specified under division (A)(2) of this section is solely to serve dropouts. In its initial year of operation, if the school fails to open by the thirtieth day of September, or within one year after the adoption of the contract pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code if the mission of the school is solely to serve dropouts, the contract shall be void.

(B) The community school shall also submit to the sponsor a comprehensive plan for the school. The plan shall specify the following:

(1) The process by which the governing authority of the school will be selected in the future;

(2) The management and administration of the school;

(3) If the community school is a currently existing public school, alternative arrangements for current public school students who choose not to attend the school and teachers who choose not to teach in the school after conversion;

(4) The instructional program and educational philosophy of the school;

(5) Internal financial controls.

(C) A contract entered into under section 3314.02 of the Revised Code between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school may provide for the community school governing authority to make payments to the sponsor, which is hereby authorized to receive such payments as set forth in the contract between the governing authority and the sponsor. The total amount of such payments for oversight and monitoring of the school shall not exceed three per cent of the total amount of payments for operating expenses that the school receives from the state.

(D) The contract shall specify the duties of the sponsor which shall be in accordance with the written agreement entered into with the department of education under division (B) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code and shall include the following:

(1) Monitor the community school's compliance with all laws applicable to the school and with the terms of the contract;

(2) Monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal performance and the organization and operation of the community school on at least an annual basis;

(3) Report on an annual basis the results of the evaluation conducted under division (D)(2) of this section to the department of education and to the parents of students enrolled in the community school;

(4) Provide technical assistance to the community school in complying with laws applicable to the school and terms of the contract;

(5) Take steps to intervene in the school's operation to correct problems in the school's overall performance, declare the school to be on probationary status pursuant to section 3314.073 of the Revised Code, suspend the operation of the school pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code, or terminate the contract of the school pursuant to section 3314.07 of the Revised Code as determined necessary by the sponsor;

(6) Have in place a plan of action to be undertaken in the event the community school experiences financial difficulties or closes prior to the end of a school year.

(E) Upon the expiration of a contract entered into under this section, the sponsor of a community school may, with the approval of the governing authority of the school, renew that contract for a period of time determined by the sponsor, but not ending earlier than the end of any school year, if the sponsor finds that the school's compliance with applicable laws and terms of the contract and the school's progress in meeting the academic goals prescribed in the contract have been satisfactory. Any contract that is renewed under this division remains subject to the provisions of sections 3314.07, 3314.072, and 3314.073 of the Revised Code.

(F) If a community school fails to open for operation within one year after the contract entered into under this section is adopted pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code or permanently closes prior to the expiration of the contract, the contract shall be void and the school shall not enter into a contract with any other sponsor. A school shall not be considered permanently closed because the operations of the school have been suspended pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code. Any contract that becomes void under this division shall not count toward any statewide limit on the number of such contracts prescribed by section 3314.013 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3317.01.  As used in this section and section 3317.011 of the Revised Code, "school district," unless otherwise specified, means any city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, or cooperative education school district and any educational service center.

This chapter shall be administered by the state board of education. The superintendent of public instruction shall calculate the amounts payable to each school district and shall certify the amounts payable to each eligible district to the treasurer of the district as provided by this chapter. As soon as possible after such amounts are calculated, the superintendent shall certify to the treasurer of each school district the district's adjusted charge-off increase, as defined in section 5705.211 of the Revised Code. No moneys shall be distributed pursuant to this chapter without the approval of the controlling board.

The state board of education shall, in accordance with appropriations made by the general assembly, meet the financial obligations of this chapter.

Annually, the department of education shall calculate and report to each school district the district's total state and local funds for providing an adequate basic education to the district's nonhandicapped students, utilizing the determination in section 3317.012 of the Revised Code. In addition, the department shall calculate and report separately for each school district the district's total state and local funds for providing an adequate education for its handicapped students, utilizing the determinations in both sections 3317.012 and 3317.013 of the Revised Code.

Not later than the thirty-first day of August of each fiscal year, the department of education shall provide to each school district and county MR/DD board a preliminary estimate of the amount of funding that the department calculates the district will receive under each of divisions (C)(1) and (4) of section 3317.022 of the Revised Code. No later than the first day of December of each fiscal year, the department shall update that preliminary estimate.

Moneys distributed pursuant to this chapter shall be calculated and paid on a fiscal year basis, beginning with the first day of July and extending through the thirtieth day of June. The moneys appropriated for each fiscal year shall be distributed at least monthly to each school district unless otherwise provided for. The state board shall submit a yearly distribution plan to the controlling board at its first meeting in July. The state board shall submit any proposed midyear revision of the plan to the controlling board in January. Any year-end revision of the plan shall be submitted to the controlling board in June. If moneys appropriated for each fiscal year are distributed other than monthly, such distribution shall be on the same basis for each school district.

The total amounts paid each month shall constitute, as nearly as possible, one-twelfth of the total amount payable for the entire year.

Until fiscal year 2007, payments made during the first six months of the fiscal year may be based on an estimate of the amounts payable for the entire year. Payments made in the last six months shall be based on the final calculation of the amounts payable to each school district for that fiscal year. Payments made in the last six months may be adjusted, if necessary, to correct the amounts distributed in the first six months, and to reflect enrollment increases when such are at least three per cent.

Beginning in fiscal year 2007, payments shall be calculated to reflect the biannual reporting of average daily membership. In fiscal year 2007 and in each fiscal year thereafter, annualized periodic payments for each school district shall be based on the district's student counts certified pursuant to section 3317.03 of the Revised Code as follows:

the sum of one-half of the number of students reported
for the first full week in October plus one-half of the
average of the numbers reported for the first full week
in October and for the first full week in February

Except as otherwise provided, payments under this chapter shall be made only to those school districts in which:

(A) The school district, except for any educational service center and any joint vocational or cooperative education school district, levies for current operating expenses at least twenty mills. Levies for joint vocational or cooperative education school districts or county school financing districts, limited to or to the extent apportioned to current expenses, shall be included in this qualification requirement. School district income tax levies under Chapter 5748. of the Revised Code, limited to or to the extent apportioned to current operating expenses, shall be included in this qualification requirement to the extent determined by the tax commissioner under division (D) of section 3317.021 of the Revised Code.

(B) The school year next preceding the fiscal year for which such payments are authorized meets the requirement of section 3313.48 or 3313.481 of the Revised Code, with regard to the minimum number of days or hours school must be open for instruction with pupils in attendance, for individualized parent-teacher conference and reporting periods, and for professional meetings of teachers. This requirement shall be waived by the superintendent of public instruction if it had been necessary for a school to be closed because of disease epidemic, hazardous weather conditions, inoperability of school buses or other equipment necessary to the school's operation, damage to a school building, or other temporary circumstances due to utility failure rendering the school building unfit for school use, provided that for those school districts operating pursuant to section 3313.48 of the Revised Code the number of days the school was actually open for instruction with pupils in attendance and for individualized parent-teacher conference and reporting periods is not less than one hundred seventy-five, or for those school districts operating on a trimester plan the number of days the school was actually open for instruction with pupils in attendance not less than seventy-nine days in any trimester, for those school districts operating on a quarterly plan the number of days the school was actually open for instruction with pupils in attendance not less than fifty-nine days in any quarter, or for those school districts operating on a pentamester plan the number of days the school was actually open for instruction with pupils in attendance not less than forty-four days in any pentamester.

A school district shall not be considered to have failed to comply with this division or section 3313.481 of the Revised Code because schools were open for instruction but either twelfth grade students were excused from attendance for up to three days sixteen and one-half hours or only a portion of the kindergarten students were in attendance for up to three days fifteen hours, in the case of students attending all-day kindergarten, and seven and one-half hours, in the case of students attending half-day kindergarten, in order to allow for the gradual orientation to school of such students.

The superintendent of public instruction shall waive the requirements of this section with reference to the minimum number of days or hours school must be in session with pupils in attendance for the school year succeeding the school year in which a board of education initiates a plan of operation pursuant to section 3313.481 of the Revised Code. The minimum requirements of this section shall again be applicable to such a district beginning with the school year commencing the second July succeeding the initiation of one such plan, and for each school year thereafter.

A school district shall not be considered to have failed to comply with this division or section 3313.48 or 3313.481 of the Revised Code because schools were open for instruction but the length of the regularly scheduled school day, for any number of days during the school year, was reduced by not more than two hours due to hazardous weather conditions.

(C) The school district has on file, and is paying in accordance with, a teachers' salary schedule which complies with section 3317.13 of the Revised Code.

A board of education or governing board of an educational service center which has not conformed with other law and the rules pursuant thereto, shall not participate in the distribution of funds authorized by sections 3317.022 to 3317.0211, 3317.11, 3317.16, 3317.17, and 3317.19 of the Revised Code, except for good and sufficient reason established to the satisfaction of the state board of education and the state controlling board.

All funds allocated to school districts under this chapter, except those specifically allocated for other purposes, shall be used to pay current operating expenses only.

Sec. 3317.029.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Poverty percentage" means the quotient obtained by dividing the five-year average number of children ages five to seventeen residing in the school district and living in a family receiving assistance under the Ohio works first program or an antecedent program known as TANF or ADC, as certified or adjusted under section 3317.10 of the Revised Code, by the district's three-year average formula ADM.

(2) "Statewide poverty percentage" means the five-year average of the total number of children ages five to seventeen years residing in the state and receiving assistance under the Ohio works first program or an antecedent program known as TANF or ADC, divided by the sum of the three-year average formula ADMs for all school districts in the state.

(3) "Poverty index" means the quotient obtained by dividing the school district's poverty percentage by the statewide poverty percentage.

(4) "Poverty student count" means the five-year average number of children ages five to seventeen residing in the school district and living in a family receiving assistance under the Ohio works first program or an antecedent program known as TANF or ADC, as certified under section 3317.10 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Kindergarten ADM" means the number of students reported under section 3317.03 of the Revised Code as enrolled in kindergarten, excluding any kindergarten students reported under division (B)(3)(e) or (f) of section 3317.03 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Kindergarten through third grade ADM" means the amount calculated as follows:

(a) Multiply the kindergarten ADM by the sum of one plus the all-day kindergarten percentage;

(b) Add the number of students in grades one through three;

(c) Subtract from the sum calculated under division (A)(6)(b) of this section the number of special education students in grades kindergarten through three.

"Kindergarten through third grade ADM" shall not include any students reported under division (B)(3)(e) or (f) of section 3317.03 of the Revised Code.

(7) "All-day kindergarten" means a kindergarten class that is in session five days per week for not less than the same number of clock hours each day week as for pupils in grades one through six.

(8) "All-day kindergarten percentage" means the percentage of a district's actual total number of students enrolled in kindergarten who are enrolled in all-day kindergarten.

(9) "Buildings with the highest concentration of need" means the school buildings in a district with percentages of students in grades kindergarten through three receiving assistance under Ohio works first at least as high as the district-wide percentage of students receiving such assistance.

If, in any fiscal year, the information provided by the department of job and family services under section 3317.10 of the Revised Code is insufficient to determine the Ohio works first percentage in each building, "buildings with the highest concentration of need" has the meaning given in rules that the department of education shall adopt. The rules shall base the definition of "buildings with the highest concentration of need" on family income of students in grades kindergarten through three in a manner that, to the extent possible with available data, approximates the intent of this division and division (K) of this section to designate buildings where the Ohio works first percentage in those grades equals or exceeds the district-wide Ohio works first percentage.

(B) In addition to the amounts required to be paid to a school district under section 3317.022 of the Revised Code, the department of education shall compute and distribute to each school district for poverty-based assistance the greater of the following:

(1) The amount the district received in fiscal year 2005 for disadvantaged pupil impact aid pursuant to Section 41.10 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly general assembly, as amended, minus the amount deducted from the district under Section 16 of Am. Sub. S.B. 2 of the 125th General Assembly general assembly that year for payments to internet- and computer-based community schools;

(2) The sum of the computations made under divisions (C) to (I) of this section.

(C) A payment for academic intervention programs, if the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.25, calculated as follows:

(1) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.25, calculate the district's level one amount for large-group academic intervention for all students as follows:

(a) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.25 but less than 0.75:

large-group intervention units X hourly rate X
level one hours X [(poverty index – 0.25)/0.5]
X phase-in percentage

Where:

(i) "Large-group intervention units" equals the district's formula ADM divided by 20;

(ii) "Hourly rate" equals $20.00 in fiscal year 2006 and $20.40 in fiscal year 2007;

(iii) "Level one hours" equals 25 hours;

(iv) "Phase-in percentage" equals 0.60 in fiscal year 2006 and 1.00 in fiscal year 2007.

(b) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.75:

large-group intervention units X hourly rate X
level one hours X phase-in percentage

Where "large-group intervention units," "hourly rate," "level one hours," and "phase-in percentage" have the same meanings as in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.75, calculate the district's level two amount for medium-group academic intervention for all students as follows:

(a) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 0.75 but less than 1.50:

medium-group intervention units X hourly rate
X {level one hours + [25 hours X ((poverty index – 0.75)/0.75)]}
X phase-in percentage

Where:

(i) "Medium group intervention units" equals the district's formula ADM divided by 15;

(ii) "Hourly rate," "level one hours," and "phase-in percentage" have the same meanings as in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(b) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.50:

medium-group intervention units X hourly rate X
level two hours X phase-in percentage

Where:

(i) "Medium group intervention units" has the same meaning as in division (C)(2)(a)(i) of this section;

(ii) "Hourly rate" and "phase-in percentage" have the same meanings as in division (C)(1)(a) of this section;

(iii) "Level two hours" equals 50 hours.

(3) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.50, calculate the district's level three amount for small-group academic intervention for impoverished students as follows:

(a) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.50 but less than 2.50:

small group intervention units X hourly rate X
{level one hours + [level three hours X
(poverty index – 1.50)]} X phase-in percentage

Where:

(i) "Small group intervention units" equals the quotient of (the district's poverty student count times 3) divided by 10;

(ii) "Hourly rate," "level one hours," and "phase-in percentage" have the same meanings as in division (C)(1)(a) of this section;

(iii) "Level three hours" equals 135 hours.

(b) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 2.50:

small group intervention units X hourly rate
X level three hours X phase-in percentage

Where:

(i) "Small group intervention units" has the same meaning as in division (C)(3)(a)(i) of this section;

(ii) "Hourly rate" and "phase-in percentage" have the same meanings as in division (C)(1)(a) of this section;

(iii) "Level three hours" equals 160 hours.

Any district that receives funds under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section annually shall submit to the department of education by a date established by the department a plan describing how the district will deploy those funds. The deployment measures described in that plan shall comply with any applicable spending requirements prescribed in division (J)(6) of this section or with any order issued by the superintendent of public instruction under section 3317.017 of the Revised Code.

(D) A payment for all-day kindergarten if the poverty index of the school district is greater than or equal to 1.0 or if the district's three-year average formula ADM exceeded seventeen thousand five hundred. In addition, the department shall make a payment under this division to any school district that, in a prior fiscal year, qualified for this payment and provided all-day kindergarten, regardless of changes to the district's poverty index. The department shall calculate the payment under this division by multiplying the all-day kindergarten percentage by the kindergarten ADM and multiplying that product by the formula amount.

(E) A class-size reduction payment based on calculating the number of new teachers necessary to achieve a lower student-teacher ratio, as follows:

(1) Determine or calculate a formula number of teachers per one thousand students based on the poverty index of the school district as follows:

(a) If the poverty index of the school district is less than 1.0, the formula number of teachers is 50.0, which is the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of twenty to one;

(b) If the poverty index of the school district is greater than or equal to 1.0, but less than 1.5, the formula number of teachers is calculated as follows:

50.0 + {[(poverty index – 1.0)/0.5] X 16.667}

Where 50.0 is the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of twenty to one; 0.5 is the interval from a poverty index of 1.0 to a poverty index of 1.5; and 16.667 is the difference in the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of fifteen to one and the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of twenty to one.

(c) If the poverty index of the school district is greater than or equal to 1.5, the formula number of teachers is 66.667, which is the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of fifteen to one.

(2) Multiply the formula number of teachers determined or calculated in division (E)(1) of this section by the kindergarten through third grade ADM for the district and divide that product by one thousand;

(3) Calculate the number of new teachers as follows:

(a) Multiply the kindergarten through third grade ADM by 50.0, which is the number of teachers per one thousand students at a student-teacher ratio of twenty to one, and divide that product by one thousand;

(b) Subtract the quotient obtained in division (E)(3)(a) of this section from the product in division (E)(2) of this section.

(4) Multiply the greater of the difference obtained under division (E)(3) of this section or zero by the statewide average teachers compensation. For this purpose, the "statewide average teacher compensation" is $53,680 in fiscal year 2006 and $54,941 in fiscal year 2007, which includes an amount for the value of fringe benefits.

(F) A payment for services to limited English proficient students, if the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.0 and the proportion of its students who are limited English proficient, as reported in 2003 on its school district report issued under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for the 2002-2003 school year, is greater than or equal to 2.0%, calculated as follows:

(1) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.0, but less than 1.75, determine the amount per limited English proficient student as follows:

{0.125 + [0.125 X ((poverty index - 1.0)/0.75)]}
X formula amount

(2) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.75, the amount per limited English proficient student equals:

0.25 X formula amount

(3) Multiply the per student amount determined for the district under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section by the number of the district's limited English proficient students, times a phase-in percentage of 0.40 in fiscal year 2006 and 0.70 in fiscal year 2007. For purposes of this calculation, the number of limited English proficient students for each district shall be the number determined by the department when it calculated the district's percentage of limited English proficient students for its school district report card issued in 2003 for the 2002-2003 school year.

Not later than December 31, 2006, the department of education shall recommend to the general assembly and the director of budget and management a method of identifying the number of limited English proficient students for purposes of calculating payments under this division after fiscal year 2007.

(G) A payment for professional development of teachers, if the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.0, calculated as follows:

(1) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.0, but less than 1.75, determine the amount per teacher as follows:

[(poverty index – 1.0)/0.75] X 0.045 X formula amount

(2) If the district's poverty index is greater than or equal to 1.75, the amount per teacher equals:

0.045 X formula amount

(3) Determine the number of teachers, as follows:

(formula ADM/17)

(4) Multiply the per teacher amount determined for the district under division (G)(1) or (2) of this section by the number of teachers determined under division (G)(3) of this section, times a phase-in percentage of 0.40 in fiscal year 2006 and 0.70 in fiscal year 2007.

(H) A payment for dropout prevention, if the district is a big eight school district as defined in section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, calculated as follows:

0.005 X formula amount X poverty index
X formula ADM X phase-in percentage

Where "phase-in percentage" equals 0.40 in fiscal year 2006 and 0.70 in fiscal year 2007.

(I) An amount for community outreach, if the district is an urban school district as defined in section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, calculated as follows:

0.005 X formula amount X poverty index X
formula ADM X phase-in percentage

Where "phase-in percentage" equals 0.40 in fiscal year 2006 and 0.70 in fiscal year 2007.

(J) This division applies only to school districts whose poverty index is 1.0 or greater.

(1) Each school district subject to this division shall first utilize funds received under this section so that, when combined with other funds of the district, sufficient funds exist to provide all-day kindergarten to at least the number of children in the district's all-day kindergarten percentage. To satisfy this requirement, a district may use funds paid under division (C), (F), (G), (H), or (I) of this section to provide all-day kindergarten in addition to the all-day kindergarten payment under division (D) of this section.

(2) Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, each school district shall use its payment under division (F) of this section for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) To hire teachers for limited English proficient students or other personnel to provide intervention services for those students;

(b) To contract for intervention services for those students;

(c) To provide other services to assist those students in passing the third-grade reading achievement test, and to provide for those students the intervention services required by section 3313.608 of the Revised Code.

(3) Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, each school district shall use its payment under division (G) of this section for professional development of teachers or other licensed personnel providing educational services to students only in one or more of the following areas:

(a) Data-based decision making;

(b) Standards-based curriculum models;

(c) Job-embedded professional development activities that are research-based, as defined in federal law.

In addition, each district shall use the payment only to implement programs identified on a list of eligible professional development programs provided by the department of education. The department annually shall provide the list to each district receiving a payment under division (G) of this section. However, a district may apply to the department for a waiver to implement an alternative professional development program in one or more of the areas specified in divisions (J)(3)(a) to (c) of this section. If the department grants the waiver, the district may use its payment under division (G) of this section to implement the alternative program.

(4) Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, each big eight school district shall use its payment under division (H) of this section either for preventing at-risk students from dropping out of school, for safety and security measures described in division (J)(5)(b) of this section, for academic intervention services described in division (J)(6) of this section, or for a combination of those purposes. Not later than September 1, 2005, the department of education shall provide each big eight school district with a list of dropout prevention programs that it has determined are successful. The department subsequently may update the list. Each district that elects to use its payment under division (H) of this section for dropout prevention shall use the payment only to implement a dropout prevention program specified on the department's list. However, a district may apply to the department for a waiver to implement an alternative dropout prevention program. If the department grants the waiver, the district may use its payment under division (H) of this section to implement the alternative program.

(5) Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, each urban school district that has a poverty index greater than or equal to 1.0 shall use its payment under division (I) of this section for one or a combination of the following purposes:

(a) To hire or contract for community liaison officers, attendance or truant officers, or safety and security personnel;

(b) To implement programs designed to ensure that schools are free of drugs and violence and have a disciplined environment conducive to learning;

(c) To implement academic intervention services described in division (J)(6) of this section.

(6) Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, each school district with a poverty index greater than or equal to 1.0 shall use the amount of its payment under division (C) of this section, and may use any amount of its payment under division (H) or (I) of this section, for academic intervention services for students who have failed or are in danger of failing any of the tests administered pursuant to section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code, including intervention services required by section 3313.608 of the Revised Code. Except as permitted under division (J)(1) of this section, no district shall spend any portion of its payment under division (C) of this section for any other purpose. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, no collective bargaining agreement entered into after June 30, 2005, shall require use of the payment for any other purpose.

(7) Except as otherwise required by division (K) or permitted under division (O) of this section, all remaining funds distributed under this section to districts with a poverty index greater than or equal to 1.0 shall be utilized for the purpose of the third grade guarantee. The third grade guarantee consists of increasing the amount of instructional attention received per pupil in kindergarten through third grade, either by reducing the ratio of students to instructional personnel or by increasing the amount of instruction and curriculum-related activities by extending the length of the school day or the school year.

School districts may implement a reduction of the ratio of students to instructional personnel through any or all of the following methods:

(a) Reducing the number of students in a classroom taught by a single teacher;

(b) Employing full-time educational aides or educational paraprofessionals issued a permit or license under section 3319.088 of the Revised Code;

(c) Instituting a team-teaching method that will result in a lower student-teacher ratio in a classroom.

Districts may extend the school day either by increasing the amount of time allocated for each class, increasing the number of classes provided per day, offering optional academic-related after-school programs, providing curriculum-related extra curricular activities, or establishing tutoring or remedial services for students who have demonstrated an educational need. In accordance with section 3319.089 of the Revised Code, a district extending the school day pursuant to this division may utilize a participant of the work experience program who has a child enrolled in a public school in that district and who is fulfilling the work requirements of that program by volunteering or working in that public school. If the work experience program participant is compensated, the school district may use the funds distributed under this section for all or part of the compensation.

Districts may extend the school year either through adding regular days of instruction to the school calendar or by providing summer programs.

(K) Each district shall not expend any funds received under division (E) of this section in any school buildings that are not buildings with the highest concentration of need, unless there is a ratio of instructional personnel to students of no more than fifteen to one in each kindergarten and first grade class in all buildings with the highest concentration of need. This division does not require that the funds used in buildings with the highest concentration of need be spent solely to reduce the ratio of instructional personnel to students in kindergarten and first grade. A school district may spend the funds in those buildings in any manner permitted by division (J)(7) of this section, but may not spend the money in other buildings unless the fifteen-to-one ratio required by this division is attained.

(L)(1) By the first day of August of each fiscal year, each school district wishing to receive any funds under division (D) of this section shall submit to the department of education an estimate of its all-day kindergarten percentage. Each district shall update its estimate throughout the fiscal year in the form and manner required by the department, and the department shall adjust payments under this section to reflect the updates.

(2) Annually by the end of December, the department of education, utilizing data from the information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code, shall determine for each school district subject to division (J) of this section whether in the preceding fiscal year the district's ratio of instructional personnel to students and its number of kindergarten students receiving all-day kindergarten appear reasonable, given the amounts of money the district received for that fiscal year pursuant to divisions (D) and (E) of this section. If the department is unable to verify from the data available that students are receiving reasonable amounts of instructional attention and all-day kindergarten, given the funds the district has received under this section and that class-size reduction funds are being used in school buildings with the highest concentration of need as required by division (K) of this section, the department shall conduct a more intensive investigation to ensure that funds have been expended as required by this section. The department shall file an annual report of its findings under this division with the chairpersons of the committees in each house of the general assembly dealing with finance and education.

(M)(1) Each school district with a poverty index less than 1.0 that receives a payment under division (D) of this section shall first utilize funds received under this section so that, when combined with other funds of the district, sufficient funds exist to provide all-day kindergarten to at least the number of children in the district's all-day kindergarten percentage. To satisfy this requirement, a district may use funds paid under division (C) or (I) of this section to provide all-day kindergarten in addition to the all-day kindergarten payment under division (D) of this section.

(2) Except as permitted under division (M)(1) of this section, each school district with a poverty index less than 1.0 that receives a payment under division (C) of this section shall use its payment under that division in accordance with all requirements of division (J)(6) of this section.

(3) Except as permitted under division (M)(1) of this section, each school district with a poverty index less than 1.0 that receives a payment under division (I) of this section shall use its payment under that division for one or a combination of the following purposes:

(a) To hire or contract for community liaison officers, attendance or truant officers, or safety and security personnel;

(b) To implement programs designed to ensure that schools are free of drugs and violence and have a disciplined environment conducive to learning;

(c) To implement academic intervention services described in division (J)(6) of this section.

(4) Each school district to which division (M)(1), (2), or (3) of this section applies shall expend the remaining funds received under this section, and any other district with a poverty index less than 1.0 shall expend all funds received under this section, for any of the following purposes:

(a) The purchase of technology for instructional purposes for remediation;

(b) All-day kindergarten;

(c) Reduction of class sizes in grades kindergarten through three, as described in division (J)(7) of this section;

(d) Summer school remediation;

(e) Dropout prevention programs approved by the department of education under division (J)(4) of this section;

(f) Guaranteeing that all third graders are ready to progress to more advanced work;

(g) Summer education and work programs;

(h) Adolescent pregnancy programs;

(i) Head start, preschool, early childhood education, or early learning programs;

(j) Reading improvement and remediation programs described by the department of education;

(k) Programs designed to ensure that schools are free of drugs and violence and have a disciplined environment conducive to learning;

(l) Furnishing, free of charge, materials used in courses of instruction, except for the necessary textbooks or electronic textbooks required to be furnished without charge pursuant to section 3329.06 of the Revised Code, to pupils living in families participating in Ohio works first in accordance with section 3313.642 of the Revised Code;

(m) School breakfasts provided pursuant to section 3313.813 of the Revised Code.

(N) If at any time the superintendent of public instruction determines that a school district receiving funds under division (D) of this section has enrolled less than the all-day kindergarten percentage reported for that fiscal year, the superintendent shall withhold from the funds otherwise due the district under this section a proportional amount as determined by the difference in the certified all-day kindergarten percentage and the percentage actually enrolled in all-day kindergarten.

The superintendent shall also withhold an appropriate amount of funds otherwise due a district for any other misuse of funds not in accordance with this section.

(O)(1) A district may use a portion of the funds calculated for it under division (D) of this section to modify or purchase classroom space to provide all-day kindergarten, if both of the following conditions are met:

(a) The district certifies to the department, in a manner acceptable to the department, that it has a shortage of space for providing all-day kindergarten.

(b) The district provides all-day kindergarten to the number of children in the all-day kindergarten percentage it certified under this section.

(2) A district may use a portion of the funds described in division (J)(7) of this section to modify or purchase classroom space to enable it to further reduce class size in grades kindergarten through two with a goal of attaining class sizes of fifteen students per licensed teacher. To do so, the district must certify its need for additional space to the department, in a manner satisfactory to the department.

Sec. 3319.0811. If the board of education of a school district offers to students of compulsory school age courses for high school credit that are taught at times outside the district's normal school day, the board shall enter into supplemental contracts under section 3319.08 of the Revised Code with the teachers assigned to teach those courses and shall not include such assignment of duties within the teachers' regular employment contracts under that section.

Sec. 3319.233. The state board of education, in collaboration with the Ohio board of regents, shall issue an annual report on the quality of institutions approved for the preparation of teachers pursuant to section 3319.23 of the Revised Code. The state board shall prepare the report in collaboration with the board of regents and the teacher quality partnership and shall use data collected by the partnership and other educational agencies as the basis for the information contained in the report. The report shall include at least the following information:

(A) Identification of best practices in the preparation of teachers drawn from research conducted by the teacher quality partnership and other regional and national educational research efforts;

(B) A plan for implementing best practices in approved teacher preparation institutions;

(C) The number of graduates of approved teacher preparation institutions who graduated with a subject area specialty and teach grades seven through twelve. The number shall be disaggregated according to the subject areas of mathematics, science, foreign language, special education and related services, and any other subject area determined by the state board.

(D) A plan to be implemented by the teacher preparation programs approved by the state board under section 3319.23 of the Revised Code for increasing the number of classroom teachers in science, mathematics, and foreign language toward meeting the identified needs for teachers in those subject areas throughout the state but especially in hard-to-staff schools.

The state board shall submit the report to the governor, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate that consider education legislation, and the chancellor of the board of regents.

Sec. 3319.234.  The teacher quality partnership, a consortium of teacher preparation programs that have been approved by the state board of education under section 3319.23 of the Revised Code, shall study the relationship of teacher performance on educator licensure assessments, as adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, to teacher effectiveness in the classroom. Not later than September 1, 2008, the partnership shall begin submitting annual data reports along with any other data on teacher effectiveness the partnership determines appropriate to the governor, the president and minority leader of the senate, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives that consider education legislation, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the Ohio board of regents, and the partnership for continued learning.

Sec. 3325.08.  (A) A diploma shall be granted by the superintendent of the state school for the blind and the superintendent of the state school for the deaf to any student enrolled in one of these state schools to whom all of the following apply:

(1) The student has successfully completed the individualized education program developed for the student for the student's high school education pursuant to section 3323.08 of the Revised Code;

(2) Subject to section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, the student either:

(a) Has attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests prescribed by that division unless division (L) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code applies to the student;

(b) Has satisfied the alternative conditions prescribed in section 3313.615 of the Revised Code.

(3) The student is not eligible to receive an honors diploma granted pursuant to division (B) of this section.

No diploma shall be granted under this division to anyone except as provided under this division.

(B) In lieu of a diploma granted under division (A) of this section, the superintendent of the state school for the blind and the superintendent of the state school for the deaf shall grant an honors diploma, in the same manner that the boards of education of school districts grant such diplomas under division (B) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code, to any student enrolled in one of these state schools who successfully accomplishes all of the following:

(1) Successfully completes the individualized education program developed for the student for the student's high school education pursuant to section 3323.08 of the Revised Code, who has attained subject;

(2) Subject to section 3313.614 of the Revised Code, either:

(a) Has attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the tests prescribed under that division, and who has;

(b) Has satisfied the alternative conditions prescribed in section 3313.615 of the Revised Code.

(3) Has met additional criteria for granting such a an honors diploma. These

These additional criteria shall be the same as those prescribed by the state board under division (B) of section 3313.61 of the Revised Code for the granting of such diplomas by school districts. No honors diploma shall be granted to anyone failing to comply with this division and not more than one honors diploma shall be granted to any student under this division.

(C) A diploma or honors diploma awarded under this section shall be signed by the superintendent of public instruction and the superintendent of the state school for the blind or the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, as applicable. Each diploma shall bear the date of its issue and be in such form as the school superintendent prescribes.

(D) Upon granting a diploma to a student under this section, the superintendent of the state school in which the student is enrolled shall provide notice of receipt of the diploma to the board of education of the school district where the student is entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code when not residing at the state school for the blind or the state school for the deaf. The notice shall indicate the type of diploma granted.

Sec. 3333.163. (A) As used in this section, "state institution of higher education" has the same meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

(B) Not later than April 15, 2008, the articulation and transfer advisory council of the Ohio board of regents shall recommend to the board standards for awarding course credit toward degree requirements at state institutions of higher education based on scores attained on advanced placement examinations. The recommended standards shall include a score on each advanced placement examination that the council considers to be a passing score for which course credit may be awarded. Upon adoption of the standards by the board of regents, each state institution of higher education shall comply with the standards in awarding course credit to any student enrolled in the institution who has attained a passing score on an advanced placement examination.

Sec. 3333.34.  The Ohio board of regents, in collaboration with the state board of education, shall publish an annual report describing dual enrollment programs, as defined in section 3313.6013 of the Revised Code, that are offered by school districts, community schools established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, and chartered nonpublic high schools. The board of regents shall submit the report to the governor, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate that consider education legislation, the superintendent of public instruction, and the president of the state board of education. The board of regents also shall post the report on its web site.

Sec. 3345.06.  A (A) Subject to divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a graduate of the twelfth grade shall be entitled to admission without examination to any college or university which is supported wholly or in part by the state, but for unconditional admission may be required to complete such units not included in his the graduate's high school course as may be prescribed, not less than two years prior to his the graduate's entrance, by the faculty of the institution.

(B) Beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year, each state university listed in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, except for Central state university, Shawnee state university, and Youngstown state university, shall permit a resident of this state who entered ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, to begin undergraduate coursework at the university only if the person has successfully completed the Ohio core curriculum for high school graduation prescribed in division (C) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, unless one of the following applies:

(1) The person has earned at least ten semester hours, or the equivalent, at a community college, state community college, university branch, technical college, or another post-secondary institution except a state university to which division (B) of this section applies, in courses that are college-credit-bearing and may be applied toward the requirements for a degree. The university shall grant credit for successful completion of those courses pursuant to any applicable articulation and transfer policy of the Ohio board of regents or any agreements the university has entered into in accordance with policies and procedures adopted under section 3333.16, 3313.161, or 3333.162 of the Revised Code. The university may count college credit that the student earned while in high school through the post-secondary enrollment options program under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code, or through other dual enrollment programs, toward the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section if the credit may be applied toward a degree.

(2) The person met the high school graduation requirements by successfully completing the person's individualized education program developed under section 3323.08 of the Revised Code.

(3) The person is receiving or has completed the final year of instruction at home as authorized under section 3321.04 of the Revised Code, or has graduated from a nonchartered, nonpublic school in Ohio, and demonstrates mastery of the academic content and skills in reading, writing, and mathematics needed to successfully complete introductory level coursework at an institution of higher education and to avoid remedial coursework.

(4) The person is a high school student participating in the post-secondary enrollment options program under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code or another dual enrollment program.

(C) A state university subject to division (B) of this section may delay admission for or admit conditionally an undergraduate student who has successfully completed the Ohio core curriculum if the university determines the student requires academic remedial or developmental coursework. The university may delay admission pending, or make admission conditional upon, the student's successful completion of the academic remedial or developmental coursework at a university branch, community college, state community college, or technical college.

(D) This section does not deny the right of a college of law, medicine, or other specialized education to require college training for admission, or the right of a department of music or other art to require particular preliminary training or talent.

Sec. 3345.061.  (A) Ohio's two-year institutions of higher education are respected points of entry for students embarking on post-secondary careers and courses completed at those institutions are transferable to state universities in accordance with articulation and transfer agreements developed under sections 3333.16, 3333.161, and 3333.162 of the Revised Code.

(B) Beginning with undergraduate students who commence undergraduate studies in the 2014-2015 academic year, no state university listed in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, except Central state university, Shawnee state university, and Youngstown state university, shall receive any state operating subsidies for any academic remedial or developmental courses for undergraduate students, including courses prescribed in the Ohio core curriculum for high school graduation under division (C) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, offered at its main campus, except as provided in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section.

(1) In the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years, a state university may receive state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses for not more than three per cent of the total undergraduate credit hours provided by the university at its main campus.

(2) In the 2016-2017 academic year, a state university may receive state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses for not more than fifteen per cent of the first-year students who have graduated from high school within the previous twelve months and who are enrolled in the university at its main campus, as calculated on a full-time-equivalent basis.

(3) In the 2017-2018 academic year, a state university may receive state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses for not more than ten per cent of the first-year students who have graduated from high school within the previous twelve months and who are enrolled in the university at its main campus, as calculated on a full-time-equivalent basis.

(4) In the 2018-2019 academic year, a state university may receive state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses for not more than five per cent of the first-year students who have graduated from high school within the previous twelve months and who are enrolled in the university at its main campus, as calculated on a full-time-equivalent basis.

Each state university may continue to offer academic remedial and developmental courses at its main campus beyond the extent for which state operating subsidies may be paid under this division and may continue to offer such courses beyond the 2018-2019 academic year. However, the university shall not receive any state operating subsidies for such courses above the maximum amounts permitted in this division.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, beginning with students who commence undergraduate studies in the 2014-2015 academic year, state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses offered by state institutions of higher education may be paid only to Central state university, Shawnee state university, Youngstown state university, any university branch, any community college, any state community college, or any technical college.

(D) Each state university shall grant credit for academic remedial or developmental courses successfully completed at an institution described in division (C) of this section pursuant to any applicable articulation and transfer agreements the university has entered into in accordance with policies and procedures adopted under section 3333.16, 3333.161, or 3333.162 of the Revised Code.

(E) The Ohio board of regents shall do all of the following:

(1) Withhold state operating subsidies for academic remedial or developmental courses provided by a state university as required in order to conform to divisions (B) and (C) of this section;

(2) Adopt uniform statewide standards for academic remedial and developmental courses offered by all state institutions of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code;

(3) Encourage and assist in the design and establishment of academic remedial and developmental courses by institutions of higher education;

(4) Define "academic year" for purposes of this section and section 3345.06 of the Revised Code;

(5) Encourage and assist in the development of articulation and transfer agreements between state universities and other institutions of higher education in accordance with policies and procedures adopted under sections 3333.16, 3333.161, and 3333.162 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3345.062. If the partnership for continued learning, after consulting with the Ohio board of regents and the state board of education, does not complete and submit recommendations for legislative changes for the operation of the post-secondary enrollment options program, as required by division (B) of section 3301.42 of the Revised Code, by the deadline prescribed in that division, each state university, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, shall offer via the internet or interactive distance learning at least two college level courses, one each in science and mathematics, by which high school students may earn both high school and college credit. During such course, the university may include a single presentation, of not more than two minutes in length, that describes its other programs and courses. The university may assess a fee for the course required under this section of not more than one-tenth of the amount per credit hour normally assessed by the university for an undergraduate course at its main campus.

SECTION 2. That existing sections 2151.011, 3301.41, 3301.42, 3313.472, 3313.48, 3313.533, 3313.603, 3313.61, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.62, 3314.012, 3314.03, 3317.01, 3317.029, 3325.08, and 3345.06 and sections 3313.481 and 3313.482 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. The State Board of Education shall establish a Foreign Language Advisory Council to propose a statewide foreign language education implementation plan. The plan shall include recommendations for legislation to implement the plan by the 2014-2015 school year. The State Board, in consultation with the Ohio Board of Regents and the Partnership for Continued Learning, shall appoint the members of the Council, which shall include educators from preschool through higher education, business leaders, and representatives of other interested parties. The Council, not later than December 31, 2007, shall submit its plan to the State Board, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Board of Regents, the Partnership for Continued Learning, the Governor, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the standing committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate that consider education legislation. In formulating its plan, the Council shall consider at least the following:

(A) Facilitating foreign language acquisition across grades kindergarten through twelve, rather than limiting it to high school;

(B) The extent to which students should focus on critical languages of economically competitive countries;

(C) Best practices for implementing P-16 solutions to course instruction in foreign languages;

(D) Multiple course-delivery models, including distance learning, online learning, and synchronous and asynchronous web-based delivery;

(E) Defining a proficiency-based approach to earning credit for foreign language that can be reflected on students' high school transcripts;

(F) Allowing for the proficiency-based approach to apply to nonnative English speakers in their native languages.

SECTION 4. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules revising its standards and requirements for honors diplomas under section 3313.61 of the Revised Code. The State Board shall file the rules so that they take effect not later than June 30, 2007.

SECTION 5. That Section 6 of Sub. H.B. 115 of the 126th General Assembly be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 6. All appropriation items in this section are appropriated out of money in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all appropriations made in this section, the amounts in the first column are for fiscal year 2006 and the amounts in the second column are for fiscal year 2007.

EDU DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

General Revenue Fund


GRF 200-536 Ohio Core Support $ 0 $ 13,200,000 $30,000,000
TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund $ 0 $ 13,200,000 $30,000,000
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS $ 0 $ 13,200,000 $30,000,000

OHIO CORE SUPPORT

The foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, shall be used to support implementation of the Ohio Core Program, which requires establishment of a rigorous high school curriculum for Ohio's high school students. The Department of Education and the Board of Regents shall jointly plan and work collaboratively to guide implementation of the Ohio Core Program and to administer funding to eligible school districts, fiscal agents, individuals, and programs as determined by this section. The Department of Education and the Board of Regents shall jointly agree to the awarding and expenditure of funds appropriated in this section.

(A) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $2,600,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be used to support the participation of teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or chartered nonpublic school or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels in a twelve-month intensive training program that leads to teacher licensure in a laboratory-based science, advanced mathematics, or foreign language field at the secondary education level and employment with an Ohio school district or chartered nonpublic school.

(B) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be used to support alternative teacher licensure programs developed by educational service centers, in partnership with institutions of higher education. Participants shall be teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or chartered nonpublic school or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels. Programs shall be consistent with the State Board of Education's alternative licensure requirements.

(C) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $3,600,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be distributed to school districts, and to public fiscal agents on behalf of chartered nonpublic schools, to be used to obtain contracted instruction with institutions of higher education in mathematics, science, or foreign language for public and chartered nonpublic high school students that results in dual high school and college credit. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs.

(D) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be disbursed to the eTech Ohio Commission within sixty days after the effective date of this section June 23, 2006. Funding shall be used to implement and support the Ohio Students Choosing On-line Resources for Educational Success Initiative that increases the educational options available for students in mathematics, advanced laboratory-based science, and foreign language. The eTech Ohio Commission shall work collaboratively with the Department of Education and the Board of Regents on this initiative.

(E) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be disbursed to the Board of Regents within sixty days after the effective date of this section June 23, 2006. The Board of Regents shall use the funds to support up to ten regional summer academies that focus on foreign language, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and prepare eleventh and twelfth grade students enrolled in public or chartered nonpublic schools to pursue college-level foreign language, mathematics, science, technology, and engineering, with a focus on secondary teaching in these disciplines. Successful completion of these academics shall result in dual high school and college credits. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses, as determined by the Board of Regents, that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs.

(F) Of the foregoing appropriation item 200-536, Ohio Core Support, up to $16,800,000 in fiscal year 2007 shall be used to fund grants under the Ohio Core Grant Program. This program shall be administered by the Ohio Department of Education. Grant funds shall be used by eligible school districts to directly support Ohio Core purposes such as building teacher capacity, recruiting and retaining teachers in required disciplines, providing intervention services to students, and other related purposes. The grants shall be awarded by the Department to eligible school districts, as determined by the Department. The Department shall consult with the Partnership for Continued Learning in establishing processes and procedures to distribute funds to eligible school districts. The Department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program.

The General Assembly intends to fund the Ohio Core Grant Program from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012 at a minimum of $16,800,000 each fiscal year.

SECTION 6. That existing Section 6 of Sub. H.B. 115 of the 126th General Assembly is hereby repealed.

SECTION 7. Sections 5, 6, and 7 of this act are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the sections go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.

SECTION 8. (A) There is hereby established a public-private collaborative commission to issue recommendations for promoting greater incidence of student success in conjunction with the Ohio Core curriculum. The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) A school district superintendent, appointed by the Governor;

(2) A business or civic leader, appointed by the Governor;

(3) Two public members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in consultation with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) Two public members, appointed by the President of the Senate in consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) One member, appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(6) One member, appointed by the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents.

(B) The school district superintendent and the business or civic leader appointed by the Governor shall be co-chairpersons of the commission.

(C) The commission's recommendations shall address methods of encouraging students and their families to develop a greater vision for their successful future in Ohio, including consideration of career opportunities afforded by pursuing higher education and the use of mentorships, internships, and other programs to provide guidance to students and their families toward pursuing higher education and career opportunities.

(D) The commission shall issue its recommendations by December 31, 2007. The recommendations shall be provided to the Governor, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the committees that consider education in the House of Representatives and Senate, the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents, and the Partnership for Continued Learning.

SECTION 9. The amendment of sections 2151.011, 3313.48, 3313.533, 3313.62, and 3317.029, the repeal and reenactment of section 3313.481, and the repeal of section 3313.482 of the Revised Code by this act shall take effect July 1, 2007. Section 3317.01 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act, shall take effect July 1, 2008.

SECTION 10. The amendments to sections 3313.48, 3313.533, 3313.62, 3317.01, and 3317.029; the repeal and reenactment of section 3313.481; and the repeal of section 3313.482 of the Revised Code made by this act do not apply to any collective bargaining agreement executed under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code prior to the effective date of this section. Any collective bargaining agreement or renewal executed after that date shall comply with the changes provided for in this act.

SECTION 11. Section 3313.603 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 94 and Am. Sub. S.B. 1 of the 124th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.

SECTION 12.  Section 3314.03 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 137, Sub. H.B. 184, and Sub. H.B. 422 of the 126th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.

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