As used in this chapter:
(A) “Performance index score” means the average of the totals derived from calculations for each subject area of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies of the weighted proportion of untested students and students scoring at each level of skill described in division (A)(2) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on the tests prescribed by divisions (A) and (B) of that section. The department of education shall assign weights such that students who do not take a test receive a weight of zero and students who take a test receive progressively larger weights dependent upon the level of skill attained on the test. The department shall also determine the performance index score a school district or building needs to achieve for the purpose of the performance ratings assigned pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.
Students shall be included in the “performance index score” in accordance with division (D)(2) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.
(B) “Subgroup” means a subset of the entire student population of the state, a school district, or a school building and includes each of the following:
(1) Major racial and ethnic groups;
(2) Students with disabilities;
(3) Economically disadvantaged students;
(4) Limited English proficient students.
(C) “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001” includes the statutes codified at 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. and any amendments thereto, rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to those statutes, guidance documents, and any other policy directives regarding implementation of that act issued by the United States department of education.
(D) “Adequate yearly progress” means a measure of annual academic performance as calculated in accordance with the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”
(E) “Supplemental educational services” means additional academic assistance, such as tutoring, remediation, or other educational enrichment activities, that is conducted outside of the regular school day by a provider approved by the department in accordance with the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”
(F) “Value-added progress dimension” means a measure of academic gain for a student or group of students over a specific period of time that is calculated by applying a statistical methodology to individual student achievement data derived from the achievement tests prescribed by section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 09-16-2004; 05-18-2005
The state board of education annually through 2007, and every six years thereafter, shall establish at least seventeen performance indicators for the report cards required by division (C) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code. In establishing these indicators, the state board shall consider inclusion of student performance on any tests given under section 3301.0710 or 3301.0712 of the Revised Code, rates of student improvement on such tests, student attendance, the breadth of coursework available within the district, and other indicators of student success. The state board shall inform the Ohio accountability task force established under section 3302.021 of the Revised Code of the performance indicators it establishes under this section and the rationale for choosing each indicator and for determining how a school district or building meets that indicator.
The state board shall not establish any performance indicator for passage of the third or fourth grade reading test that is solely based on the test given in the fall for the purpose of determining whether students have met the reading guarantee provisions of section 3313.608 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 08-15-2003
(A) Not earlier than July 1, 2005, and not later than July 1, 2007, the department of education shall implement a value-added progress dimension for school districts and buildings and shall incorporate the value-added progress dimension into the report cards and performance ratings issued for districts and buildings under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.
The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for the implementation of the value-added progress dimension. In adopting rules, the state board shall consult with the Ohio accountability task force established under division (D) of this section. The rules adopted under this division shall specify both of the following:
(1) A scale for describing the levels of academic progress in reading and mathematics relative to a standard year of academic growth in those subjects for each of grades three through eight;
(2) That the department shall maintain the confidentiality of individual student test scores and individual student reports in accordance with sections 3301.0711, 3301.0714, and 3319.321 of the Revised Code and federal law. The department may require school districts to use a unique identifier for each student for this purpose. Individual student test scores and individual student reports shall be made available only to a student’s classroom teacher and other appropriate educational personnel and to the student’s parent or guardian.
(B) The department shall use a system designed for collecting necessary data, calculating the value-added progress dimension, analyzing data, and generating reports, which system has been used previously by a non-profit organization led by the Ohio business community for at least one year in the operation of a pilot program in cooperation with school districts to collect and report student achievement data via electronic means and to provide information to the districts regarding the academic performance of individual students, grade levels, school buildings, and the districts as a whole.
(C) The department shall not pay more than two dollars per student for data analysis and reporting to implement the value-added progress dimension in the same manner and with the same services as under the pilot program described by division (B) of this section. However, nothing in this section shall preclude the department or any school district from entering into a contract for the provision of more services at a higher fee per student. Any data analysis conducted under this section by an entity under contract with the department shall be completed in accordance with timelines established by the superintendent of public instruction.
(D)(1) There is hereby established the Ohio accountability task force. The task force shall consist of the following thirteen members:
(a) The chairpersons and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate standing committees primarily responsible for education legislation, who shall be nonvoting members;
(b) One representative of the governor’s office, appointed by the governor;
(c) The superintendent of public instruction, or the superintendent’s designee;
(d) One representative of teacher employee organizations formed pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(e) One representative of school district boards of education, appointed by the president of the senate;
(f) One school district superintendent, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(g) One representative of business, appointed by the president of the senate;
(h) One representative of a non-profit organization led by the Ohio business community, appointed by the governor;
(i) One school building principal, appointed by the president of the senate;
(j) A member of the state board of education, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
Initial appointed members of the task force shall serve until January 1, 2005. Thereafter, terms of office for appointed members shall be for two years, each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each appointed member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term.
The task force shall select from among its members a chairperson. The task force shall meet at least six times each calendar year and at other times upon the call of the chairperson to conduct its business. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
(2) The task force shall do all of the following:
(a) Examine the implementation of the value-added progress dimension by the department, including the system described in division (B) of this section, the reporting of performance data to school districts and buildings, and the provision of professional development on the interpretation of the data to classroom teachers and administrators;
(b) Periodically review any fees for data analysis and reporting paid by the department pursuant to division (C) of this section and determine if the fees are appropriate based upon the level of services provided;
(c) Periodically report to the department and the state board on all issues related to the school district and building accountability system established under this chapter;
(d) Not later than seven years after its initial meeting, make recommendations to improve the school district and building accountability system established under this chapter. The task force shall adopt recommendations by a majority vote of its members. Copies of the recommendations shall be provided to the state board, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate.
(e) Determine starting dates for the implementation of the value-added progress dimension and its incorporation into school district and building report cards and performance ratings.
Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 06-30-2006
(A) Annually the department of education shall report for each school district and each school building in a district all of the following:
(1) The extent to which the school district or building meets each of the applicable performance indicators created by the state board of education under section 3302.02 of the Revised Code and the number of applicable performance indicators that have been achieved;
(2) The performance index score of the school district or building;
(3) Whether the school district or building has made adequate yearly progress;
(4) Whether the school district or building is excellent, effective, needs continuous improvement, is under an academic watch, or is in a state of academic emergency.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(6) and (7) of this section:
(1) A school district or building shall be declared excellent if it fulfills one of the following requirements:
(a) It makes adequate yearly progress and either meets at least ninety-four per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department.
(b) It has failed to make adequate yearly progress for not more than two consecutive years and either meets at least ninety-four per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department.
(2) A school district or building shall be declared effective if it fulfills one of the following requirements:
(a) It makes adequate yearly progress and either meets at least seventy-five per cent but less than ninety-four per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department.
(b) It does not make adequate yearly progress and either meets at least seventy-five per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department, except that if it does not make adequate yearly progress for three consecutive years, it shall be declared in need of continuous improvement.
(3) A school district or building shall be declared to be in need of continuous improvement if it fulfills one of the following requirements:
(a) It makes adequate yearly progress, meets less than seventy-five per cent of the applicable state performance indicators, and has a performance index score established by the department.
(b) It does not make adequate yearly progress and either meets at least fifty per cent but less than seventy-five per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department.
(4) A school district or building shall be declared to be under an academic watch if it does not make adequate yearly progress and either meets at least thirty-one per cent but less than fifty per cent of the applicable state performance indicators or has a performance index score established by the department.
(5) A school district or building shall be declared to be in a state of academic emergency if it does not make adequate yearly progress, does not meet at least thirty-one per cent of the applicable state performance indicators, and has a performance index score established by the department.
(6) When designating performance ratings for school districts and buildings under divisions (B)(1) to (5) of this section, the department shall not assign a school district or building a lower designation from its previous year’s designation based solely on one subgroup not making adequate yearly progress.
(7) Division (B)(7) of this section does not apply to any community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code in which a majority of the students are enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program.
A school district or building shall not be assigned a higher performance rating than in need of continuous improvement if at least ten per cent but not more than fifteen per cent of the enrolled students do not take all achievement tests prescribed for their grade level under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code from which they are not excused pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code. A school district or building shall not be assigned a higher performance rating than under an academic watch if more than fifteen per cent but not more than twenty per cent of the enrolled students do not take all achievement tests prescribed for their grade level under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code from which they are not excused pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code. A school district or building shall not be assigned a higher performance rating than in a state of academic emergency if more than twenty per cent of the enrolled students do not take all achievement tests prescribed for their grade level under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code from which they are not excused pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) The department shall issue annual report cards for each school district, each building within each district, and for the state as a whole reflecting performance on the indicators created by the state board under section 3302.02 of the Revised Code, the performance index score, and adequate yearly progress.
(2) The department shall include on the report card for each district information pertaining to any change from the previous year made by the school district or school buildings within the district on any performance indicator.
(3) When reporting data on student performance, the department shall disaggregate that data according to the following categories:
(a) Performance of students by age group;
(b) Performance of students by race and ethnic group;
(c) Performance of students by gender;
(d) Performance of students grouped by those who have been enrolled in a district or school for three or more years;
(e) Performance of students grouped by those who have been enrolled in a district or school for more than one year and less than three years;
(f) Performance of students grouped by those who have been enrolled in a district or school for one year or less;
(g) Performance of students grouped by those who are economically disadvantaged;
(h) Performance of students grouped by those who are enrolled in a conversion community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;
(i) Performance of students grouped by those who are classified as limited English proficient;
(j) Performance of students grouped by those who have disabilities;
(k) Performance of students grouped by those who are classified as migrants;
(l) Performance of students grouped by those who are identified as gifted pursuant to Chapter 3324. of the Revised Code.
The department may disaggregate data on student performance according to other categories that the department determines are appropriate. To the extent possible, the department shall disaggregate data on student performance according to any combinations of two or more of the categories listed in divisions (C)(3)(a) to (l) of this section that it deems relevant.
In reporting data pursuant to division (C)(3) of this section, the department shall not include in the report cards any data statistical in nature that is statistically unreliable or that could result in the identification of individual students. For this purpose, the department shall not report student performance data for any group identified in division (C)(3) of this section that contains less than ten students.
(4) The department may include with the report cards any additional education and fiscal performance data it deems valuable.
(5) The department shall include on each report card a list of additional information collected by the department that is available regarding the district or building for which the report card is issued. When available, such additional information shall include student mobility data disaggregated by race and socioeconomic status, college enrollment data, and the reports prepared under section 3302.031 of the Revised Code.
The department shall maintain a site on the world wide web. The report card shall include the address of the site and shall specify that such additional information is available to the public at that site. The department shall also provide a copy of each item on the list to the superintendent of each school district. The district superintendent shall provide a copy of any item on the list to anyone who requests it.
(6)(a) This division does not apply to conversion community schools that primarily enroll students between sixteen and twenty-two years of age who dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out of high school due to poor attendance, disciplinary problems, or suspensions.
For any district that sponsors a conversion community school under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, the department shall combine data regarding the academic performance of students enrolled in the community school with comparable data from the schools of the district for the purpose of calculating the performance of the district as a whole on the report card issued for the district.
(b) Any district that leases a building to a community school located in the district or that enters into an agreement with a community school located in the district whereby the district and the school endorse each other’s programs may elect to have data regarding the academic performance of students enrolled in the community school combined with comparable data from the schools of the district for the purpose of calculating the performance of the district as a whole on the district report card. Any district that so elects shall annually file a copy of the lease or agreement with the department.
(7) The department shall include on each report card the percentage of teachers in the district or building who are highly qualified, as defined by the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” and a comparison of that percentage with the percentages of such teachers in similar districts and buildings.
(8) The department shall include on the report card the number of master teachers employed by each district and each building once the data is available from the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) In calculating reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, or science proficiency or achievement test passage rates used to determine school district or building performance under this section, the department shall include all students taking a test with accommodation or to whom an alternate assessment is administered pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.
(2) In calculating performance index scores, rates of achievement on the performance indicators established by the state board under section 3302.02 of the Revised Code, and adequate yearly progress for school districts and buildings under this section, the department shall do all of the following:
(a) Include for each district or building only those students who are included in the ADM certified for the first full school week of October and are continuously enrolled in the district or building through the time of the spring administration of any test prescribed by section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code that is administered to the student’s grade level;
(b) Include cumulative totals from both the fall and spring administrations of the third grade reading achievement test;
(c) Except as required by the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001” for the calculation of adequate yearly progress, exclude for each district or building any limited English proficient student who has been enrolled in United States schools for less than one full school year.
Effective Date: 06-09-2004; 09-16-2004; 05-18-2005; 06-30-2005; 03-30-2007; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007
In addition to the report cards required under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, the department of education shall annually prepare the following reports for each school district and make a copy of each report available to the superintendent of each district:
(A) A funding and expenditure accountability report which shall consist of the amount of state aid payments the school district will receive during the fiscal year under Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code and any other fiscal data the department determines is necessary to inform the public about the financial status of the district;
(B) A school safety and discipline report which shall consist of statistical information regarding student safety and discipline in each school building, including the number of suspensions and expulsions disaggregated according to race and gender;
(C) A student equity report which shall consist of at least a description of the status of teacher qualifications, library and media resources, textbooks, classroom materials and supplies, and technology resources for each district. To the extent possible, the information included in the report required under this division shall be disaggregated according to grade level, race, gender, disability, and scores attained on tests required under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.
(D) A school enrollment report which shall consist of information about the composition of classes within each district by grade and subject disaggregated according to race, gender, and scores attained on tests required under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code;
(E) A student retention report which shall consist of the number of students retained in their respective grade levels in the district disaggregated by grade level, subject area, race, gender, and disability;
(F) A school district performance report which shall describe for the district and each building within the district the extent to which the district or building meets each of the applicable performance indicators established under section 3302.02 of the Revised Code, the number of performance indicators that have been achieved, and the performance index score. In calculating the rates of achievement on the performance indicators and the performance index scores for each report, the department shall exclude all students with disabilities.
Effective Date: 08-15-2003
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.
Effective Date: 04-04-2007
(A) The department of education shall establish a system of intensive, ongoing support for the improvement of school districts and school buildings. The system shall give priority to districts and buildings that have been declared to be under an academic watch or in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code and shall include services provided to districts and buildings through regional service providers, such as educational service centers, regional professional development centers, and special education regional resource centers.
(B) When a school district has been notified by the department pursuant to division (A) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code that the district or a building within the district has failed to make adequate yearly progress for two consecutive school years, the district shall develop a three-year continuous improvement plan for the district or building containing each of the following:
(1) An analysis of the reasons for the failure of the district or building to meet any of the applicable performance indicators established under section 3302.02 of the Revised Code that it did not meet and an analysis of the reasons for its failure to make adequate yearly progress;
(2) Specific strategies that the district or building will use to address the problems in academic achievement identified in division (B)(1) of this section;
(3) Identification of the resources that the district will allocate toward improving the academic achievement of the district or building;
(4) A description of any progress that the district or building made in the preceding year toward improving its academic achievement;
(5) An analysis of how the district is utilizing the professional development standards adopted by the state board pursuant to section 3319.61 of the Revised Code;
(6) Strategies that the district or building will use to improve the cultural competency, as defined pursuant to section 3319.61 of the Revised Code, of teachers and other educators.
No three-year continuous improvement plan shall be developed or adopted pursuant to this division unless at least one public hearing is held within the affected school district or building concerning the final draft of the plan. Notice of the hearing shall be given two weeks prior to the hearing by publication in one newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the affected school district or building. Copies of the plan shall be made available to the public.
(C) When a school district or building has been notified by the department pursuant to division (A) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code that the district or building is under an academic watch or in a state of academic emergency, the district or building shall be subject to any rules establishing intervention in academic watch or emergency school districts or buildings.
(D)(1) Within one hundred twenty days after any school district or building is declared to be in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, the department may initiate a site evaluation of the building or school district.
(2) If any school district that is declared to be in a state of academic emergency or in a state of academic watch under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code or encompasses a building that is declared to be in a state of academic emergency or in a state of academic watch fails to demonstrate to the department satisfactory improvement of the district or applicable buildings or fails to submit to the department any information required under rules established by the state board of education, prior to approving a three-year continuous improvement plan under rules established by the state board of education, the department shall conduct a site evaluation of the school district or applicable buildings to determine whether the school district is in compliance with minimum standards established by law or rule.
(3) Site evaluations conducted under divisions (D)(1) and (2) of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Determining whether teachers are assigned to subject areas for which they are licensed or certified;
(b) Determining pupil-teacher ratios;
(c) Examination of compliance with minimum instruction time requirements for each school day and for each school year;
(d) Determining whether materials and equipment necessary to implement the curriculum approved by the school district board are available;
(e) Examination of whether the teacher and principal evaluation system reflects the evaluation system guidelines adopted by the state board of education under section 3319.112 of the Revised Code;
(f) Examination of the adequacy of efforts to improve the cultural competency, as defined pursuant to section 3319.61 of the Revised Code, of teachers and other educators.
(E) This division applies only to school districts that operate a school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for two or more consecutive school years.
(1) For any school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for two consecutive school years, the district shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide written notification of the academic issues that resulted in the building’s failure to make adequate yearly progress to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the building. The notification shall also describe the actions being taken by the district or building to improve the academic performance of the building and any progress achieved toward that goal in the immediately preceding school year.
(b) If the building receives funds under Title 1, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, from the district, in accordance with section 3313.97 of the Revised Code, offer all students enrolled in the building the opportunity to enroll in an alternative building within the district that is not in school improvement status as defined by the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.” Notwithstanding Chapter 3327. of the Revised Code, the district shall spend an amount equal to twenty per cent of the funds it receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, to provide transportation for students who enroll in alternative buildings under this division, unless the district can satisfy all demand for transportation with a lesser amount. If an amount equal to twenty per cent of the funds the district receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, is insufficient to satisfy all demand for transportation, the district shall grant priority over all other students to the lowest achieving students among the subgroup described in division (B)(3) of section 3302.01 of the Revised Code in providing transportation. Any district that does not receive funds under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, shall not be required to provide transportation to any student who enrolls in an alternative building under this division.
(2) For any school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for three consecutive school years, the district shall do both of the following:
(a) If the building receives funds under Title 1, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, from the district, in accordance with section 3313.97 of the Revised Code, provide all students enrolled in the building the opportunity to enroll in an alternative building within the district that is not in school improvement status as defined by the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.” Notwithstanding Chapter 3327. of the Revised Code, the district shall provide transportation for students who enroll in alternative buildings under this division to the extent required under division (E)(2) of this section.
(b) If the building receives funds under Title 1, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, from the district, offer supplemental educational services to students who are enrolled in the building and who are in the subgroup described in division (B)(3) of section 3302.01 of the Revised Code.
The district shall spend a combined total of an amount equal to twenty per cent of the funds it receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, to provide transportation for students who enroll in alternative buildings under division (E)(1)(b) or (E)(2)(a) of this section and to pay the costs of the supplemental educational services provided to students under division (E)(2)(b) of this section, unless the district can satisfy all demand for transportation and pay the costs of supplemental educational services for those students who request them with a lesser amount. In allocating funds between the requirements of divisions (E)(1)(b) and (E)(2)(a) and (b) of this section, the district shall spend at least an amount equal to five per cent of the funds it receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, to provide transportation for students who enroll in alternative buildings under division (E)(1)(b) or (E)(2)(a) of this section, unless the district can satisfy all demand for transportation with a lesser amount, and at least an amount equal to five per cent of the funds it receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, to pay the costs of the supplemental educational services provided to students under division (E)(2)(b) of this section, unless the district can pay the costs of such services for all students requesting them with a lesser amount. If an amount equal to twenty per cent of the funds the district receives under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, is insufficient to satisfy all demand for transportation under divisions (E)(1)(b) and (E)(2)(a) of this section and to pay the costs of all of the supplemental educational services provided to students under division (E)(2)(b) of this section, the district shall grant priority over all other students in providing transportation and in paying the costs of supplemental educational services to the lowest achieving students among the subgroup described in division (B)(3) of section 3302.01 of the Revised Code.
Any district that does not receive funds under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339, shall not be required to provide transportation to any student who enrolls in an alternative building under division (E)(2)(a) of this section or to pay the costs of supplemental educational services provided to any student under division (E)(2)(b) of this section.
No student who enrolls in an alternative building under division (E)(2)(a) of this section shall be eligible for supplemental educational services under division (E)(2)(b) of this section.
(3) For any school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for four consecutive school years, the district shall continue to comply with division (E)(2) of this section and shall implement at least one of the following options with respect to the building:
(a) Institute a new curriculum that is consistent with the statewide academic standards adopted pursuant to division (A) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code;
(b) Decrease the degree of authority the building has to manage its internal operations;
(c) Appoint an outside expert to make recommendations for improving the academic performance of the building. The district may request the department to establish a state intervention team for this purpose pursuant to division (G) of this section.
(d) Extend the length of the school day or year;
(e) Replace the building principal or other key personnel;
(f) Reorganize the administrative structure of the building.
(4) For any school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for five consecutive school years, the district shall continue to comply with division (E)(2) of this section and shall develop a plan during the next succeeding school year to improve the academic performance of the building, which shall include at least one of the following options:
(a) Reopen the school as a community school under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;
(b) Replace personnel;
(c) Contract with a nonprofit or for-profit entity to operate the building;
(d) Turn operation of the building over to the department;
(e) Other significant restructuring of the building’s governance.
(5) For any school building that fails to make adequate yearly progress for six consecutive school years, the district shall continue to comply with division (E)(2) of this section and shall implement the plan developed pursuant to division (E)(4) of this section.
(6) A district shall continue to comply with division (E)(1)(b) or (E)(2) of this section, whichever was most recently applicable, with respect to any building formerly subject to one of those divisions until the building makes adequate yearly progress for two consecutive school years.
(F) This division applies only to school districts that have been identified for improvement by the department pursuant to the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”
(1) If a school district has been identified for improvement for one school year, the district shall provide a written description of the continuous improvement plan developed by the district pursuant to division (B) of this section to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district. If the district does not have a continuous improvement plan, the district shall develop such a plan in accordance with division (B) of this section and provide a written description of the plan to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district.
(2) If a school district has been identified for improvement for two consecutive school years, the district shall continue to implement the continuous improvement plan developed by the district pursuant to division (B) or (F)(1) of this section.
(3) If a school district has been identified for improvement for three consecutive school years, the department shall take at least one of the following corrective actions with respect to the district:
(a) Withhold a portion of the funds the district is entitled to receive under Title I, Part A of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6311 to 6339;
(b) Direct the district to replace key district personnel;
(c) Institute a new curriculum that is consistent with the statewide academic standards adopted pursuant to division (A) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code;
(d) Establish alternative forms of governance for individual school buildings within the district;
(e) Appoint a trustee to manage the district in place of the district superintendent and board of education.
The department shall conduct individual audits of a sampling of districts subject to this division to determine compliance with the corrective actions taken by the department.
(4) If a school district has been identified for improvement for four consecutive school years, the department shall continue to monitor implementation of the corrective action taken under division (F)(3) of this section with respect to the district.
(5) If a school district has been identified for improvement for five consecutive school years, the department shall take at least one of the corrective actions identified in division (F)(3) of this section with respect to the district, provided that the corrective action the department takes is different from the corrective action previously taken under division (F)(3) of this section with respect to the district.
(G) The department may establish a state intervention team to evaluate all aspects of a school district or building, including management, curriculum, instructional methods, resource allocation, and scheduling. Any such intervention team shall be appointed by the department and shall include teachers and administrators recognized as outstanding in their fields. The intervention team shall make recommendations regarding methods for improving the performance of the district or building.
The department shall not approve a district’s request for an intervention team under division (E)(3) of this section if the department cannot adequately fund the work of the team, unless the district agrees to pay for the expenses of the team.
(H) The department shall conduct individual audits of a sampling of community schools established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code to determine compliance with this section.
(I) The state board shall adopt rules for implementing this section.
Effective Date: 06-09-2004; 05-18-2005
Effective Date: 03-07-2003
The state board of education shall adopt rules freeing school districts declared to be excellent under division (B)(1) or effective under division (B)(2) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code from specified state mandates. Any mandates included in the rules shall be only those statutes or rules pertaining to state education requirements.
Effective Date: 08-15-2003
Effective Date: 07-01-1998
(A) The board of education of any school district, the governing board of any educational service center, or the administrative authority of any chartered nonpublic school may submit to the state board of education an application proposing an innovative education pilot program the implementation of which requires exemptions from specific statutory provisions or rules. If a district or service center board employs teachers under a collective bargaining agreement adopted pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, any application submitted under this division shall include the written consent of the teachers’ employee representative designated under division (B) of section 4117.04 of the Revised Code. The exemptions requested in the application shall be limited to any requirement of Title XXXIII [33] of the Revised Code or of any rule of the state board adopted pursuant to that title except that the application may not propose an exemption from any requirement of or rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 3307. or 3309., sections 3319.07 to 3319.21, or Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code.
(B) The state board of education shall accept any application submitted in accordance with division (A) of this section. The superintendent of public instruction shall approve or disapprove the application in accordance with standards for approval, which shall be adopted by the state board.
(C) The superintendent of public instruction shall exempt each district or service center board or chartered nonpublic school administrative authority with an application approved under division (B) of this section for a specified period from the statutory provisions or rules specified in the approved application. The period of exemption shall not exceed the period during which the pilot program proposed in the application is being implemented and a reasonable period to allow for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program.
Effective Date: 09-28-1999
Sections 3302.01 to 3302.07 of the Revised Code and any action taken under these sections do not abrogate any provision of a collective bargaining agreement in effect under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code and do not relieve any school district of the duty to comply with any provision of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 10-02-1989
(A) Whenever the United States department of education makes changes in its policies or rules regarding implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the Ohio department of education shall submit a written description of those changes to each member of the standing committees on education of the senate and house of representatives.
(B) If the Ohio department of education plans to change any of its policies or procedures regarding the state’s implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 based on changes in federal polices or rules described in division (A) of this section, the Ohio department of education shall submit to each member of the standing committees a written outline of the existing Ohio policy regarding that implementation and a written description of the changes it proposes to make.
(C) On and after July 1, 2005, the Ohio department of education shall not make any change proposed under division (B) of this section unless the general assembly has adopted a concurrent resolution approving the proposed change.
Effective Date: 05-18-2005
(A) Beginning July 1, 2007, the superintendent of public instruction shall establish an academic distress commission for each school district that has been declared to be in a state of academic emergency pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code and has failed to make adequate yearly progress for four or more consecutive school years. Each commission shall assist the district for which it was established in improving the district’s academic performance.
Each commission is a body both corporate and politic, constituting an agency and instrumentality of the state and performing essential governmental functions of the state. A commission shall be known as the “academic distress commission for ............... (name of school district),” and, in that name, may exercise all authority vested in such a commission by this section. A separate commission shall be established for each school district to which this division applies.
(B) Each academic distress commission shall consist of five voting members, three of whom shall be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction and two of whom shall be residents of the applicable school district appointed by the president of the district board of education. When a school district becomes subject to this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide written notification of that fact to the district board of education and shall request the president of the district board to submit to the superintendent of public instruction, in writing, the names of the president’s appointees to the commission. The superintendent of public instruction and the president of the district board shall make appointments to the commission within thirty days after the district is notified that it is subject to this section.
Members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority during the life of the commission. In the event of the death, resignation, incapacity, removal, or ineligibility to serve of a member, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor within fifteen days after the vacancy occurs. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be paid by the commission their necessary and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the commission.
(C) Immediately after appointment of the initial members of an academic distress commission, the superintendent of public instruction shall call the first meeting of the commission and shall cause written notice of the time, date, and place of that meeting to be given to each member of the commission at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. The first meeting shall include an overview of the commission’s roles and responsibilities, the requirements of section 2921.42 and Chapter 102. of the Revised Code as they pertain to commission members, the requirements of section 121.22 of the Revised Code, and the provisions of division (F) of this section. At its first meeting, the commission shall adopt temporary bylaws in accordance with division (D) of this section to govern its operations until the adoption of permanent bylaws.
The superintendent of public instruction shall designate a chairperson for the commission from among the members appointed by the superintendent. The chairperson shall call and conduct meetings, set meeting agendas, and serve as a liaison between the commission and the district board of education. The chairperson also shall appoint a secretary, who shall not be a member of the commission.
The department of education shall provide administrative support for the commission, provide data requested by the commission, and inform the commission of available state resources that could assist the commission in its work.
(D) Each academic distress commission may adopt and alter bylaws and rules, which shall not be subject to section 111.15 or Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for the conduct of its affairs and for the manner, subject to this section, in which its powers and functions shall be exercised and embodied.
(E) Three members of an academic distress commission constitute a quorum of the commission. The affirmative vote of three members of the commission is necessary for any action taken by vote of the commission. No vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the rights of a quorum by such vote to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the commission. Members of the commission are not disqualified from voting by reason of the functions of any other office they hold and are not disqualified from exercising the functions of the other office with respect to the school district, its officers, or the commission.
(F) The members of an academic distress commission, the superintendent of public instruction, and any person authorized to act on behalf of or assist them shall not be personally liable or subject to any suit, judgment, or claim for damages resulting from the exercise of or failure to exercise the powers, duties, and functions granted to them in regard to their functioning under this section, but the commission, superintendent of public instruction, and such other persons shall be subject to mandamus proceedings to compel performance of their duties under this section.
(G) Each member of an academic distress commission shall file the statement described in section 102.02 of the Revised Code with the Ohio ethics commission. The statement shall be confidential, subject to review, as described in division (B) of that section.
(H) Meetings of each academic distress commission shall be subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
(I)(1) Within one hundred twenty days after the first meeting of an academic distress commission, the commission shall adopt an academic recovery plan to improve academic performance in the school district. The plan shall address academic problems at both the district and school levels. The plan shall include the following:
(a) Short-term and long-term actions to be taken to improve the district’s academic performance, including any actions required by section 3302.04 of the Revised Code;
(b) The sequence and timing of the actions described in division (I)(1)(a) of this section and the persons responsible for implementing the actions;
(c) Resources that will be applied toward improvement efforts;
(d) Procedures for monitoring and evaluating improvement efforts;
(e) Requirements for reporting to the commission and the district board of education on the status of improvement efforts.
(2) The commission may amend the academic recovery plan subsequent to adoption. The commission shall update the plan at least annually.
(3) The commission shall submit the academic recovery plan it adopts or updates to the superintendent of public instruction for approval immediately following its adoption or updating. The superintendent shall evaluate the plan and either approve or disapprove it within thirty days after its submission. If the plan is disapproved, the superintendent shall recommend modifications that will render it acceptable. No academic distress commission shall implement an academic recovery plan unless the superintendent has approved it.
(4) County, state, and school district officers and employees shall assist the commission diligently and promptly in the implementation of the academic recovery plan.
(J) Each academic distress commission shall seek input from the district board of education regarding ways to improve the district’s academic performance, but any decision of the commission related to any authority granted to the commission under this section shall be final.
The commission may do any of the following:
(1) Appoint school building administrators and reassign administrative personnel;
(2) Terminate the contracts of administrators or administrative personnel. The commission shall not be required to comply with section 3319.16 of the Revised Code with respect to any contract terminated under this division.
(3) Contract with a private entity to perform school or district management functions;
(4) Establish a budget for the district and approve district appropriations and expenditures, unless a financial planning and supervision commission has been established for the district pursuant to section 3316.05 of the Revised Code.
(K) If the board of education of a district for which an academic distress commission has been established under this section renews any collective bargaining agreement under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code during the existence of the commission, the district board shall not enter into any agreement that would render any decision of the commission unenforceable. Section 3302.08 of the Revised Code does not apply to this division.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, if the board of education has entered into a collective bargaining agreement after September 29, 2005, that contains stipulations relinquishing one or more of the rights or responsibilities listed in division (C) of section 4117.08 of the Revised Code, those stipulations are not enforceable and the district board shall resume holding those rights or responsibilities as if it had not relinquished them in that agreement until such time as both the academic distress commission ceases to exist and the district board agrees to relinquish those rights or responsibilities in a new collective bargaining agreement. The provisions of this paragraph apply to a collective bargaining agreement entered into after September 29, 2005, and those provisions are deemed to be part of that agreement regardless of whether the district satisfied the conditions prescribed in division (A) of this section at the time the district entered into that agreement.
(L) An academic distress commission shall cease to exist when the district for which it was established receives a performance rating under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code of in need of continuous improvement or better for two of the three prior school years; however, the superintendent of public instruction may dissolve the commission earlier if the superintendent determines that the district can perform adequately without the supervision of the commission. Upon termination of the commission, the department of education shall compile a final report of the commission’s activities to assist other academic distress commissions in the conduct of their functions.
Effective Date: 09-29-2005; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007