CHAPTER 3314: COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

(A)(1) A board of education may permit all or part of any of the schools under its control, upon request of a proposing person or group and provided the person or group meets the requirements of this chapter, to become a community school.

(2) Any person or group of individuals may propose the creation of a community school pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. No nonpublic chartered or nonchartered school in existence on January 1, 1997, is eligible to become a community school under this chapter.

(B) A community school created under this chapter is a public school, independent of any school district, and is part of the state’s program of education. A community school may sue and be sued, acquire facilities as needed, contract for any services necessary for the operation of the school, and enter into contracts with a sponsor pursuant to this chapter. The governing authority of a community school may carry out any act and ensure the performance of any function that is in compliance with the Ohio Constitution, this chapter, other statutes applicable to community schools, and the contract entered into under this chapter establishing the school.

Effective Date: 07-01-1998

Every community school established under this chapter shall have a designated fiscal officer. The auditor of state may require by rule that the fiscal officer of any community school, before entering upon duties as fiscal officer of the school, execute a bond in an amount and with surety to be approved by the governing authority of the school, payable to the state, conditioned for the faithful performance of all the official duties required of the fiscal officer. Any such bond shall be deposited with the governing authority of the school, and a copy thereof, certified by the governing authority, shall be filed with the county auditor.

Prior to assuming the duties of fiscal officer, the fiscal officer designated under this section shall be licensed under section 3301.074 of the Revised Code or shall complete not less than sixteen hours of continuing education classes, courses, or workshops in the area of school accounting as approved by the sponsor of the community school. Any fiscal officer who is not licensed under section 3301.074 of the Revised Code shall complete an additional twenty-four hours of continuing education classes, courses, or workshops in the area of school accounting as approved by the sponsor of the school within one year after assuming the duties of fiscal officer of the school. However, any such classes, courses, or workshops in excess of sixteen hours completed by the fiscal officer prior to assuming the duties of fiscal officer shall count toward the additional twenty-four hours of continuing education required under this section. In each subsequent year, any fiscal officer who is not licensed under section 3301.074 of the Revised Code shall complete eight hours of continuing education classes, courses, or workshops in the area of school accounting as approved by the sponsor of the school.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

(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.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 04-04-2007

(A)(1) Until July 1, 2000, no more than seventy-five contracts between start-up schools and the state board of education may be in effect outside the pilot project area at any time under this chapter.

(2) After July 1, 2000, and until July 1, 2001, no more than one hundred twenty-five contracts between start-up schools and the state board of education may be in effect outside the pilot project area at any time under this chapter.

(3) This division applies only to contracts between start-up schools and the state board of education and contracts between start-up schools and entities described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code.

Until July 1, 2005, not more than two hundred twenty-five contracts to which this division applies may be in effect at any time under this chapter.

(4) This division applies only to contracts between start-up schools and entities described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code.

Except as otherwise provided in section 3314.014 of the Revised Code, after July 1, 2005, and until July 1, 2007, the number of contracts to which this division applies in effect at any time under this chapter shall be not more than thirty plus the number of such contracts with schools that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005.

(5) This division applies only to contracts between a conversion school that is an internet- or computer-based community school or a start-up school and the board of education of the school district in which the school is or is proposed to be located.

Except as otherwise provided in section 3314.014 of the Revised Code, until July 1, 2007, the number of contracts to which this division applies in effect at any time under this chapter shall be not more than thirty plus the number of such contracts with schools that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005.

(6) Until the effective date of any standards enacted by the general assembly governing the operation of internet- or computer-based community schools, no internet- or computer-based community school shall operate unless the school was open for instruction as of May 1, 2005. No entity described in division (C)(1) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code shall enter into a contract to sponsor an internet- or computer-based community school, including a conversion school, between May 1, 2005, and the effective date of any standards enacted by the general assembly governing the operation of internet- or computer-based community schools, except as follows:

(a) Any entity described in division (C)(1) of that section may renew a contract that the entity entered into with an internet- or computer-based community school prior to May 1, 2005, if the school was open for operation as of that date.

(b) Any entity described in divisions (C)(1)(a) to (e) of that section may assume sponsorship of an existing internet- or computer-based community school that was formerly sponsored by another entity and may enter into a contract with that community school in accordance with section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(c) Any entity described in division (C)(1)(f) of that section may assume sponsorship of an existing internet- or computer-based community school in accordance with division (A)(7) of this section and may enter into a contract with that community school in accordance with section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

If a sponsor entered into a contract with an internet- or computer-based community school, including a conversion school, but the school was not open for operation as of May 1, 2005, the contract shall be void and the entity shall not enter into another contract with the school until the effective date of any standards enacted by the general assembly governing the operation of internet- or computer-based community schools.

(7) Until July 1, 2005, any entity described in division (C)(1)(f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code may sponsor only a community school that formerly was sponsored by the state board of education under division (C)(1)(d) of that section, as it existed prior to April 8, 2003. After July 1, 2005, any such entity may assume sponsorship of any existing community school, and may sponsor any new community school that is not an internet- or computer-based community school. Beginning on the effective date of any standards enacted by the general assembly governing the operation of internet- or computer-based community schools, any such entity may sponsor a new internet- or computer-based community school.

(8) Nothing in division (A) of this section prohibits a community school from increasing the number of grade levels it offers.

(B) Within twenty-four hours of a request by any person, the superintendent of public instruction shall indicate the number of preliminary agreements for start-up schools currently outstanding and the number of contracts for these schools in effect at the time of the request.

(C) It is the intent of the general assembly to consider whether to provide limitations on the number of start-up community schools after July 1, 2001, following its examination of the results of the studies by the legislative office of education oversight required under Section 50.39 of Am. Sub. H.B. No. 215 of the 122nd general assembly and Section 50.52.2 of Am. Sub. H.B. No. 215 of the 122nd general assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. No. 770 of the 122nd general assembly.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 06-30-2005

(A) As used in this chapter, “operator” means either of the following:

(1) An individual or organization that manages the daily operations of a community school pursuant to a contract between the operator and the school’s governing authority;

(2) A nonprofit organization that provides programmatic oversight and support to a community school under a contract with the school’s governing authority and that retains the right to terminate its affiliation with the school if the school fails to meet the organization’s quality standards.

(B)(1) Notwithstanding the limit prescribed by division (A)(4) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code, a start-up school sponsored by an entity described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code may be established after the date that limit is reached, provided the school’s governing authority enters into a contract with an operator permitted to manage the school under division (C) of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding the limit prescribed by division (A)(5) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code, a conversion school that is an internet- or computer-based community school or a start-up school sponsored by the school district in which the school is or is proposed to be located may be established after the date that limit is reached, provided the school’s governing authority enters into a contract with an operator permitted to manage the school under division (C) of this section. However, a conversion school that is an internet- or computer-based community school may be established after that date only if the prohibition prescribed by division (A)(6) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code is no longer in effect.

(C) An operator may enter into contracts with the governing authorities of community schools established after the date the limit prescribed by division (A)(4) or (5) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code, as applicable, is reached, provided the total number of schools for which the operator enters into such contracts, excluding conversion schools that are not internet- or computer-based community schools, does not exceed the number of community schools managed by the operator in Ohio or other states on the applicable date that are rated excellent, effective, or in need of continuous improvement pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code or perform comparably to schools so rated, as determined by the department of education.

(D) Notwithstanding the limit prescribed by division (A)(4) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code, after the date the limit prescribed in that division is reached, the governing authority of a start-up school sponsored by an entity described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code may establish one additional school serving the same grade levels and providing the same educational program as the current start-up school and may open that additional school in the 2006-2007 school year, if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The governing authority entered into another contract with the same sponsor or a different sponsor described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code and filed a copy of that contract with the superintendent of public instruction prior to March 15, 2006.

(2) The governing authority’s current school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The school currently is rated as excellent or effective pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.

(b) The school made adequate yearly progress, as defined in section 3302.01 of the Revised Code, for the previous school year.

(c) The school has been in operation for at least four school years.

(d) The school is not managed by an operator.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005; 09-28-2006; 03-30-2007

(A) The department of education shall be responsible for the oversight of sponsors of the community schools established under this chapter and shall provide technical assistance to schools and sponsors in their compliance with applicable laws and the terms of the contracts entered into under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code and in the development and start-up activities of those schools. In carrying out its duties under this section, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) In providing technical assistance to proposing parties, governing authorities, and sponsors, conduct training sessions and distribute informational materials;

(2) Approve entities to be sponsors of community schools and monitor the effectiveness of those sponsors in their oversight of the schools with which they have contracted;

(3) By December thirty-first of each year, issue a report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairpersons of the house and senate committees principally responsible for education matters regarding the effectiveness of academic programs, operations, and legal compliance and of the financial condition of all community schools established under this chapter;

(4) From time to time, make legislative recommendations to the general assembly designed to enhance the operation and performance of community schools.

(B)(1) No entity listed in division (C)(1) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code shall enter into a preliminary agreement under division (C)(2) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code until it has received approval from the department of education to sponsor community schools under this chapter and has entered into a written agreement with the department regarding the manner in which the entity will conduct such sponsorship. The department shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code rules containing criteria, procedures, and deadlines for processing applications for such approval, for oversight of sponsors, for revocation of the approval of sponsors, and for entering into written agreements with sponsors. The rules shall require an entity to submit evidence of the entity’s ability and willingness to comply with the provisions of division (D) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code. The rules also shall require entities approved as sponsors on and after June 30, 2005, to demonstrate a record of financial responsibility and successful implementation of educational programs. If an entity seeking approval on or after June 30, 2005, to sponsor community schools in this state sponsors or operates schools in another state, at least one of the schools sponsored or operated by the entity must be comparable to or better than the performance of Ohio schools in need of continuous improvement under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, as determined by the department.

An entity that sponsors community schools may enter into preliminary agreements and sponsor schools as follows, provided each school and the contract for sponsorship meets the requirements of this chapter:

(a) An entity that sponsored fifty or fewer schools that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005, may sponsor not more than fifty schools.

(b) An entity that sponsored more than fifty but not more than seventy-five schools that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005, may sponsor not more than the number of schools the entity sponsored that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005.

(c) Until June 30, 2006, an entity that sponsored more than seventy-five schools that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005, may sponsor not more than the number of schools the entity sponsored that were open for operation as of May 1, 2005. After June 30, 2006, such an entity may sponsor not more than seventy-five schools.

Upon approval of an entity to be a sponsor under this division, the department shall notify the entity of the number of schools the entity may sponsor.

The limit imposed on an entity to which division (B)(1) of this section applies shall be decreased by one for each school sponsored by the entity that permanently closes.

If at any time an entity exceeds the number of schools it may sponsor under this division, the department shall assist the schools in excess of the entity’s limit in securing new sponsors. If a school is unable to secure a new sponsor, the department shall assume sponsorship of the school in accordance with division (C) of this section. Those schools for which another sponsor or the department assumes sponsorship shall be the schools that most recently entered into contracts with the entity under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) The department of education shall determine, pursuant to criteria adopted by rule of the department, whether the mission proposed to be specified in the contract of a community school to be sponsored by a state university board of trustees or the board’s designee under division (C)(1)(e) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code complies with the requirements of that division. Such determination of the department is final.

(3) The department of education shall determine, pursuant to criteria adopted by rule of the department, if any tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is proposed to be a sponsor of a community school is an education-oriented entity for purpose of satisfying the condition prescribed in division (C)(1)(f)(iii) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code. Such determination of the department is final.

(C) If at any time the state board of education finds that a sponsor is not in compliance or is no longer willing to comply with its contract with any community school or with the department’s rules for sponsorship, the state board or designee shall conduct a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code on that matter. If after the hearing, the state board or designee has confirmed the original finding, the department of education may revoke the sponsor’s approval to sponsor community schools and may assume the sponsorship of any schools with which the sponsor has contracted until the earlier of the expiration of two school years or until a new sponsor as described in division (C)(1) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code is secured by the school’s governing authority. The department may extend the term of the contract in the case of a school for which it has assumed sponsorship under this division as necessary to accommodate the term of the department’s authorization to sponsor the school specified in this division.

(D) The decision of the department to disapprove an entity for sponsorship of a community school or to revoke approval for such sponsorship, as provided in division (C) of this section, may be appealed by the entity in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(E) The department shall adopt procedures for use by a community school governing authority and sponsor when the school permanently closes and ceases operation, which shall include at least procedures for data reporting to the department, handling of student records, distribution of assets in accordance with section 3314.074 of the Revised Code, and other matters related to ceasing operation of the school.

(F) In carrying out its duties under this chapter, the department shall not impose requirements on community schools or their sponsors that are not permitted by law or duly adopted rules.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 06-30-2005; 03-30-2007; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

(A) After June 30, 2007, a new start-up school may be established under this chapter only if the school’s governing authority enters into a contract with an operator that manages other schools in the United States that perform at a level higher than academic watch. The governing authority of the community school may sign a contract with an operator only if the operator has fewer contracts with the governing authorities of new start-up schools established under this chapter after June 30, 2007, than the number of schools managed by the operator in the United States that perform at a level higher than academic watch, as determined by the department of education.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the governing authority of a start-up school sponsored by an entity described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code may establish one additional school serving the same grade levels and providing the same educational program as the current start-up school and may open that additional school in the 2007-2008 school year, if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The governing authority entered into another contract with the same sponsor or a different sponsor described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code and filed a copy of that contract with the superintendent of public instruction prior to March 15, 2006.

(2) The governing authority’s current school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The school currently is rated as excellent or effective pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.

(b) The school made adequate yearly progress, as defined in section 3302.01 of the Revised Code, for the previous school year.

(c) The school has been in operation for at least four school years.

(d) The school is not managed by an operator.

(C) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the governing authority of a start-up school sponsored by the big eight school district in which the school is located may establish one additional start-up school that is located in the same school district and that provides a general educational program to students in any or all of grades kindergarten through five to facilitate their transition to the current start-up school, and may open the additional start-up school in the 2009-2010 school year, if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The governing authority enters into another contract with the same sponsor and files a copy of the contract with the superintendent of public instruction prior to March 15, 2009.

(2) The governing authority’s current school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The school provided instruction to students for eleven months in the previous school year.

(b) The school has been in operation for at least two school years.

(c) The school qualified to be rated in need of continuous improvement or higher pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for its first school year of operation, even though the department of education did not issue a report card for the school for that school year.

Effective Date: 2007 HB119 06-30-2007; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008

Notwithstanding division (A) of section 3314.016 of the Revised Code, the governing authority of a start-up school sponsored by an entity described in divisions (C)(1)(b) to (f) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code may establish one additional start-up school that is located in the same school district as the current start-up school, regardless of whether that district is a challenged school district as otherwise required by division (C)(1) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, and that provides a general educational program to students in grades kindergarten through six to facilitate their transition to the current start-up school, and may open the additional start-up school in the 2008-2009 school year, if both of the following conditions are met:

(A) The governing authority enters into another contract with the same sponsor, which is hereby authorized to sponsor the additional start-up school and to continue that sponsorship as long as the entity sponsors the current start-up school, and files a copy of the contract with the superintendent of public instruction prior to March 15, 2008.

(B) The governing authority’s current school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(1) The school was rated excellent or effective pursuant to section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for three of the four school years beginning with the 2002-2003 school year and ending with the 2005-2006 school year.

(2) The school made adequate yearly progress, as defined in section 3302.01 of the Revised Code, for each of the four school years beginning with the 2002-2003 school year and ending with the 2005-2006 school year.

(3) The school was recognized by the superintendent of public instruction as a school of promise for three of the four school years beginning with the 2002-2003 school year and ending with the 2005-2006 school year.

(4) The school has been in operation for at least five school years.

(5) The school is not managed by an operator.

Effective Date: 2007 HB119 09-29-2007

The governing authorities of two or more community schools may enter into a pooling agreement under which the schools may act jointly to do any of the following:

(A) Purchase health insurance for the schools’ employees;

(B) Secure liability insurance for the schools;

(C) Purchase other goods or services necessary for the operation of the schools;

(D) Provide transportation to students enrolled in the schools.

Effective Date: 2008 HB562 06-24-2008

(A) As used in this chapter:

(1) “Sponsor” means an entity listed in division (C)(1) of this section, which has been approved by the department of education to sponsor community schools and with which the governing authority of the proposed community school enters into a contract pursuant to this section.

(2) “Pilot project area” means the school districts included in the territory of the former community school pilot project established by former Section 50.52 of Am. Sub. H.B. No. 215 of the 122nd general assembly.

(3) “Challenged school district” means any of the following:

(a) A school district that is part of the pilot project area;

(b) A school district that is either in a state of academic emergency or in a state of academic watch under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code;

(c) A big eight school district.

(4) “Big eight school district” means a school district that for fiscal year 1997 had both of the following:

(a) A percentage of children residing in the district and participating in the predecessor of Ohio works first greater than thirty per cent, as reported pursuant to section 3317.10 of the Revised Code;

(b) An average daily membership greater than twelve thousand, as reported pursuant to former division (A) of section 3317.03 of the Revised Code.

(5) “New start-up school” means a community school other than one created by converting all or part of an existing public school or educational service center building, as designated in the school’s contract pursuant to division (A)(17) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(6) “Urban school district” means one of the state’s twenty-one urban school districts as defined in division (O) of section 3317.02 of the Revised Code as that section existed prior to July 1, 1998.

(7) “Internet- or computer-based community school” means a community school established under this chapter in which the enrolled students work primarily from their residences on assignments in nonclassroom-based learning opportunities provided via an internet- or other computer-based instructional method that does not rely on regular classroom instruction or via comprehensive instructional methods that include internet-based, other computer-based, and noncomputer-based learning opportunities.

(B) Any person or group of individuals may initially propose under this division the conversion of all or a portion of a public school or a building operated by an educational service center to a community school. The proposal shall be made to the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district in which the public school is proposed to be converted or, in the case of the conversion of a building operated by an educational service center, to the governing board of the service center. Upon receipt of a proposal, a board may enter into a preliminary agreement with the person or group proposing the conversion of the public school or service center building, indicating the intention of the board to support the conversion to a community school. A proposing person or group that has a preliminary agreement under this division may proceed to finalize plans for the school, establish a governing authority for the school, and negotiate a contract with the board . Provided the proposing person or group adheres to the preliminary agreement and all provisions of this chapter, the board shall negotiate in good faith to enter into a contract in accordance with section 3314.03 of the Revised Code and division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) Any person or group of individuals may propose under this division the establishment of a new start-up school to be located in a challenged school district. The proposal may be made to any of the following entities:

(a) The board of education of the district in which the school is proposed to be located;

(b) The board of education of any joint vocational school district with territory in the county in which is located the majority of the territory of the district in which the school is proposed to be located;

(c) The board of education of any other city, local, or exempted village school district having territory in the same county where the district in which the school is proposed to be located has the major portion of its territory;

(d) The governing board of any educational service center, as long as the proposed school will be located in a county within the territory of the service center or in a county contiguous to such county;

(e) A sponsoring authority designated by the board of trustees of any of the thirteen state universities listed in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code or the board of trustees itself as long as a mission of the proposed school to be specified in the contract under division (A)(2) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code and as approved by the department of education under division (B)(2) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code will be the practical demonstration of teaching methods, educational technology, or other teaching practices that are included in the curriculum of the university’s teacher preparation program approved by the state board of education;

(f) Any qualified tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as long as all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) The entity has been in operation for at least five years prior to applying to be a community school sponsor.

(ii) The entity has assets of at least five hundred thousand dollars and a demonstrated record of financial responsibility.

(iii) The department of education has determined that the entity is an education-oriented entity under division (B)(3) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code and the entity has a demonstrated record of successful implementation of educational programs.

(iv) The entity is not a community school.

Any entity described in division (C)(1) of this section may enter into a preliminary agreement pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section with the proposing person or group.

(2) A preliminary agreement indicates the intention of an entity described in division (C)(1) of this section to sponsor the community school. A proposing person or group that has such a preliminary agreement may proceed to finalize plans for the school, establish a governing authority as described in division (E) of this section for the school, and negotiate a contract with the entity. Provided the proposing person or group adheres to the preliminary agreement and all provisions of this chapter, the entity shall negotiate in good faith to enter into a contract in accordance with section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(3) A new start-up school that is established in a school district while that district is either in a state of academic emergency or in a state of academic watch under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code may continue in existence once the school district is no longer in a state of academic emergency or academic watch, provided there is a valid contract between the school and a sponsor.

(4) A copy of every preliminary agreement entered into under this division shall be filed with the superintendent of public instruction.

(D) A majority vote of the board of a sponsoring entity and a majority vote of the members of the governing authority of a community school shall be required to adopt a contract and convert the public school or educational service center building to a community school or establish the new start-up school. Beginning September 29, 2005, adoption of the contract shall occur not later than the fifteenth day of March, and signing of the contract shall occur not later than the fifteenth day of May, prior to the school year in which the school will open. The governing authority shall notify the department of education when the contract has been signed. Subject to sections 3314.013, 3314.014, 3314.016, and 3314.017 of the Revised Code, an unlimited number of community schools may be established in any school district provided that a contract is entered into for each community school pursuant to this chapter.

(E)(1) As used in this division, “immediate relatives” are limited to spouses, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and in-laws.

Each new start-up community school established under this chapter shall be under the direction of a governing authority which shall consist of a board of not less than five individuals.

No person shall serve on the governing authority or operate the community school under contract with the governing authority so long as the person owes the state any money or is in a dispute over whether the person owes the state any money concerning the operation of a community school that has closed.

(2) No person shall serve on the governing authorities of more than two start-up community schools at the same time.

(3) No present or former member, or immediate relative of a present or former member, of the governing authority of any community school established under this chapter shall be an owner, employee, or consultant of any nonprofit or for-profit operator of a community school, unless at least one year has elapsed since the conclusion of the person’s membership.

(F)

(1) A new start-up school that is established prior to August 15, 2003, in an urban school district that is not also a big-eight school district may continue to operate after that date and the contract between the school’s governing authority and the school’s sponsor may be renewed, as provided under this chapter, after that date, but no additional new start-up schools may be established in such a district unless the district is a challenged school district as defined in this section as it exists on and after that date.

(2) A community school that was established prior to June 29, 1999, and is located in a county contiguous to the pilot project area and in a school district that is not a challenged school district may continue to operate after that date, provided the school complies with all provisions of this chapter. The contract between the school’s governing authority and the school’s sponsor may be renewed, but no additional start-up community school may be established in that district unless the district is a challenged school district.

(3) Any educational service center that, on June 30, 2007, sponsors a community school that is not located in a county within the territory of the service center or in a county contiguous to such county may continue to sponsor that community school on and after June 30, 2007, and may renew its contract with the school. However, the educational service center shall not enter into a contract with any additional community school unless the school is located in a county within the territory of the service center or in a county contiguous to such county.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 09-29-2005; 06-30-2006; 03-30-2007; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008

(A) This section applies to any entity that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that satisfies the conditions specified in divisions (C)(1)(f)(ii) and (iii) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code but does not satisfy the condition specified in division (C)(1)(f)(i) of that section.

(B) Notwithstanding division (C)(1)(f)(i) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, an entity described in division (A) of this section may do both of the following without obtaining the department of education’s approval of its sponsorship under division (B)(1) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code:

(1) Succeed the board of trustees of a state university located in the pilot project area or that board’s designee as the sponsor of a community school established under this chapter;

(2) Continue to sponsor that school in conformance with the terms of the contract between the board of trustees or its designee and the governing authority of the community school and renew that contract as provided in division (E) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) The entity that succeeds the board of trustees or the board’s designee as sponsor of a community school under division (B) of this section also may enter into contracts to sponsor other community schools located in any challenged school district, without obtaining the department’s approval of its sponsorship under division (B)(1) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code, and not subject to the restriction of division (A)(7) of section 3314.013 of the Revised Code, as long as the contracts conform with and the entity complies with all other requirements of this chapter.

Effective Date: 06-09-2004; 06-30-2005

The governing authority of any community school established under this chapter may contract with the governing authority of another community school, the board of education of a school district, the governing board of an educational service center, a county MR/DD board, or the administrative authority of a nonpublic school for provision of services for any disabled student enrolled at the school. Any school district board of education or educational service center governing board shall negotiate with a community school governing authority that seeks to contract for the provision of services for a disabled student under this section in the same manner as it would with the board of education of a school district that seeks to contract for such services.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

In order to provide monitoring and technical assistance, the sponsor of a community school shall be located or have representatives located within fifty miles of the location of the community school, or in the case of an internet- or computer-based community school, within fifty miles of the school’s base of operation. A representative of the sponsor shall meet with the governing authority of the school and shall review the financial records of the school at least once every two months.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

A management company that provides services to a community school that amounts to more than twenty per cent of the annual gross revenues of the school shall provide a detailed accounting including the nature and costs of the services it provides to the community school. This information shall be included in the footnotes of the financial statements of the school and be subject to audit during the course of the regular financial audit of the community school.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

The governing authority of a start-up community school may provide by resolution for the compensation of each of its members in an amount up to one hundred twenty-five dollars for each meeting of the governing authority that the member attends. However, no individual shall be compensated more than one hundred twenty-five dollars in any month by each governing authority of which the individual is a member.

Except in the case of a community school that has contracted with an operator, as defined in section 3314.014 of the Revised Code, the compensation for governing authority members shall be paid by the school’s fiscal officer from the operating funds held in the treasury of the school. In the case of a community school that has contracted with an operator, the compensation for governing authority members shall be paid by the operator from funds paid to the operator by the school.

If an individual is a member of the governing authority of more than one start-up community school and those governing authorities convene their meetings at the same place on the same day, that individual shall receive as compensation for all of those meetings combined not more than the highest amount per-member per-meeting specified by the governing authorities of those schools. The amount paid to that individual for that day shall be divided evenly among the start-up community schools for which that individual is a governing authority member, and for which the governing authorities have specified compensation for their members in accordance with this section.

Effective Date: 03-30-2007

If the governing authority of a community school intends to terminate its contract with the school’s operator prior to expiration or intends not to renew that contract upon expiration, the governing authority shall notify the operator of that intent. The operator may appeal the contract termination or nonrenewal to the school’s sponsor, if the sponsor has sponsored the school for at least twelve months, or to the state board of education, if the sponsor has sponsored the school for less than twelve months. Upon appeal, the sponsor or state board shall determine whether the operator should continue to manage the school. In making its determination, the sponsor or state board shall consider whether the operator has managed the school in compliance with all applicable laws and terms of the contract between the sponsor and the governing authority entered into under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code and whether the school’s progress in meeting the academic goals prescribed in that contract has been satisfactory. The sponsor or state board shall notify the governing authority and operator of its determination. If the sponsor or state board determines that the operator should continue to manage the school, the sponsor shall remove the existing governing authority and the operator shall appoint a new governing authority for the school. The new governing authority shall assume responsibility for the school immediately and shall exercise all functions assigned to it by the Revised Code or rule in the same manner as any other community school governing authority.

Effective Date: 03-30-2007

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;

(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, 3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.67, 3313.671, 3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.718, 3313.80, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.321, 3319.39, 3319.391, 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 educational service center building or is to be a new start-up school, and if it is a converted public school or service center building, specification of any duties or responsibilities of an employer that the board of education or service center governing board that operated the school or building before conversion is delegating to the governing authority 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 sections 3302.04 and 3302.041 of the Revised Code, except that any action required to be taken by a school district pursuant to those sections 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 section 3302.04 of the Revised Code.

(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 or educational service center building, alternative arrangements for current public school students who choose not to attend the converted school and for teachers who choose not to teach in the school or building 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.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003; 06-30-2005; 06-30-2006; 07-11-2006; 09-28-2006; 10-12-2006; 03-23-2007; 03-30-2007; 04-04-2007; 2007 HB190 11-14-2007; 2008 HB428 09-12-2008; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008; 2008 HB420 12-30-2008

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

Not later than September 30, 2003, the state board of education shall recommend to the general assembly standards governing the operation of internet- or computer-based community schools, as defined in section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, and other educational courses delivered primarily via electronic media.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

Except as otherwise specified in this chapter and in the contract between a community school and a sponsor, such school is exempt from all state laws and rules pertaining to schools, school districts, and boards of education, except those laws and rules that grant certain rights to parents.

Effective Date: 06-30-1997

The governing authority of each community school and any operator of such school shall distribute to parents of students of the school upon their enrollment in the school the following statement in writing:

“The …........... (here fill in name of the school) school is a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code. The school is a public school and students enrolled in and attending the school are required to take proficiency tests and other examinations prescribed by law. In addition, there may be other requirements for students at the school that are prescribed by law. Students who have been excused from the compulsory attendance law for the purpose of home education as defined by the Administrative Code shall no longer be excused for that purpose upon their enrollment in a community school. For more information about this matter contact the school administration or the Ohio Department of Education.”

Effective Date: 09-26-2003

(A) The contract between the community school and the sponsor shall specify the facilities to be used for the community school and the method of acquisition. Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, no community school shall be established in more than one school district under the same contract.

(B) Division (B) of this section shall not apply to internet- or computer-based community schools.

(1) A community school may be located in multiple facilities under the same contract only if the limitations on availability of space prohibit serving all the grade levels specified in the contract in a single facility or division (B)(2) or (3) of this section applies to the school. The school shall not offer the same grade level classrooms in more than one facility.

(2) A community school may be located in multiple facilities under the same contract and, notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, may assign students in the same grade level to multiple facilities, as long as all of the following apply:

(a) The governing authority of the community school filed a copy of its contract with the school’s sponsor under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code with the superintendent of public instruction on or before May 15, 2008.

(b) The school was not open for operation prior to July 1, 2008.

(c) The governing authority has entered into and maintains a contract with an operator of the type described in division (A)(2) of section 3314.014 of the Revised Code.

(d) The contract with that operator qualified the school to be established pursuant to division (A) of section 3314.016 of the Revised Code.

(e) The school’s rating under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code does not fall below “in need of continuous improvement” for two or more consecutive years.

(3) A new start-up community school may be established in two school districts under the same contract if all of the following apply:

(a) At least one of the school districts in which the school is established is a challenged school district;

(b) The school operates not more than one facility in each school district and, in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section, the school does not offer the same grade level classrooms in both facilities; and

(c) Transportation between the two facilities does not require more than thirty minutes of direct travel time as measured by school bus.

In the case of a community school to which division (B)(3) of this section applies, if only one of the school districts in which the school is established is a challenged school district, that district shall be considered the school’s primary location and the district in which the school is located for the purposes of division (A)(19) of section 3314.03 and divisions (C) and (H) of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and for all other purposes of this chapter. If both of the school districts in which the school is established are challenged school districts, the school’s governing authority shall designate one of those districts to be considered the school’s primary location and the district in which the school is located for the purposes of those divisions and all other purposes of this chapter and shall notify the department of education of that designation.

(4) Any facility used for a community school shall meet all health and safety standards established by law for school buildings.

(C) In the case where a community school is proposed to be located in a facility owned by a school district or educational service center, the facility may not be used for such community school unless the district or service center board owning the facility enters into an agreement for the community school to utilize the facility. Use of the facility may be under any terms and conditions agreed to by the district or service center board and the school.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008

(A) When the governing authority of a community school that acquired real property from a school district pursuant to division (G)(2) of section 3313.41 of the Revised Code decides to dispose of that property, it first shall offer that property for sale to the school district board of education from which it acquired the property, at a price that is not higher than the appraised fair market value of that property. If the district board does not accept the offer within sixty days after the offer is made, the community school may dispose of the property in another lawful manner.

(B) When a community school that acquired real property from a school district pursuant to division (G)(2) of section 3313.41 of the Revised Code permanently closes, in distributing the school’s assets under section 3314.074 of the Revised Code, that property first shall be offered for sale to the school district board of education from which the community school acquired the property, at a price that is not higher than the appraised fair market value of that property. If the district board does not accept the offer within sixty days after the offer is made, the property may be disposed in another lawful manner.

Effective Date: 03-30-2007

The governing authority of each community school established under this chapter shall adopt admission procedures that specify the following:

(A) That except as otherwise provided in this section, admission to the school shall be open to any individual age five to twenty-two entitled to attend school pursuant to section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code in a school district in the state.

(B)(1) That admission to the school may be limited to students who have attained a specific grade level or are within a specific age group; to students that meet a definition of “at-risk,” as defined in the contract; to residents of a specific geographic area within the district, as defined in the contract; or to separate groups of autistic students and nondisabled students, as authorized in section 3314.061 of the Revised Code and as defined in the contract.

(2) For purposes of division (B)(1) of this section, “at-risk” students may include those students identified as gifted students under section 3324.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) Whether enrollment is limited to students who reside in the district in which the school is located or is open to residents of other districts, as provided in the policy adopted pursuant to the contract.

(D)(1) That there will be no discrimination in the admission of students to the school on the basis of race, creed, color, disability, or sex except that:

(a) The governing authority may establish single-gender schools for the purpose described in division (G) of this section provided comparable facilities and learning opportunities are offered for both boys and girls. Such comparable facilities and opportunities may be offered for each sex at separate locations.

(b) The governing authority may establish a school that simultaneously serves a group of students identified as autistic and a group of students who are not disabled, as authorized in section 3314.061 of the Revised Code. However, unless the total capacity established for the school has been filled, no student with any disability shall be denied admission on the basis of that disability.

(2) That upon admission of any student with a disability, the community school will comply with all federal and state laws regarding the education of students with disabilities.

(E) That the school may not limit admission to students on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or athletic ability, except that a school may limit its enrollment to students as described in division (B) of this section.

(F) That the community school will admit the number of students that does not exceed the capacity of the school’s programs, classes, grade levels, or facilities.

(G) That the purpose of single-gender schools that are established shall be to take advantage of the academic benefits some students realize from single-gender instruction and facilities and to offer students and parents residing in the district the option of a single-gender education.

(H) That, except as otherwise provided under division (B) of this section or section 3314.061 of the Revised Code, if the number of applicants exceeds the capacity restrictions of division (F) of this section, students shall be admitted by lot from all those submitting applications, except preference shall be given to students attending the school the previous year and to students who reside in the district in which the school is located. Preference may be given to siblings of students attending the school the previous year.

Notwithstanding divisions (A) to (H) of this section, in the event the racial composition of the enrollment of the community school is violative of a federal desegregation order, the community school shall take any and all corrective measures to comply with the desegregation order.

Effective Date: 06-29-1999; 04-08-2003; 06-30-2005; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007

A governing authority may establish a community school under this chapter that is limited to providing simultaneously special education and related services to a specified number of students identified as autistic and regular educational programs to a specified number of students who are not disabled. The contract between the governing authority and the school’s sponsor shall specify the target ratio of number of autistic students to number of nondisabled students in the school’s population, the total number of autistic students that may be enrolled in the school, and the total number of nondisabled students that may be enrolled in the school. A school established in accordance with this section is subject to division (H) of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code, except that because the governing authority establishes a separate capacity for autistic students and nondisabled students, if the number of applicants among the group of autistic students or the group of students with disabilities exceeds the capacity restrictions for that group, students shall be admitted by lot from all those of that same group submitting applications. However, unless the total capacity established for the school has been filled, no student with any disability shall be denied admission on the basis of that disability.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007

(A) The expiration of the contract for a community school between a sponsor and a school shall be the date provided in the contract. A successor contract may be entered into pursuant to division (E) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code unless the contract is terminated or not renewed pursuant to this section.

(B)(1) A sponsor may choose not to renew a contract at its expiration or may choose to terminate a contract prior to its expiration for any of the following reasons:

(a) Failure to meet student performance requirements stated in the contract;

(b) Failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management;

(c) Violation of any provision of the contract or applicable state or federal law;

(d) Other good cause.

(2) A sponsor may choose to terminate a contract prior to its expiration if the sponsor has suspended the operation of the contract under section 3314.072 of the Revised Code.

(3) At least ninety days prior to the termination or nonrenewal of a contract, the sponsor shall notify the school of the proposed action in writing. The notice shall include the reasons for the proposed action in detail, the effective date of the termination or nonrenewal, and a statement that the school may, within fourteen days of receiving the notice, request an informal hearing before the sponsor. Such request must be in writing. The informal hearing shall be held within seventy days of the receipt of a request for the hearing. Promptly following the informal hearing, the sponsor shall issue a written decision either affirming or rescinding the decision to terminate or not renew the contract.

(4) A decision by the sponsor to terminate a contract may be appealed to the state board of education. The decision by the state board pertaining to an appeal under this division is final. If the sponsor is the state board, its decision to terminate a contract under division (B)(3) of this section shall be final.

(5) The termination of a contract under this section shall be effective upon the occurrence of the later of the following events:

(a) Ninety days following the date the sponsor notifies the school of its decision to terminate the contract as prescribed in division (B)(3) of this section;

(b) If an informal hearing is requested under division (B)(3) of this section and as a result of that hearing the sponsor affirms its decision to terminate the contract, the effective date of the termination specified in the notice issued under division (B)(3) of this section, or if that decision is appealed to the state board under division (B)(4) of this section and the state board affirms that decision, the date established in the resolution of the state board affirming the sponsor’s decision.

(6) Any community school whose contract is terminated under this division shall not enter into a contract with any other sponsor.

(C) A child attending a community school whose contract has been terminated, nonrenewed, or suspended or that closes for any reason shall be admitted to the schools of the district in which the child is entitled to attend under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code. Any deadlines established for the purpose of admitting students under section 3313.97 or 3313.98 of the Revised Code shall be waived for students to whom this division pertains.

(D) If a community school does not intend to renew a contract with its sponsor, the community school shall notify its sponsor in writing of that fact at least one hundred eighty days prior to the expiration of the contract. Such a community school may enter into a contract with a new sponsor in accordance with section 3314.03 of the Revised Code upon the expiration of the previous contract.

(E) A sponsor of a community school and the officers, directors, or employees of such a sponsor are not liable in damages in a tort or other civil action for harm allegedly arising from either of the following:

(1) A failure of the community school or any of its officers, directors, or employees to perform any statutory or common law duty or responsibility or any other legal obligation;

(2) An action or omission of the community school or any of its officers, directors, or employees that results in harm.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) “Harm” means injury, death, or loss to person or property.

(2) “Tort action” means a civil action for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property other than a civil action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement between persons.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003

Any contract entered into by the governing authority or any officer or director of a community school, including the contract required by sections 3314.02 and 3314.03 of the Revised Code, is deemed to be entered into by such individuals in their official capacities as representatives of the community school. No officer, director, or member of the governing authority of a community school incurs any personal liability by virtue of entering into any contract on behalf of the school.

Effective Date: 06-29-1999

The provisions of this section are enacted to promote the public health, safety, and welfare by establishing procedures under which the governing authorities of community schools established under this chapter will be held accountable for their compliance with the terms of the contracts they enter into with their school’s sponsors and the law relating to the school’s operation. Suspension of the operation of a school imposed under this section is intended to encourage the governing authority’s compliance with the terms of the school’s contract and the law and is not intended to be an alteration of the terms of that contract.

(A) If a sponsor of a community school established under this chapter suspends the operation of that school pursuant to procedures set forth in this section, the governing authority shall not operate that school while the suspension is in effect. Any such suspension shall remain in effect until the sponsor notifies the governing authority that it is no longer in effect. The contract of a school of which operation is suspended under this section also may be subject to termination or nonrenewal under section 3314.07 of the Revised Code.

(B) If at any time conditions at the school do not comply with a health and safety standard established by law for school buildings, the sponsor shall immediately suspend the operation of the school pursuant to procedures set forth in division (D) of this section. If the sponsor fails to take action to suspend the operation of a school to which this division applies, the department of education may take such action.

(C)(1) For any of the reasons prescribed in division (B)(1)(a) to (d) of section 3314.07 of the Revised Code, the sponsor of a community school established under this chapter may suspend the operation of the school only if it first issues to the governing authority notice of the sponsor’s intent to suspend the operation of the contract. Such notice shall explain the reasons for the sponsor’s intent to suspend operation of the contract and shall provide the school’s governing authority with five business days to submit to the sponsor a proposal to remedy the conditions cited as reasons for the suspension.

(2) The sponsor shall promptly review any proposed remedy timely submitted by the governing authority and either approve or disapprove the remedy. If the sponsor disapproves the remedy proposed by the governing authority, if the governing authority fails to submit a proposed remedy in the manner prescribed by the sponsor, or if the governing authority fails to implement the remedy as approved by the sponsor, the sponsor may suspend operation of the school pursuant to procedures set forth in division (D) of this section.

(D)(1) If division (B) of this section applies or if the sponsor of a community school established under this chapter decides to suspend the operation of a school as permitted in division (C)(2) of this section, the sponsor shall promptly send written notice to the governing authority stating that the operation of the school is immediately suspended, and explaining the specific reasons for the suspension. The notice shall state that the governing authority has five business days to submit a proposed remedy to the conditions cited as reasons for the suspension or face potential contract termination.

(2) Upon receipt of the notice of suspension prescribed under division (D)(1) of this section, the governing authority shall immediately notify the employees of the school and the parents of the students enrolled in the school of the suspension and the reasons therefore, and shall cease all school operations on the next business day.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

(A) In lieu of termination of a contract or suspension of the operation of a school as provided for in sections 3314.07 and 3314.072 of the Revised Code, respectively, after consultation with the governing authority of a community school under its sponsorship, if a sponsor finds that any of the conditions prescribed in division (B)(1) of section 3314.07 of the Revised Code apply to the school, the sponsor may declare in written notice to the governing authority that the school is in a probationary status which shall not extend beyond the end of the current school year. The notice shall specify the conditions that warrant probationary status. The sponsor may declare a school to be in such status only if it has received from the governing authority reasonable assurances to the satisfaction of the sponsor that the governing authority can and will take actions necessary to remedy the conditions that have warranted such probationary status as specified by the sponsor.

(B) The sponsor shall monitor the actions taken by the governing authority to remedy the conditions that have warranted probationary status as specified by the sponsor and may take over the operation of the school as provided in the contract or may take steps to terminate the contract with the governing authority or to suspend operation of the school if the sponsor at any time finds that the governing authority is no longer able or willing to remedy those conditions to the satisfaction of the sponsor.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

Divisions (A) and (B) of this section apply only to the extent permitted under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code.

(A) If any community school established under this chapter permanently closes and ceases its operation as a community school, the assets of that school shall be distributed first to the retirement funds of employees of the school, employees of the school, and private creditors who are owed compensation, and then any remaining funds shall be paid to the department of education for redistribution to the school districts in which the students who were enrolled in the school at the time it ceased operation were entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code. The amount distributed to each school district shall be proportional to the district’s share of the total enrollment in the community school.

(B) If a community school closes and ceases to operate as a community school and the school has received computer hardware or software from the former Ohio SchoolNet commission or the eTech Ohio commission, such hardware or software shall be returned to the eTech Ohio commission, and the eTech Ohio commission shall redistribute the hardware and software, to the extent such redistribution is possible, to school districts in conformance with the provisions of the programs operated and administered by the eTech Ohio commission.

(C) If the assets of the school are insufficient to pay all persons or entities to whom compensation is owed, the prioritization of the distribution of the assets to individual persons or entities within each class of payees may be determined by decree of a court in accordance with this section and Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 07-01-2005; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Base formula amount” means the amount specified as such in a community school’s financial plan for a school year pursuant to division (A)(15) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) “IEP” has the same meaning as in section 3323.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) “Applicable special education weight” means the multiple specified in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code for a disability described in that section.

(4) “Applicable vocational education weight” means:

(a) For a student enrolled in vocational education programs or classes described in division (A) of section 3317.014 of the Revised Code, the multiple specified in that division;

(b) For a student enrolled in vocational education programs or classes described in division (B) of section 3317.014 of the Revised Code, the multiple specified in that division.

(5) “Entitled to attend school” means entitled to attend school in a district under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.

(6) A community school student is “included in the poverty student count” of a school district if the student is entitled to attend school in the district and the student’s family receives assistance under the Ohio works first program.

(7) “Poverty-based assistance reduction factor” means the percentage figure, if any, for reducing the per pupil amount of poverty-based assistance a community school is entitled to receive pursuant to divisions (D)(5) to (9) of this section in any year, as specified in the school’s financial plan for the year pursuant to division (A)(15) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(8) “All-day kindergarten” has the same meaning as in section 3317.029 of the Revised Code.

(9) “State education aid” has the same meaning as in section 5751.20 of the Revised Code.

(B) The state board of education shall adopt rules requiring both of the following:

(1) The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district to annually report the number of students entitled to attend school in the district who are enrolled in grades one through twelve in a community school established under this chapter, the number of students entitled to attend school in the district who are enrolled in kindergarten in a community school, the number of those kindergartners who are enrolled in all-day kindergarten in their community school, and for each child, the community school in which the child is enrolled.

(2) The governing authority of each community school established under this chapter to annually report all of the following:

(a) The number of students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the number of students enrolled in kindergarten in the school who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(b) The number of enrolled students in grades one through twelve and the number of enrolled students in kindergarten, who are receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(c) The number of students reported under division (B)(2)(b) of this section receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in each of divisions (A) to (F) of section 3317.013 of the Revised Code;

(d) The full-time equivalent number of students reported under divisions (B)(2)(a) and (b) of this section who are enrolled in vocational education programs or classes described in each of divisions (A) and (B) of section 3317.014 of the Revised Code that are provided by the community school;

(e) Twenty per cent of the number of students reported under divisions (B)(2)(a) and (b) of this section who are not reported under division (B)(2)(d) of this section but who are enrolled in vocational education programs or classes described in each of divisions (A) and (B) of section 3317.014 of the Revised Code at a joint vocational school district under a contract between the community school and the joint vocational school district and are entitled to attend school in a city, local, or exempted village school district whose territory is part of the territory of the joint vocational district;

(f) The number of enrolled preschool children with disabilities receiving special education services in a state-funded unit;

(g) The community school’s base formula amount;

(h) For each student, the city, exempted village, or local school district in which the student is entitled to attend school;

(i) Any poverty-based assistance reduction factor that applies to a school year.

(C) From the state education aid calculated for a city, exempted village, or local school district and, if necessary, from the payment made to the district under sections 321.24 and 323.156 of the Revised Code, the department of education shall annually subtract the sum of the amounts described in divisions (C)(1) to (9) of this section. However, when deducting payments on behalf of students enrolled in internet- or computer-based community schools, the department shall deduct only those amounts described in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section. Furthermore, the aggregate amount deducted under this division shall not exceed the sum of the district’s state education aid and its payment under sections 321.24 and 323.156 of the Revised Code.

(1) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the number of the district’s students reported under divisions (B)(2)(a), (b), and (e) of this section who are enrolled in grades one through twelve, and one-half the number of students reported under those divisions who are enrolled in kindergarten, in that community school is multiplied by the sum of the base formula amount of that community school plus the per pupil amount of the base funding supplements specified in divisions (C)(1) to (4) of section 3317.012 of the Revised Code.

(2) The sum of the amounts calculated under divisions (C)(2)(a) and (b) of this section:

(a) For each of the district’s students reported under division (B)(2)(c) of this section as enrolled in a community school in grades one through twelve and receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code, the product of the applicable special education weight times the community school’s base formula amount;

(b) For each of the district’s students reported under division (B)(2)(c) of this section as enrolled in kindergarten in a community school and receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code, one-half of the amount calculated as prescribed in division (C)(2)(a) of this section.

(3) For each of the district’s students reported under division (B)(2)(d) of this section for whom payment is made under division (D)(4) of this section, the amount of that payment;

(4) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the number of the district’s students enrolled in that community school who are included in the district’s poverty student count is multiplied by the per pupil amount of poverty-based assistance the school district receives that year pursuant to division (C) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of that community school. The per pupil amount of that aid for the district shall be calculated by the department.

(5) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the district’s per pupil amount of aid received under division (E) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students reported under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who are enrolled in grades one to three in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(b) One-half of the district’s students who are enrolled in all-day or any other kindergarten class in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(c) One-half of the district’s students who are enrolled in all-day kindergarten in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP.

The district’s per pupil amount of aid under division (E) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code is the quotient of the amount the district received under that division divided by the district’s kindergarten through third grade ADM, as defined in that section.

(6) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the district’s per pupil amount received under division (F) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of that community school, is multiplied by the number of the district’s students enrolled in the community school who are identified as limited-English proficient.

(7) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the district’s per pupil amount received under division (G) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of that community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students enrolled in grades one through twelve in that community school;

(b) One-half of the number of the district’s students enrolled in kindergarten in that community school.

The district’s per pupil amount under division (G) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code is the district’s amount per teacher calculated under division (G)(1) or (2) of that section divided by 17.

(8) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each community school where the district’s students are enrolled, the district’s per pupil amount received under divisions (H) and (I) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of that community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students enrolled in grades one through twelve in that community school;

(b) One-half of the number of the district’s students enrolled in kindergarten in that community school.

The district’s per pupil amount under divisions (H) and (I) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code is the amount calculated under each division divided by the district’s formula ADM, as defined in section 3317.02 of the Revised Code.

(9) An amount equal to the per pupil state parity aid funding calculated for the school district under either division (C) or (D) of section 3317.0217 of the Revised Code multiplied by the sum of the number of students in grades one through twelve, and one-half of the number of students in kindergarten, who are entitled to attend school in the district and are enrolled in a community school as reported under division (B)(1) of this section.

(D) The department shall annually pay to a community school established under this chapter the sum of the amounts described in divisions (D)(1) to (10) of this section. However, the department shall calculate and pay to each internet- or computer-based community school only the amounts described in divisions (D)(1) to (3) of this section. Furthermore, the sum of the payments to all community schools under divisions (D)(1), (2), and (4) to (10) of this section for the students entitled to attend school in any particular school district shall not exceed the sum of that district’s state education aid and its payment under sections 321.24 and 323.156 of the Revised Code. If the sum of the payments calculated under those divisions for the students entitled to attend school in a particular school district exceeds the sum of that district’s state education aid and its payment under sections 321.24 and 323.156 of the Revised Code, the department shall calculate and apply a proration factor to the payments to all community schools under those divisions for the students entitled to attend school in that district.

(1) Subject to section 3314.085 of the Revised Code, an amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when the number of students enrolled in grades one through twelve, plus one-half of the kindergarten students in the school, reported under divisions (B)(2)(a), (b), and (e) of this section who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code is multiplied by the sum of the community school’s base formula amount plus the per pupil amount of the base funding supplements specified in divisions (C)(1) to (4) of section 3317.012 of the Revised Code.

(2) Prior to fiscal year 2007, the greater of the amount calculated under division (D)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, and in fiscal year 2007 and thereafter, the amount calculated under division (D)(2)(b) of this section:

(a) The aggregate amount that the department paid to the community school in fiscal year 1999 for students receiving special education and related services pursuant to IEPs, excluding federal funds and state disadvantaged pupil impact aid funds;

(b) The sum of the amounts calculated under divisions (D)(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of this section:

(i) For each student reported under division (B)(2)(c) of this section as enrolled in the school in grades one through twelve and receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code, the following amount:

(the school’s base formula amount plus

the per pupil amount of the base funding supplements specified in

divisions (C)(1) to (4) of section 3317.012 of the Revised Code)

+ (the applicable special education weight X the

community school’s base formula amount);

(ii) For each student reported under division (B)(2)(c) of this section as enrolled in kindergarten and receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in section 3317.013 of the Revised Code, one-half of the amount calculated under the formula prescribed in division (D)(2)(b)(i) of this section.

(3) An amount received from federal funds to provide special education and related services to students in the community school, as determined by the superintendent of public instruction.

(4) For each student reported under division (B)(2)(d) of this section as enrolled in vocational education programs or classes that are described in section 3317.014 of the Revised Code, are provided by the community school, and are comparable as determined by the superintendent of public instruction to school district vocational education programs and classes eligible for state weighted funding under section 3317.014 of the Revised Code, an amount equal to the applicable vocational education weight times the community school’s base formula amount times the percentage of time the student spends in the vocational education programs or classes.

(5) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the number of that district’s students enrolled in the community school who are included in the district’s poverty student count is multiplied by the per pupil amount of poverty-based assistance that school district receives that year pursuant to division (C) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school. The per pupil amount of aid shall be determined as described in division (C)(4) of this section.

(6) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the district’s per pupil amount of aid received under division (E) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students reported under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who are enrolled in grades one to three in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(b) One-half of the district’s students who are enrolled in all-day or any other kindergarten class in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP;

(c) One-half of the district’s students who are enrolled in all-day kindergarten in that community school and who are not receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP.

The district’s per pupil amount of aid under division (E) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code shall be determined as described in division (C)(5) of this section.

(7) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the number of that district’s students enrolled in the community school who are identified as limited-English proficient is multiplied by the district’s per pupil amount received under division (F) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school.

(8) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the district’s per pupil amount received under division (G) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students enrolled in grades one through twelve in that community school;

(b) One-half of the number of the district’s students enrolled in kindergarten in that community school.

The district’s per pupil amount under division (G) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code shall be determined as described in division (C)(7) of this section.

(9) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the district’s per pupil amount received under divisions (H) and (I) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, as adjusted by any poverty-based assistance reduction factor of the community school, is multiplied by the sum of the following:

(a) The number of the district’s students enrolled in grades one through twelve in that community school;

(b) One-half of the number of the district’s students enrolled in kindergarten in that community school.

The district’s per pupil amount under divisions (H) and (I) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code shall be determined as described in division (C)(8) of this section.

(10) An amount equal to the sum of the amounts obtained when, for each school district where the community school’s students are entitled to attend school, the district’s per pupil amount of state parity aid funding calculated under either division (C) or (D) of section 3317.0217 of the Revised Code is multiplied by the sum of the number of that district’s students enrolled in grades one through twelve, and one-half of the number of that district’s students enrolled in kindergarten, in the community school as reported under division (B)(2)(a) and (b) of this section.

(E)(1) If a community school’s costs for a fiscal year for a student receiving special education and related services pursuant to an IEP for a disability described in divisions (B) to (F) of section 3317.013 of the Revised Code exceed the threshold catastrophic cost for serving the student as specified in division (C)(3)(b) of section 3317.022 of the Revised Code, the school may submit to the superintendent of public instruction documentation, as prescribed by the superintendent, of all its costs for that student. Upon submission of documentation for a student of the type and in the manner prescribed, the department shall pay to the community school an amount equal to the school’s costs for the student in excess of the threshold catastrophic costs.

(2) The community school shall only report under division (E)(1) of this section, and the department shall only pay for, the costs of educational expenses and the related services provided to the student in accordance with the student’s individualized education program. Any legal fees, court costs, or other costs associated with any cause of action relating to the student may not be included in the amount.

(F) A community school may apply to the department of education for preschool children with disabilities or gifted unit funding the school would receive if it were a school district. Upon request of its governing authority, a community school that received unit funding as a school district-operated school before it became a community school shall retain any units awarded to it as a school district-operated school provided the school continues to meet eligibility standards for the unit.

A community school shall be considered a school district and its governing authority shall be considered a board of education for the purpose of applying to any state or federal agency for grants that a school district may receive under federal or state law or any appropriations act of the general assembly. The governing authority of a community school may apply to any private entity for additional funds.

(G) A board of education sponsoring a community school may utilize local funds to make enhancement grants to the school or may agree, either as part of the contract or separately, to provide any specific services to the community school at no cost to the school.

(H) A community school may not levy taxes or issue bonds secured by tax revenues.

(I) No community school shall charge tuition for the enrollment of any student.

(J)(1)(a) A community school may borrow money to pay any necessary and actual expenses of the school in anticipation of the receipt of any portion of the payments to be received by the school pursuant to division (D) of this section. The school may issue notes to evidence such borrowing. The proceeds of the notes shall be used only for the purposes for which the anticipated receipts may be lawfully expended by the school.

(b) A school may also borrow money for a term not to exceed fifteen years for the purpose of acquiring facilities.

(2) Except for any amount guaranteed under section 3318.50 of the Revised Code, the state is not liable for debt incurred by the governing authority of a community school.

(K) For purposes of determining the number of students for which divisions (D)(5) and (6) of this section applies in any school year, a community school may submit to the department of job and family services, no later than the first day of March, a list of the students enrolled in the school. For each student on the list, the community school shall indicate the student’s name, address, and date of birth and the school district where the student is entitled to attend school. Upon receipt of a list under this division, the department of job and family services shall determine, for each school district where one or more students on the list is entitled to attend school, the number of students residing in that school district who were included in the department’s report under section 3317.10 of the Revised Code. The department shall make this determination on the basis of information readily available to it. Upon making this determination and no later than ninety days after submission of the list by the community school, the department shall report to the state department of education the number of students on the list who reside in each school district who were included in the department’s report under section 3317.10 of the Revised Code. In complying with this division, the department of job and family services shall not report to the state department of education any personally identifiable information on any student.

(L) The department of education shall adjust the amounts subtracted and paid under divisions (C) and (D) of this section to reflect any enrollment of students in community schools for less than the equivalent of a full school year. The state board of education within ninety days after April 8, 2003, shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code rules governing the payments to community schools under this section and section 3314.13 of the Revised Code including initial payments in a school year and adjustments and reductions made in subsequent periodic payments to community schools and corresponding deductions from school district accounts as provided under divisions (C) and (D) of this section and section 3314.13 of the Revised Code. For purposes of this section and section 3314.13 of the Revised Code:

(1) A student shall be considered enrolled in the community school for any portion of the school year the student is participating at a college under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code.

(2) A student shall be considered to be enrolled in a community school during a school year for the period of time beginning on the later of the date on which the school both has received documentation of the student’s enrollment from a parent and the student has commenced participation in learning opportunities as defined in the contract with the sponsor, or thirty days prior to the date on which the student is entered into the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code. For purposes of applying this division and division (L)(3) of this section to a community school student, “learning opportunities” shall be defined in the contract, which shall describe both classroom-based and non-classroom-based learning opportunities and shall be in compliance with criteria and documentation requirements for student participation which shall be established by the department. Any student’s instruction time in non-classroom-based learning opportunities shall be certified by an employee of the community school. A student’s enrollment shall be considered to cease on the date on which any of the following occur:

(a) The community school receives documentation from a parent terminating enrollment of the student.

(b) The community school is provided documentation of a student’s enrollment in another public or private school.

(c) The community school ceases to offer learning opportunities to the student pursuant to the terms of the contract with the sponsor or the operation of any provision of this chapter.

(3) The department shall determine each community school student’s percentage of full-time equivalency based on the percentage of learning opportunities offered by the community school to that student, reported either as number of hours or number of days, is of the total learning opportunities offered by the community school to a student who attends for the school’s entire school year. However, no internet- or computer-based community school shall be credited for any time a student spends participating in learning opportunities beyond ten hours within any period of twenty-four consecutive hours. Whether it reports hours or days of learning opportunities, each community school shall offer not less than nine hundred twenty hours of learning opportunities during the school year.

(M) The department of education shall reduce the amounts paid under division (D) of this section to reflect payments made to colleges under division (B) of section 3365.07 of the Revised Code.

(N)(1) No student shall be considered enrolled in any internet- or computer-based community school or, if applicable to the student, in any community school that is required to provide the student with a computer pursuant to division (C) of section 3314.22 of the Revised Code, unless both of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The student possesses or has been provided with all required hardware and software materials and all such materials are operational so that the student is capable of fully participating in the learning opportunities specified in the contract between the school and the school’s sponsor as required by division (A)(23) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code;

(b) The school is in compliance with division (A) of section 3314.22 of the Revised Code, relative to such student.

(2) In accordance with policies adopted jointly by the superintendent of public instruction and the auditor of state, the department shall reduce the amounts otherwise payable under division (D) of this section to any community school that includes in its program the provision of computer hardware and software materials to any student, if such hardware and software materials have not been delivered, installed, and activated for each such student in a timely manner or other educational materials or services have not been provided according to the contract between the individual community school and its sponsor.

The superintendent of public instruction and the auditor of state shall jointly establish a method for auditing any community school to which this division pertains to ensure compliance with this section.

The superintendent, auditor of state, and the governor shall jointly make recommendations to the general assembly for legislative changes that may be required to assure fiscal and academic accountability for such schools.

(O)(1) If the department determines that a review of a community school’s enrollment is necessary, such review shall be completed and written notice of the findings shall be provided to the governing authority of the community school and its sponsor within ninety days of the end of the community school’s fiscal year, unless extended for a period not to exceed thirty additional days for one of the following reasons:

(a) The department and the community school mutually agree to the extension.

(b) Delays in data submission caused by either a community school or its sponsor.

(2) If the review results in a finding that additional funding is owed to the school, such payment shall be made within thirty days of the written notice. If the review results in a finding that the community school owes moneys to the state, the following procedure shall apply:

(a) Within ten business days of the receipt of the notice of findings, the community school may appeal the department’s determination to the state board of education or its designee.

(b) The board or its designee shall conduct an informal hearing on the matter within thirty days of receipt of such an appeal and shall issue a decision within fifteen days of the conclusion of the hearing.

(c) If the board has enlisted a designee to conduct the hearing, the designee shall certify its decision to the board. The board may accept the decision of the designee or may reject the decision of the designee and issue its own decision on the matter.

(d) Any decision made by the board under this division is final.

(3) If it is decided that the community school owes moneys to the state, the department shall deduct such amount from the school’s future payments in accordance with guidelines issued by the superintendent of public instruction.

(Q) The department shall not subtract from a school district’s state aid account under division (C) of this section and shall not pay to a community school under division (D) of this section any amount for any of the following:

(1) Any student who has graduated from the twelfth grade of a public or nonpublic high school;

(2) Any student who is not a resident of the state;

(3) Any student who was enrolled in the community school during the previous school year when tests were administered under section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code but did not take one or more of the tests required by that section and was not excused pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of that section, unless the superintendent of public instruction grants the student a waiver from the requirement to take the test and a parent is not paying tuition for the student pursuant to section 3314.26 of the Revised Code. The superintendent may grant a waiver only for good cause in accordance with rules adopted by the state board of education.

(4) Any student who has attained the age of twenty-two years, except for veterans of the armed services whose attendance was interrupted before completing the recognized twelve-year course of the public schools by reason of induction or enlistment in the armed forces and who apply for enrollment in a community school not later than four years after termination of war or their honorable discharge. If, however, any such veteran elects to enroll in special courses organized for veterans for whom tuition is paid under federal law, or otherwise, the department shall not subtract from a school district’s state aid account under division (C) of this section and shall not pay to a community school under division (D) of this section any amount for that veteran.

Effective Date: 06-26-2003; 06-30-2005; 06-30-2006; 03-30-2007; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

To the extent permitted by federal law, the department of education shall include community schools established under this chapter in its annual allocation of federal moneys under Title I of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” 20 U.S.C. 6301, et seq.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

It is the intent of the general assembly that no state moneys paid to a community school under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code be used by the school to pay any taxes the school might owe on its own behalf, including, but not limited to, local, state, and federal income taxes, sales taxes, and personal and real property taxes. This intent does not apply to any moneys withheld from an employee of the community school that are payable by the school to a government entity as taxes on behalf of the employee.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

If the department of education pays a joint vocational school district under division (G)(4) of section 3317.16 of the Revised Code for excess costs of providing special education and related services to a student with a disability who is enrolled in a community school, as calculated under division (G)(2) of that section, the department shall deduct the amount of that payment from the amount calculated for payment to the community school under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 06-26-2003; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Formula ADM” has the same meaning as in section 3317.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Home” has the same meaning as in section 3313.64 of the Revised Code.

(3) “School district of residence” has the same meaning as in section 3323.01 of the Revised Code; however, a community school established under this chapter is not a “school district of residence” for purposes of this section.

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 3314.08 or 3317.03 of the Revised Code, all of the following apply in the case of a child who is enrolled in a community school and is also living in a home:

(1) For purposes of the report required under division (B)(1) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code, the child’s school district of residence, and not the school district in which the home that the child is living in is located, shall be considered to be the school district in which the child is entitled to attend school. That school district of residence, therefore, shall make the report required under division (B)(1) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code with respect to the child.

(2) For purposes of the report required under division (B)(2) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code, the community school shall report the name of the child’s school district of residence.

(3) The child’s school district of residence shall count the child in that district’s formula ADM.

(4) The school district in which the home that the child is living in is located shall not count the child in that district’s formula ADM.

(5) The Department of Education shall deduct the applicable amounts prescribed under division (C) of section 3314.08 and division (D) of section 3314.13 of the Revised Code from the child’s school district of residence and shall not deduct those amounts from the school district in which the home that the child is living in is located.

(6) The Department shall make the payments prescribed in divisions (D) and (E) of section 3314.08 and section 3314.13 of the Revised Code, as applicable, to the community school.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005

(A) In each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2007, each internet- or computer-based community school shall spend for pupil instruction at least the amount per pupil designated in division (B)(1) of section 3317.012 of the Revised Code as the amount for base classroom teachers. For this purpose, expenditures for pupil instruction include expenditures for teachers, curriculum, academic materials other than computers, and any other instructional purposes designated in the rules adopted under this section. Expenditures to provide the computer hardware and filtering software required by sections 3314.21 and 3314.22 of the Revised Code do not qualify as pupil instruction for purposes of this section.

(B) Beginning in fiscal year 2007, each internet- or computer-based community school annually shall report data to the department of education concerning its expenditures for pupil instruction. Each school shall report the data in the form and manner required by the department.

(C) If the department determines, after offering the school an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that an internet- or computer-based community school has failed in any fiscal year to comply with division (A) or (B) of this section, the department shall assess a fine against the school equivalent to the greater of the following:

(1) Five per cent of the total state payments to the school under this chapter for the fiscal year in which the failure occurred;

(2) The difference between the amount the department determines the school was required to have spent for pupil instruction and the amount the department determines the school actually spent for pupil instruction.

The department’s methods of collecting the fine may include withholding state payments under this chapter in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

The department may cancel a fine it has imposed under this section if the school submits a plan for coming into compliance with the requirements of this section that the department approves, and the school demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that it is implementing the plan.

(D) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying expenditures that qualify as expenditures for pupil instruction for purposes of this section.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005

Effective Date: 2008 HB562 09-22-2008

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Career-technical program” means vocational programs or classes described in division (A) or (B) of section 3317.014 of the Revised Code in which a student is enrolled.

(2) “Formula ADM,” “category one or two vocational education ADM,” and “FTE basis” have the same meanings as in section 3317.02 of the Revised Code.

(3) “Resident school district” means the city, exempted village, or local school district in which a student is entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter or Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code, a student enrolled in a community school may simultaneously enroll in the career-technical program operated by the student’s resident school district. On an FTE basis, the student’s resident school district shall count the student in the category one or two vocational education ADM for the proportion of the time the student is enrolled in the district’s career-technical program and, accordingly, the department of education shall calculate funds under Chapter 3317. for the district attributable to the student for the proportion of time the student attends the career-technical program. The community school shall count the student in its enrollment report under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code and shall report to the department the proportion of time that the student attends classes at the community school. The department shall pay the community school and deduct from the student’s resident school district the amount computed for the student under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code in proportion to the fraction of the time on an FTE basis that the student attends classes at the community school. “Full-time equivalency” for a community school student, as defined in division (L) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code, does not apply to the student.

Effective Date: 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

(A) As used in this section and section 3314.091 of the Revised Code, “native student” means a student entitled to attend school in the school district under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in section 3314.091 of the Revised Code, the board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district shall provide transportation to and from school for its district’s native students in accordance with section 3327.01 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

(A) A school district is not required to provide transportation for any native student enrolled in a community school if the district board of education has entered into an agreement with the community school’s governing authority that designates the community school as responsible for providing or arranging for the transportation of the district’s native students to and from the community school. For any such agreement to be effective, it must be certified by the superintendent of public instruction as having met all of the following requirements:

(1) It is submitted to the department of education by a deadline which shall be established by the department.

(2) In accordance with divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, it specifies qualifications, such as residing a minimum distance from the school, for students to have their transportation provided or arranged.

(3) The transportation provided by the community school is subject to all provisions of the Revised Code and all rules adopted under the Revised Code pertaining to pupil transportation.

(4) The sponsor of the community school also has signed the agreement.

(B)(1) For the school year that begins on July 1, 2007, a school district is not required to provide transportation for any native student enrolled in a community school, if the community school during the previous school year transported the students enrolled in the school or arranged for the students’ transportation, even if that arrangement consisted of having parents transport their children to and from the school, but did not enter into an agreement to transport or arrange for transportation for those students under division (A) of this section, and if the governing authority of the community school by July 15, 2007, submits written notification to the district board of education stating that the governing authority is accepting responsibility for providing or arranging for the transportation of the district’s native students to and from the community school.

(2) For any school year subsequent to the school year that begins on July 1, 2007, a school district is not required to provide transportation for any native student enrolled in a community school if the governing authority of the community school, by the thirty-first day of January of the previous school year, submits written notification to the district board of education stating that the governing authority is accepting responsibility for providing or arranging for the transportation of the district’s native students to and from the community school. If the governing authority of the community school has previously accepted responsibility for providing or arranging for the transportation of a district’s native students to and from the community school, under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, and has since relinquished that responsibility under division (B)(3) of this section, the governing authority shall not accept that responsibility again unless the district board consents to the governing authority’s acceptance of that responsibility.

(3) A governing authority’s acceptance of responsibility under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall cover an entire school year, and shall remain in effect for subsequent school years unless the governing authority submits written notification to the district board that the governing authority is relinquishing the responsibility. However, a governing authority shall not relinquish responsibility for transportation before the end of a school year, and shall submit the notice relinquishing responsibility by the thirty-first day of January, in order to allow the school district reasonable time to prepare transportation for its native students enrolled in the school.

(C)(1) A community school governing authority that enters into an agreement under division (A) of this section, or that accepts responsibility under division (B) of this section, shall provide or arrange transportation free of any charge for each of its enrolled students who is required to be transported under section 3327.01 of the Revised Code or who would otherwise be transported by the school district under the district’s transportation policy. The governing authority shall report to the department of education the number of students transported or for whom transportation is arranged under this section in accordance with rules adopted by the state board of education.

(2) The governing authority may provide or arrange transportation for any other enrolled student who is not eligible for transportation in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section and may charge a fee for such service up to the actual cost of the service.

(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, a community school governing authority shall provide or arrange transportation free of any charge for any disabled student enrolled in the school for whom the student’s individualized education program developed under Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code specifies transportation.

(D)(1) If a school district board and a community school governing authority elect to enter into an agreement under division (A) of this section, the department of education shall make payments to the community school according to the terms of the agreement for each student actually transported under division (C)(1) of this section.

If a community school governing authority accepts transportation responsibility under division (B) of this section, the department shall make payments to the community school for each student actually transported or for whom transportation is arranged by the community school under division (C)(1) of this section, calculated as follows:

(a) For any fiscal year which the general assembly has specified that transportation payments to school districts be based on an across-the-board percentage of the district’s payment for the previous school year, the per pupil payment to the community school shall be the following quotient:

(i) The total amount calculated for the school district in which the child is entitled to attend school for student transportation other than transportation of children with disabilities; divided by

(ii) The number of students included in the district’s transportation ADM for the current fiscal year, as reported under division (B)(13) of section 3317.03 of the Revised Code, plus the number of students enrolled in the community school not counted in the district’s transportation ADM who are transported under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section.

(b) For any fiscal year which the general assembly has specified that the transportation payments to school districts be calculated in accordance with division (D) of section 3317.022 of the Revised Code and any rules of the state board of education implementing that division, the payment to the community school shall be the amount so calculated that otherwise would be paid to the school district in which the student is entitled to attend school by the method of transportation the district would have used. The community school, however, is not required to use the same method to transport that student.

As used in this division “entitled to attend school” means entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.

(2) The department shall deduct the payment under division (D)(1) of this section from the state education aid, as defined in section 3314.08 of the Revised Code, and, if necessary, the payment under sections 321.14 and 323.156 of the Revised Code, that is otherwise paid to the school district in which the student enrolled in the community school is entitled to attend school. The department shall include the number of the district’s native students for whom payment is made to a community school under division (D)(1) of this section in the calculation of the district’s transportation payment under division (D) of section 3317.022 of the Revised Code and the operating appropriations act.

(3) A community school shall be paid under division (D)(1) of this section only for students who are eligible as specified in section 3327.01 of the Revised Code and division (C)(1) of this section, and whose transportation to and from school is actually provided, who actually utilized transportation arranged, or for whom a payment in lieu of transportation is made by the community school’s governing authority. To qualify for the payments, the community school shall report to the department, in the form and manner required by the department, data on the number of students transported or whose transportation is arranged, the number of miles traveled, cost to transport, and any other information requested by the department.

(4) A community school shall use payments received under this section solely to pay the costs of providing or arranging for the transportation of students who are eligible as specified in section 3327.01 of the Revised Code and division (C)(1) of this section, which may include payments to a parent, guardian, or other person in charge of a child in lieu of transportation.

(E) Except when arranged through payment to a parent, guardian, or person in charge of a child, transportation provided or arranged for by a community school pursuant to an agreement under this section is subject to all provisions of the Revised Code, and all rules adopted under the Revised Code, pertaining to the construction, design, equipment, and operation of school buses and other vehicles transporting students to and from school. The drivers and mechanics of the vehicles are subject to all provisions of the Revised Code, and all rules adopted under the Revised Code, pertaining to drivers and mechanics of such vehicles. The community school also shall comply with sections 3313.201, 3327.09, and 3327.10 of the Revised Code, division (B) of section 3327.16 of the Revised Code and, subject to division (C)(1) of this section, sections 3327.01 and 3327.02 of the Revised Code, as if it were a school district.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 2007 HB67 07-03-2007; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

(A)(1) The governing authority of any community school established under this chapter may employ teachers and nonteaching employees necessary to carry out its mission and fulfill its contract.

(2) Except as provided under division (A)(3) of this section, employees hired under this section may organize and collectively bargain pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding division (D)(1) of section 4117.06 of the Revised Code, a unit containing teaching and nonteaching employees employed under this section shall be considered an appropriate unit. As applicable, employment under this section is subject to either Chapter 3307. or 3309. of the Revised Code.

(3) If a school is created by converting all or part of an existing public school rather than by establishment of a new start-up school, at the time of conversion, the employees of the community school shall remain part of any collective bargaining unit in which they were included immediately prior to the conversion and shall remain subject to any collective bargaining agreement for that unit in effect on the first day of July of the year in which the community school initially begins operation and shall be subject to any subsequent collective bargaining agreement for that unit, unless a petition is certified as sufficient under division (A)(6) of this section with regard to those employees. Any new employees of the community school shall also be included in the unit to which they would have been assigned had not the conversion taken place and shall be subject to the collective bargaining agreement for that unit unless a petition is certified as sufficient under division (A)(6) of this section with regard to those employees.

Notwithstanding division (B) of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code, the board of education of a school district and not the governing authority of a community school shall be regarded, for purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, as the “public employer” of the employees of a conversion community school subject to a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section unless a petition is certified under division (A)(6) of this section with regard to those employees. Only on and after the effective date of a petition certified as sufficient under division (A)(6) of this section shall division (A)(2) of this section apply to those employees of that community school and only on and after the effective date of that petition shall Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code apply to the governing authority of that community school with regard to those employees.

(4) Notwithstanding sections 4117.03 to 4117.18 of the Revised Code and Section 4 of Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 133 of the 115th general assembly, the employees of a conversion community school who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section shall cease to be subject to that agreement and all subsequent agreements pursuant to that division and shall cease to be part of the collective bargaining unit that is subject to that and all subsequent agreements, if a majority of the employees of that community school who are subject to that collective bargaining agreement sign and submit to the state employment relations board a petition requesting all of the following:

(a) That all the employees of the community school who are subject to that agreement be removed from the bargaining unit that is subject to that agreement and be designated by the state employment relations board as a new and separate bargaining unit for purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code;

(b) That the employee organization certified as the exclusive representative of the employees of the bargaining unit from which the employees are to be removed be certified as the exclusive representative of the new and separate bargaining unit for purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code;

(c) That the governing authority of the community school be regarded as the “public employer” of these employees for purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.

(5) Notwithstanding sections 4117.03 to 4117.18 of the Revised Code and Section 4 of Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 133 of the 115th general assembly, the employees of a conversion community school who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section shall cease to be subject to that agreement and all subsequent agreements pursuant to that division, shall cease to be part of the collective bargaining unit that is subject to that and all subsequent agreements, and shall cease to be represented by any exclusive representative of that collective bargaining unit, if a majority of the employees of the community school who are subject to that collective bargaining agreement sign and submit to the state employment relations board a petition requesting all of the following:

(a) That all the employees of the community school who are subject to that agreement be removed from the bargaining unit that is subject to that agreement;

(b) That any employee organization certified as the exclusive representative of the employees of that bargaining unit be decertified as the exclusive representative of the employees of the community school who are subject to that agreement;

(c) That the governing authority of the community school be regarded as the “public employer” of these employees for purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.

(6) Upon receipt of a petition under division (A)(4) or (5) of this section, the state employment relations board shall check the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition. If the signatures are found sufficient, the board shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and so notify the parties involved, including the board of education, the governing authority of the community school, and any exclusive representative of the bargaining unit. The changes requested in a certified petition shall take effect on the first day of the month immediately following the date on which the sufficiency of the petition is certified under division (A)(6) of this section.

(B)(1) The board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district sponsoring a community school and the governing board of each educational service center in which a community school is located shall adopt a policy that provides a leave of absence of at least three years to each teacher or nonteaching employee of the district or service center who is employed by a conversion or new start-up community school sponsored by the district or located in the district or center for the period during which the teacher or employee is continuously employed by the community school. The policy shall also provide that any teacher or nonteaching employee may return to employment by the district or service center if the teacher or employee leaves or is discharged from employment with the community school for any reason, unless, in the case of a teacher, the board of the district or service center determines that the teacher was discharged for a reason for which the board would have sought to discharge the teacher under section 3319.16 of the Revised Code, in which case the board may proceed to discharge the teacher utilizing the procedures of that section. Upon termination of such a leave of absence, any seniority that is applicable to the person shall be calculated to include all of the following: all employment by the district or service center prior to the leave of absence; all employment by the community school during the leave of absence; and all employment by the district or service center after the leave of absence. The policy shall also provide that if any teacher holding valid certification returns to employment by the district or service center upon termination of such a leave of absence, the teacher shall be restored to the previous position and salary or to a position and salary similar thereto. If, as a result of teachers returning to employment upon termination of such leaves of absence, a school district or educational service center reduces the number of teachers it employs, it shall make such reductions in accordance with section 3319.17 or, if applicable, 3319.171 of the Revised Code.

Unless a collective bargaining agreement providing otherwise is in effect for an employee of a conversion community school pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, an employee on a leave of absence pursuant to this division shall remain eligible for any benefits that are in addition to benefits under Chapter 3307. or 3309. of the Revised Code provided by the district or service center to its employees provided the employee pays the entire cost associated with such benefits, except that personal leave and vacation leave cannot be accrued for use as an employee of a school district or service center while in the employ of a community school unless the district or service center board adopts a policy expressly permitting this accrual.

(2) While on a leave of absence pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, a conversion community school shall permit a teacher to use sick leave accrued while in the employ of the school district from which the leave of absence was taken and prior to commencing such leave. If a teacher who is on such a leave of absence uses sick leave so accrued, the cost of any salary paid by the community school to the teacher for that time shall be reported to the department of education. The cost of employing a substitute teacher for that time shall be paid by the community school. The department of education shall add amounts to the payments made to a community school under this chapter as necessary to cover the cost of salary reported by a community school as paid to a teacher using sick leave so accrued pursuant to this section. The department shall subtract the amounts of any payments made to community schools under this division from payments made to such sponsoring school district under Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code.

A school district providing a leave of absence and employee benefits to a person pursuant to this division is not liable for any action of that person while the person is on such leave and employed by a community school.

Effective Date: 06-30-2000

(A) As used in this section, “license” has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a person who is employed by a community school established under this chapter or by an operator is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, if the person holds a license, or an offense listed in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, if the person does not hold a license, the chief administrator of the community school in which that person works shall suspend that person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child during the pendency of the criminal action against the person. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is the chief administrator of the community school, the governing authority of the school shall suspend the chief administrator from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child.

(C) When a person who holds a license is suspended in accordance with this section, the chief administrator or governing authority that imposed the suspension promptly shall report the person’s suspension to the department of education. The report shall include the offense for which the person was arrested, summoned, or indicted.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

The department of education shall establish the state office of community schools to provide advice and services for the community schools program, established pursuant to Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code. The office shall provide services that facilitate the management of the community schools program, including providing technical assistance and information to persons or groups considering proposing a community school, to governing authorities of community schools, and to public entities sponsoring or considering sponsoring a community school.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

The department of education shall establish the state office of school options to provide advice and services for the pilot project scholarship program, established pursuant to sections 3313.974 to 3313.979 of the Revised Code that facilitate the management of that program.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

On or before the first day of November each year, the sponsor of each community school established under this chapter shall submit to the department of education, in accordance with guidelines adopted by the department for purposes of this section, a report that describes the special education and related services provided by that school to enrolled students during the previous fiscal year and the school’s expenditures for those services.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “All-day kindergarten” has the same meaning as in section 3317.029 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Formula amount” has the same meaning as in section 3317.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the department of education annually shall pay each community school established under this chapter one-half of the formula amount for each student to whom both of the following apply:

(1) The student is entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code in a school district that is eligible to receive a payment under division (D) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code if it provides all-day kindergarten;

(2) The student is reported by the community school as enrolled in all-day kindergarten at the community school.

(C) The department shall make no payments under this section to any internet- or computer-based community school.

(D) If a student for whom payment is made under division (B) of this section is entitled to attend school in a district that receives any payment for all-day kindergarten under division (D) of section 3317.029 of the Revised Code, the department shall deduct the payment to the community school under this section from the amount paid that school district under that division. If that school district does not receive payment for all-day kindergarten under that division because it does not provide all-day kindergarten, the department shall pay the community school from state funds appropriated generally for poverty-based assistance to school districts.

(E) The department shall adjust the amounts deducted from school districts and paid to community schools under this section to reflect any enrollments of students in all-day kindergarten in community schools for less than the equivalent of a full school year.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 06-30-2005

A community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for harm allegedly arising from a community school employee’s prohibiting a student from using an inhaler described in section 3313.716 of the Revised Code because of the employee’s good faith belief that the conditions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section had not been satisfied. A community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for harm allegedly arising from a community school employee’s permitting a student to use an inhaler described in that section because of the employee’s good faith belief that the conditions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section had been satisfied. Furthermore, when a community school is required in accordance with that section to permit a student to possess and use an inhaler because the conditions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section have been satisfied, the community school, any member of the community school governing authority, or any community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from the use of the inhaler by a student for whom it was not prescribed.

This section does not eliminate, limit, or reduce any other immunity or defense that a community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee may be entitled to under Chapter 2744. or any other provision of the Revised Code or under the common law of this state.

Effective Date: 11-03-1999

A community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for harm allegedly arising from a community school employee’s prohibiting a student from using an autoinjector described in section 3313.718 of the Revised Code because of the employee’s good faith belief that the conditions of division (B) of that section had not been satisfied. A community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for harm allegedly arising from a community school employee’s permitting a student to use an autoinjector described in that section because of the employee’s good faith belief that the conditions of division (B) of that section had been satisfied. Furthermore, when a community school is required in accordance with that section to permit a student to possess and use an autoinjector because the conditions of division (B) of that section have been satisfied, the community school, any member of the community school governing authority, or any community school employee is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from the use of the autoinjector by a student for whom it was not prescribed.

This section does not eliminate, limit, or reduce any other immunity or defense that a community school, community school governing authority, or community school employee may be entitled to under Chapter 2744. or any other provision of the Revised Code or under the common law of this state.

Effective Date: 03-23-2007

(A) The principal or chief administrator of each community school shall cooperate with the appropriate board of health in the conduct of a school health and safety network inspection under section 3701.931 of the Revised Code by providing access to the premises for the inspection at any time during the school’s operation and by providing any records or other information the board of health considers necessary.

(B) The governing authority of each community school for which an inspection report is submitted by the board of health under section 3701.932 of the Revised Code shall develop and submit to the board, in accordance with section 3701.933 of the Revised Code, a plan for abatement of conditions at the school determined to be hazardous to occupants.

Effective Date: 03-21-2006

(A)(1) As used in this section, “automated external defibrillator” means a specialized defibrillator that is approved for use as a medical device by the United States food and drug administration for performing automated external defibrillation, as defined in section 2305.235 of the Revised Code.

(2) This section does not apply to an internet- or computer-based community school.

(B) The governing board of a community school established under this chapter may require the placement of an automated external defibrillator in each school under the control of the governing authority. If a governing authority requires the placement of an automated external defibrillator as provided in this section, the governing authority also shall require that a sufficient number of the staff persons assigned to each school under the control of the governing authority successfully complete an appropriate training course in the use of an automated external defibrillator as described in section 3701.85 of the Revised Code.

(C) In regard to the use of an automated external defibrillator that is placed in a community school as specified in this section, and except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct or when there is no good faith attempt to activate an emergency medical services system in accordance with section 3701.85 of the Revised Code, no person shall be held liable in civil damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property, or held criminally liable, for performing automated external defibrillation in good faith, regardless of whether the person has obtained appropriate training on how to perform automated external defibrillation or successfully completed a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Effective Date: 08-27-2004

(A) Each community school established under this chapter shall participate in the statewide education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code. All provisions of that section and the rules adopted under that section apply to each community school as if it were a school district, except as modified for community schools under division (B) of this section. Each community school shall comply with division (B) of section 3301.0723 of the Revised Code.

(B) The rules adopted by the state board of education under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code may distinguish methods and timelines for community schools to annually report data, which methods and timelines differ from those prescribed for school districts. Any methods and timelines prescribed for community schools shall be appropriate to the academic schedule and financing of community schools. The guidelines, however, shall not modify the actual data required to be reported under that section.

(C) Each fiscal officer appointed under section 3314.011 of the Revised Code is responsible for annually reporting the community school’s data under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code. If the superintendent of public instruction determines that a community school fiscal officer has willfully failed to report data or has willfully reported erroneous, inaccurate, or incomplete data in any year, or has negligently reported erroneous, inaccurate, or incomplete data in the current and any previous year, the superintendent may impose a civil penalty of one hundred dollars on the fiscal officer after providing the officer with notice and an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The superintendent’s authority to impose civil penalties under this division does not preclude the state board of education from suspending or revoking the license of a community school employee under division (N) of section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code.

(D) No community school shall acquire, change, or update its student administration software package to manage and report data required to be reported to the department unless it converts to a student software package that is certified by the department.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003; 03-30-2007

(A) Subject to division (C) of this section, the governing board of each community school shall establish a breakfast program pursuant to the “National School Lunch Act,” 60 Stat. 230 (1946), 42 U.S.C. 1751, as amended, and the “Child Nutrition Act of 1966,” 80 Stat. 885, 42 U.S.C. 1771, as amended, if at least one-fifth of the pupils in the school are eligible under federal requirements for free breakfasts, and shall establish a lunch program pursuant to those acts if at least one-fifth of the pupils are eligible for free lunches. The governing board required to establish a breakfast program under this division may make a charge in accordance with federal requirements for each reduced price breakfast or paid breakfast to cover the cost incurred in providing that meal.

(B) Subject to division (C) of this section, the governing board of each community school shall establish one of the following for summer intervention services described in division (D) of section 3301.0711 and section 3313.608 of the Revised Code and any other summer intervention program required by law:

(1) An extension of the school breakfast program pursuant to the “National School Lunch Act” and the “Child Nutrition Act of 1966”;

(2) An extension of the school lunch program pursuant to those acts;

(3) A summer food service program pursuant to those acts.

(C) If the governing board of a community school determines that, for financial reasons, it cannot comply with division (A) or (B) of this section, the governing board may choose not to comply with either or both divisions. In that case, the governing board shall communicate to the parents of its students, in the manner it determines appropriate, its decision not to comply.

(D) The governing board of each community school required to establish a school breakfast, school lunch, or summer food service program under this section shall apply for state and federal funds allocated by the state board of education under division (B) of section 3313.813 of the Revised Code and shall comply with the state board’s standards adopted under that division.

(E) This section does not apply to internet- or computer-based community schools.

Effective Date: 06-30-2006

The sponsor of each community school annually shall provide the following assurances in writing to the department of education not later than ten business days prior to the opening of the school:

(A) That a current copy of the contract between the sponsor and the governing authority of the school entered into under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code has been filed with the state office of community schools established under section 3314.11 of the Revised Code and that any subsequent modifications to that contract will be filed with the office;

(B) That the school has submitted to the sponsor a plan for providing special education and related services to students with disabilities and has demonstrated the capacity to provide those services in accordance with Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code and federal law;

(C) That the school has a plan and procedures for administering the achievement tests and diagnostic assessments prescribed by sections 3301.0710 and 3301.0715 of the Revised Code;

(D) That school personnel have the necessary training, knowledge, and resources to properly use and submit information to all databases maintained by the department for the collection of education data, including the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code in accordance with methods and timelines established under section 3314.17 of the Revised Code;

(E) That all required information about the school has been submitted to the Ohio education directory system or any successor system;

(F) That the school will enroll at least the minimum number of students required by division (A)(11)(a) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code in the school year for which the assurances are provided;

(G) That all classroom teachers are licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, except for noncertificated persons engaged to teach up to twelve hours per week pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;

(H) That the school’s fiscal officer is in compliance with section 3314.011 of the Revised Code;

(I) That the school has complied with sections 3319.39 and 3319.391 of the Revised Code with respect to all employees and that the school has conducted a criminal records check of each of its governing authority members;

(J) That the school holds all of the following:

(1) Proof of property ownership or a lease for the facilities used by the school;

(2) A certificate of occupancy;

(3) Liability insurance for the school, as required by division (A)(11)(b) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code, that the sponsor considers sufficient to indemnify the school’s facilities, staff, and governing authority against risk;

(4) A satisfactory health and safety inspection;

(5) A satisfactory fire inspection;

(6) A valid food permit, if applicable.

(K) That the sponsor has conducted a pre-opening site visit to the school for the school year for which the assurances are provided;

(L) That the school has designated a date it will open for the school year for which the assurances are provided that is in compliance with division (A)(25) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code;

(M) That the school has met all of the sponsor’s requirements for opening and any other requirements of the sponsor.

Effective Date: 2007 HB119 06-30-2007; 2007 HB190 11-14-2007; 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

This section does not apply to any school district declared to be excellent or effective pursuant to division (B)(1) or (2) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.

(A) The state board of education shall adopt rules requiring school districts with a total student count of over five thousand, as determined pursuant to section 3317.03 of the Revised Code, to designate one school building to be operated by a site-based management council. The rules shall specify the composition of the council and the manner in which members of the council are to be selected and removed.

(B) The rules adopted under division (A) of this section shall specify those powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities that shall be vested in the management council and that would otherwise be exercised by the district board of education. The rules shall also establish a mechanism for resolving any differences between the council and the district board if there is disagreement as to their respective powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities.

(C) The board of education of any school district described by division (A) of this section may, in lieu of complying with the rules adopted under this section, file with the department of education an alternative structure for a district site-based management program in at least one of its school buildings. The proposal shall specify the composition of the council, which shall include an equal number of parents and teachers and the building principal, and the method of selection and removal of the council members. The proposal shall also clearly delineate the respective powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the district board and the council. The district’s proposal shall comply substantially with the rules adopted under division (A) of this section.

Effective Date: 08-15-2003

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Harmful to juveniles” has the same meaning as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Obscene” has the same meaning as in division (F) of section 2907.01 of the Revised Code as that division has been construed by the supreme court of this state.

(3) “Teacher of record” means a teacher who is responsible for the overall academic development and achievement of a student and not merely the student’s instruction in any single subject.

(B)(1) It is the intent of the general assembly that teachers employed by internet- or computer-based community schools conduct visits with their students in person throughout the school year .

(2) Each internet- or computer-based community school shall retain an affiliation with at least one full-time teacher of record licensed in accordance with division (A)(10) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(3) Each student enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school shall be assigned to at least one teacher of record. No teacher of record shall be primarily responsible for the academic development and achievement of more than one hundred twenty-five students enrolled in the internet- or computer-based community school that has retained that teacher.

(C) For any internet- or computer-based community school, the contract between the sponsor and the governing authority of the school described in section 3314.03 of the Revised Code shall specify each of the following:

(1) A requirement that the school use a filtering device or install filtering software that protects against internet access to materials that are obscene or harmful to juveniles on each computer provided to students for instructional use. The school shall provide such device or software at no cost to any student who works primarily from the student’s residence on a computer obtained from a source other than the school.

(2) A plan for fulfilling the intent of the general assembly specified in division (B)(1) of this section. The plan shall indicate the number of times teachers will visit each student throughout the school year and the manner in which those visits will be conducted.

(3) That the school will set up a central base of operation and the sponsor will maintain a representative within fifty miles of that base of operation to provide monitoring and assistance.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

(A)(1) Each child enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school is entitled to a computer supplied by the school; however, the parent of any child enrolled in the school may waive this entitlement in the manner specified in division (A)(3) of this section. In no case shall an internet- or computer-based community school provide a stipend or other substitute to an enrolled child or the child’s parent in lieu of supplying a computer to the child. The prohibition contained in the preceding sentence is intended to clarify the meaning of this division as it existed prior to September 29, 2005, and is not intended to change that meaning in any way.

(2) Notwithstanding division (A)(1) of this section, if more than one child living in a single residence is enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school, at the option of the parent of those children, the school may supply less than one computer per child, as long as at least one computer is supplied to the residence. An internet- or computer-based community school may supply no computer at all only if the parent has waived the entitlement prescribed in division (A)(1) of this section in the manner specified in division (A)(3) of this section. The parent may amend the decision to accept less than one computer per child anytime during the school year, and, in such case, within thirty days after the parent notifies the school of such amendment, the school shall provide any additiona1 computers requested by the parent up to the number necessary to comply with division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) The parent of any child enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school may waive the entitlement to one computer per child, and have no computer at all supplied by the school, if the school and parent set forth that waiver in writing with both parties attesting that there is a computer available to the child in the child’s residence with sufficient hardware, software, programming, and connectivity so that the child may fully participate in all of the learning opportunities offered to the child by the school. The parent may amend the decision to waive the entitlement at any time during the school year and, in such case, within thirty days after the parent notifies the school of that decision, the school shall provide any additional computers requested by the parent up to the number necessary to comply with division (A)(1) of this section, regardless of whether there is any change in the conditions attested to in the waiver.

(4) A copy of a waiver executed under division (A)(3) of this section shall be retained by the internet- or computer-based community school and the parent who attested to the conditions prescribed in that division. The school shall submit a copy of the waiver to the office of community schools, established under section 3314.11 of the Revised Code, immediately upon execution of the waiver.

(5) The school shall notify the office of community schools, in the manner specified by the office, of any parent’s decision under division (A)(2) of this section to accept less than one computer per child or the parent’s amendment to that decision, and of any parent’s decision to amend the waiver executed under division (A)(3) of this section.

(B) Each internet- or computer-based community school shall provide to each parent who is considering enrolling the parent’s child in the school and to the parent of each child already enrolled in the school a written notice of the provisions prescribed in division (A) of this section.

(C) If a community school that is not an internet- or computer-based community school provides any of its enrolled students with nonclassroom-based learning opportunities provided via an internet- or other computer-based instructional method and requires such students to participate in any of those learning opportunities from their residences, the school shall be subject to this section and division (C)(1) of section 3314.21 of the Revised Code relative to each such student in the same manner as an internet- or computer-based community school, unless both of the following conditions apply to the student:

(1) The nonclassroom-based learning opportunities in which the student is required to participate from the student’s residence are supplemental in nature or do not constitute a significant portion of the total classroom-based and nonclassroom-based learning opportunities provided to the student by the school;

(2) The student’s residence is equipped with a computer available for the student’s use.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005; 03-30-2007

(A) On or after July 1, 2004, no internet- or computer-based community school shall enter into a contract with a nonpublic school to use or rent any facility space at the nonpublic school for the provision of instructional services to students enrolled in the internet- or computer-based community school.

(B) If, on or after July 1, 2004, an internet- or computer-based community school has a contract with a nonpublic school as described in division (A) of this section, the department of education shall not make any payments under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code to the internet- or computer-based community school for any student who is enrolled in the internet- or computer-based community school and receives any instructional services from the internet- or computer-based community school at the nonpublic school.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

Each internet- or computer-based community school shall provide its students a location within a fifty-mile radius of the student’s residence at which to complete the statewide achievement tests and diagnostic assessments prescribed under sections 3301.079 and 3301.0710 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005

(A) Each internet- or computer-based community school shall withdraw from the school any student who, for two consecutive school years, has failed to participate in the spring administration of any test prescribed under section 3301.0710 or 3301.0712 of the Revised Code for the student’s grade level and was not excused from the test pursuant to division (C)(1) or (3) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether a waiver was granted for the student under division (Q)(3) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code. The school shall report any such student’s data verification code, as assigned pursuant to section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code, to the department of education. The department shall maintain a list of all data verification codes reported under this division and section 3313.6410 of the Revised Code and provide that list to each internet- or computer-based community school and to each school to which section 3313.6410 of the Revised Code applies.

(B) No internet- or computer-based community school shall receive any state funds under this chapter for any enrolled student whose data verification code appears on the list maintained by the department under division (A) of this section.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the parent of any such student shall pay tuition to the internet- or computer-based community school in an amount equal to the state funds the school otherwise would receive for that student, as determined by the department. An internet- or computer-based community school may withdraw any student for whom the parent does not pay tuition as required by this division.

Effective Date: 09-29-2005; 06-30-2006; 2007 HB119 06-30-2007

No student enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school may participate in more than ten hours of learning opportunities in any period of twenty-four consecutive hours. Any time such a student participates in learning opportunities beyond the limit prescribed in this section shall not count toward the annual minimum number of hours required to be provided to that student as prescribed in division (A)(11)(a) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code. If any internet- or computer-based community school requires its students to participate in learning opportunities on the basis of days rather than hours, one day shall consist of a minimum of five hours of such participation.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005

(A) Each internet- or computer-based community school established under this chapter shall submit to the school’s sponsor a plan for providing special education and related services to disabled students enrolled in the school in accordance with division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(1) If the school was established prior to the effective date of this section, the plan shall be submitted to the sponsor on or before September 1, 2005, and on or before the first day of September in each year thereafter that the school is in operation.

(2) If the school is established after the effective date of this section, the plan shall be submitted to the sponsor prior to the school’s receipt of its first payment under this chapter and on or before the first day of September in each year thereafter that the school is in operation.

(B) Within thirty days after receiving the plan prescribed in division (A) of this section, the sponsor of each internet- or computer-based community school shall certify all of the following to the department of education:

(1) A statement of whether the plan received is satisfactory to the sponsor;

(2) If the plan received is not satisfactory to the sponsor, the sponsor’s assurance that it will promptly assist the school in developing a plan that is satisfactory to the sponsor;

(3) The sponsor’s assurance that it will monitor the implementation of the plan;

(4) The sponsor’s assurance that it will take any necessary corrective action to ensure that the school’s plan is properly and fully implemented.

(C) The department shall develop guidelines for the content and format of the plan required under this section.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Start-up community school” means a “new start-up school” as that term is defined in division (A) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) A “school’s contract” means the contract entered into between the governing authority and the sponsor of a community school under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) There is hereby created in the state treasury the community school revolving loan fund. The fund shall consist of federal moneys allocated to the state for development and operation of community schools.

(C) The department of education may make a loan from the fund created in division (B) of this section to the governing authority or the sponsor of any start-up community school upon approval of the loan by the superintendent of public instruction. Moneys loaned from the fund shall be used only to pay the costs associated with any provision of the school’s contract. A start-up community school may receive more than one loan from the fund; however, no school shall receive a cumulative loan amount throughout the term of the school’s contract that is greater than two hundred fifty thousand dollars.

(D) The superintendent of public instruction may consider all of the following when determining whether to approve a loan from the fund created in division (A) of this section:

(1) Soundness of the school’s business plan;

(2) Availability of other sources of funding for the school;

(3) Geographic distribution of other such loans;

(4) Impact of receipt of the loan on a school’s ability to secure other public and private funding;

(5) Plans for the creative use of the loan amounts to create further financing, such as loan guarantees or other types of credit enhancements;

(6) Financial needs of the community school.

(E) The superintendent of public instruction shall give priority for loans under this section to newly established community schools to pay start-up costs.

(F) The rate of interest charged on any loan under this section shall be the rate that would be applicable to the same money if invested in the Ohio subdivision’s fund created in section 135.45 of the Revised Code as of the date the loan is disbursed to the community school.

(G) Commencing in the first fiscal year that next succeeds the fiscal year that a community school receives a loan under this section, the department shall deduct from the periodic payments made to the school under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code a prorated amount of the annual repayment amount due under the loan. The amount deducted from a school’s periodic payments under this division that is attributed to the principal of the loan shall be deposited into the fund created in division (B) of this section. The amount deducted from a school’s periodic payments under this division that is attributed to the interest on the loan shall be deposited into the fund created in section 3314.31 of the Revised Code. The repayment period for any loan made under this section shall not exceed five consecutive fiscal years.

(H) The office of budget and management and the department of education shall monitor the adequacy of moneys on hand in the fund created in division (B) of this section and shall report annually to the general assembly on such adequacy and any recommended changes in the interest rate charged on loans under this section or changes in default recovery procedures.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

There is hereby created in the state treasury the community school security fund. The fund shall consist of moneys paid into the fund under division (G) of section 3314.30 of the Revised Code. Moneys in the fund shall be paid into the fund created in division (B) of section 3314.30 of the Revised Code in the case of default on a loan made under section 3314.30 of the Revised Code in an amount up to the amount of such default.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, this section applies to any community school that meets one of the following criteria after July 1, 2008:

(a) The school does not offer a grade level higher than three and has been declared to be in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for four consecutive school years.

(b) The school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(i) The school offers any of grade levels four to eight but does not offer a grade level higher than nine.

(ii) The school has been declared to be in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for three consecutive school years.

(iii) For two of those school years, the school showed less than one standard year of academic growth in either reading or mathematics, as determined by the department of education in accordance with rules adopted under division (A) of section 3302.021 of the Revised Code.

(c) The school satisfies all of the following conditions:

(i) The school offers any of grade levels ten to twelve.

(ii) The school has been declared to be in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for three consecutive school years.

(iii) For two of those school years, the school showed less than two standard years of academic growth in either reading or mathematics, as determined by the department in accordance with rules adopted under division (A) of section 3302.021 of the Revised Code.

(2) This section does not apply to any community school in which a majority of the students are enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program that is operated by the school and that has been granted a waiver under section 3314.36 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any community school to which this section applies shall permanently close at the conclusion of the school year in which the school first becomes subject to this section. The sponsor and governing authority of the school shall comply with all procedures for closing a community school adopted by the department under division (E) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code. The governing authority of the school shall not enter into a contract with any other sponsor under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code after the school closes.

(C) Not later than July 1, 2008, the department shall determine the feasibility of using the value-added progress dimension, as defined in section 3302.01 of the Revised Code, as a factor in evaluating the academic performance of community schools described in division (A)(1)(c)(i) of this section. Notwithstanding divisions (A)(1)(c)(ii) and (iii) of this section, if the department determines that using the value-added progress dimension to evaluate community schools described in division (A)(1)(c)(i) of this section is not feasible, a community school described in that division shall be required to permanently close under this section only if it has been declared to be in a state of academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code for four consecutive school years.

Effective Date: 03-30-2007

(A) Section 3314.35 of the Revised Code does not apply to any community school in which a majority of the students are enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program that is operated by the school and that has been granted a waiver by the department of education. 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 (A)(4) of this section during the remainder of the student’s high school experience.

(6) 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.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the department shall not grant a waiver to any community school that did not qualify for a waiver under this section when it initially began operations, unless the state board of education approves the waiver.

Effective Date: 03-30-2007

(A) A five-year demonstration project is hereby established at the community schools known as the ISUS institutes. The project is a research and development initiative to collect and analyze data with which to improve dropout prevention and recovery programs, to evaluate various methodologies employed in those programs, to develop tools and criteria for evaluating community schools that operate dropout prevention and recovery programs, to institute stringent accountability measures for such community schools, and to direct curricular and programming decisions for such community schools. The program shall begin with the 2008-2009 school year and shall operate through the 2012-2013 school year.

(B) Under the demonstration project, the ISUS institutes shall select and pay the costs of an independent evaluator to create a study plan and collect and analyze data from the institutes. The ISUS institutes’ selection of the independent evaluator is subject to the approval of the department of education. The data collected by the evaluator shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) Baseline measures of student status at enrollment, including academic level; history of court involvement, drug use, and other behavioral problems; and the circumstances of the students’ parenting and living arrangements;

(2) Student academic progress, measured at multiple and regular intervals each school year;

(3) Value-added elements of the institutes’ dropout prevention and recovery programs, including industry certifications, college coursework, community service and service learning, apprenticeships, and internships;

(4) Outcomes in addition to high school graduation, including students’ contributions to community service and students’ transitions to employment, post-secondary training, college, or the military.

(C) Not later than the thirtieth day of September following each school year in which the demonstration project is operating, the independent evaluator shall do both of the following:

(1) Submit to the ISUS institutes and the department all data collected and a report of its data analysis;

(2) Submit a report of its data analysis to 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.

(D) For each school year in which the demonstration project is operating:

(1) The ISUS institutes shall continue to report data through the education management information system under section 3314.17 of the Revised Code.

(2) The department shall continue to issue annual report cards for the ISUS institutes under section 3314.012 of the Revised Code and shall continue to assign them performance ratings under division (B) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code.

(E) Nothing in this section prevents the application to the ISUS institutes, during the demonstration project, of any provision of the Revised Code or rule or policy of the department or the state board of education requiring closure, or otherwise restricting the operation, of a community school based on measures of academic performance for any school year before or during the demonstration project. Nothing in this section prevents a sponsor of an ISUS institute from terminating or not renewing its contract with the school, from suspending the operations of the school, or from placing the school on probationary status, in accordance with this chapter, during the demonstration project. Nothing in this section prevents the auditor of state from taking action against an ISUS institute under Chapter 117. of the Revised Code or other applicable law during the demonstration project.

(F) The department may conduct its own analysis of data submitted under the demonstration project.

(G) Not later than December 31, 2013, the independent evaluator shall issue a final report of its findings and analysis and its recommendations for appropriate academic accountability measures for community schools that operate dropout prevention and recovery programs. The independent evaluator shall submit the report to the department, 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.

Effective Date: 2008 HB562 09-22-2008

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession” shall be as described in rules adopted by the state board of education.

(2) “Intervention in lieu of conviction” means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.

(3) “License” has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(4) “Pre-trial diversion program” means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.

(B) The chief administrator of each community school, or the president or chairperson of the governing authority of each community school if division (C) of this section applies, shall promptly submit to the superintendent of public instruction the information prescribed in division (D) of this section when any of the following conditions applies to an employee of the school, or an employee of an operator working in the school, who holds a license issued by the state board of education:

(1) The chief administrator, or president or chairperson, knows that the employee has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, has been convicted of, has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(2) The governing authority of the school, or the operator, has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the governing authority or operator has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(3) The employee has resigned under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section.

(4) The employee has resigned because of or in the course of an investigation by the governing authority or operator regarding whether the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(C) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the chief administrator of the community school, the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the school shall make the report required under this section.

(D) If a report is required under this section, the chief administrator, or president or chairperson, shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction the name and social security number of the employee about whom the information is required and a factual statement regarding any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section that apply to the employee.

(E) A determination made by the governing authority or operator as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section does not create a presumption of the commission or lack of the commission by the employee of an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(F) No individual required to submit a report under division (B) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with that division.

(G) An individual who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

The governing authority of each community school shall require that the reports of any investigation by the governing authority of the school or by an operator of an employee who works in the school, regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the chief administrator of the community school or the president or chairperson of the governing authority is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40 of the Revised Code, be kept in the employee’s personnel file. If, after an investigation under division (A) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of public instruction determines that the results of that investigation do not warrant initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the governing authority shall require the reports of the governing authority’s or operator’s investigation to be moved from the employee’s personnel file to a separate public file.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of sections 3314.40 and 3314.401 of the Revised Code prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or contract for employment entered into after March 30, 2007.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

(A) As used in this section, “license” has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(B) No employee of a community school or an operator working in the school shall do either of the following:

(1) Knowingly make a false report to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator’s designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the school or operator;

(2) Knowingly cause the chief administrator, or the chief administrator’s designee, to make a false report of the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education.

(C) Any employee of a community school or an operator working in the school who in good faith reports to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator’s designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the school or operator shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.

If the alleged misconduct involves a person who holds a license but the chief administrator is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40 of the Revised Code and the chief administrator, or the chief administrator’s designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the chief administrator, or the chief administrator’s designee, shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.

(D)(1) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (B) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees and costs that the prevailing party incurred in the civil action or as a result of the false report that was the basis of the violation.

(2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (B) of this section, if the subject of the false report that was the basis of the violation was charged with any violation of a law or ordinance as a result of the false report, and if the subject of the false report is found not to be guilty of the charges brought against the subject as a result of the false report or those charges are dismissed, the court that sentences the person for the violation of division (B) of this section, as part of the sentence, shall order the person to pay restitution to the subject of the false report, in an amount equal to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs that the subject of the false report incurred as a result of or in relation to the charges.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Designated official” means the chief administrator of a community school, or the chief administrator’s designee.

(2) “Essential school services” means services provided by a private company under contract with a community school that the chief administrator of the school has determined are necessary for the operation of the school and that would need to be provided by employees of the school if the services were not provided by the private company.

(3) “License” has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(B) This section applies to any person who is an employee of a private company under contract with a community school to provide essential school services and who will work in the school in a position that does not require a license issued by the state board of education, is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation, and that involves routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child.

(C) No community school shall permit a person to whom this section applies to work in the school, unless one of the following applies to the person:

(1) The person’s employer presents proof of both of the following to the designated official:

(a) That the person has been the subject of a criminal records check conducted in accordance with division (D) of this section within the five-year period immediately prior to the date on which the person will begin working in the school;

(b) That the criminal records check indicates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(2) During any period of time in which the person will have routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, the designated official has arranged for an employee of the school to be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, to be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or to have visual contact with the child.

(D) Any private company that has been hired or seeks to be hired by a community school to provide essential school services may request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check of any of its employees for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section. Each request for a criminal records check under this division shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding division (H) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the private company may share the results of any criminal records check conducted under this division with the designated official for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section, but in no case shall the designated official release that information to any other person.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008

(A) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3314.40 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(2) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if both of the following conditions apply:

(a) The employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit was required to be reported for the commission or alleged commission of an act or offense involving the infliction on a child of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child;

(b) During the period between the violation of division (F) of section 3314.40 of the Revised Code and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the employee works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.

(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 3314.403 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Effective Date: 2008 HB428 09-12-2008