Chapter 3319 | Schools - Superintendent; Teachers; Employees

Section 3319.01 | Employment of superintendent.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

Except in an island school district, where the superintendent of an educational service center otherwise may serve as superintendent of the district and except as otherwise provided for any cooperative education school district pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 3311.52 or division (B)(3) of section 3311.521 of the Revised Code, the board of education in each school district and the governing board of each service center shall, at a regular or special meeting held not later than the first day of May of the calendar year in which the term of the superintendent expires, appoint a person possessed of the qualifications provided in this section to act as superintendent, for a term not longer than five years beginning the first day of August and ending on the thirty-first day of July. Such superintendent is, at the expiration of a current term of employment, deemed reemployed for a term of one year at the same salary plus any increments that may be authorized by the board, unless such board, on or before the first day of March of the year in which the contract of employment expires, either reemploys the superintendent for a succeeding term as provided in this section or gives to the superintendent written notice of its intention not to reemploy the superintendent. A superintendent may not be transferred to any other position during the term of the superintendent's employment or reemployment except by mutual agreement by the superintendent and the board. If a vacancy occurs in the office of superintendent, the board shall appoint a superintendent for a term not to exceed five years from the next preceding first day of August.

A board may at any regular or special meeting held during the period beginning on the first day of January of the calendar year immediately preceding the year the contract of employment of a superintendent expires and ending on the first day of March of the year it expires, reemploy such superintendent for a succeeding term for not longer than five years, beginning on the first day of August immediately following the expiration of the superintendent's current term of employment and ending on the thirty-first day of July of the year in which such succeeding term expires. No person shall be appointed to the office of superintendent of a city, or exempted village school district or a service center who does not hold a license designated for being a superintendent issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, unless such person had been employed as a county, city, or exempted village superintendent prior to August 1, 1939. No person shall be appointed to the office of local superintendent who does not hold a license designated for being a superintendent issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, unless such person held or was qualified to hold the position of executive head of a local school district on September 16, 1957. At the time of making such appointment or designation of term, such board shall fix the compensation of the superintendent, which may be increased or decreased during such term, provided such decrease is a part of a uniform plan affecting salaries of all employees of the district, and shall execute a written contract of employment with such superintendent.

Each board shall adopt procedures for the evaluation of its superintendent and shall evaluate its superintendent in accordance with those procedures. An evaluation based upon such procedures shall be considered by the board in deciding whether to renew the superintendent's contract. The establishment of an evaluation procedure shall not create an expectancy of continued employment. Nothing in this section shall prevent a board from making the final determination regarding the renewal or failure to renew of a superintendent's contract.

Termination of a superintendent's contract shall be pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code.

A board may establish vacation leave for its superintendent. Upon the superintendent's separation from employment a board that has such leave may provide compensation at the superintendent's current rate of pay for all lawfully accrued and unused vacation leave to the superintendent's credit at the time of separation, not to exceed the amount accrued within three years before the date of separation. In case of the death of a superintendent, such unused vacation leave as the board would have paid to this superintendent upon separation shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the superintendent's estate.

Notwithstanding section 9.481 of the Revised Code, the board of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district may require its superintendent, as a condition of employment, to reside within the boundaries of the district.

The superintendent shall be the executive officer for the board. Subject to section 3319.40 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall direct and assign teachers and other employees of the district or service center, except as provided in division (B) of section 3313.31 and section 3319.04 of the Revised Code. The superintendent shall assign the pupils to the proper schools and grades, provided that the assignment of a pupil to a school outside of the pupil's district of residence is approved by the board of the district of residence of such pupil. The superintendent shall perform such other duties as the board determines.

The board of education of any school district may contract with the governing board of the educational service center from which it otherwise receives services to conduct searches and recruitment of candidates for the superintendent position authorized under this section.

Last updated May 7, 2024 at 11:01 AM

Section 3319.011 | Superintendent pro tempore.

• Effective: November 15, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 640 - 112th General Assembly

If a board of education determines the superintendent is incapacitated in such a manner that he is unable to perform the duties of the office of superintendent, the board may, by a majority vote of the members of the board, appoint a person to serve in his place pro tempore. Each board of education shall adopt a written policy establishing standards for determining whether the superintendent is incapacitated, and shall provide that during any period in which the superintendent is incapacitated, he may be placed on sick leave or on leave of absence and may be returned to active duty status from sick leave or leave of absence. The superintendent may request a hearing before the board on any action taken under this section, and he shall have the same rights in any such hearing as are granted to a teacher in a board hearing under section 3319.16 of the Revised Code. The superintendent pro tempore shall perform all of the duties and functions of the superintendent and shall serve until the board by majority vote determines the superintendent's incapacity is removed or until the expiration of the superintendent's contract or term of office, whichever is sooner. The superintendent pro tempore may be removed at any time for cause by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board. The board shall fix the compensation of the superintendent pro tempore in accordance with section 3319.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.02 | Assistant superintendents and other administrators.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) As used in this section, "other administrator" means any of the following:

(a) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, any employee in a position for which a board of education requires a license designated by rule of the state board of education for being an administrator issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, including a professional pupil services employee or administrative specialist or an equivalent of either one who is not employed as a school counselor and spends less than fifty per cent of the time employed teaching or working with students;

(b) Any nonlicensed employee whose job duties enable such employee to be considered as either a "supervisor" or a "management level employee," as defined in section 4117.01 of the Revised Code;

(c) A business manager appointed under section 3319.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) As used in this section, "other administrator" does not include a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, or assistant principal.

(B) The board of education of each school district and the governing board of an educational service center may appoint one or more assistant superintendents and such other administrators as are necessary. An assistant educational service center superintendent or service center supervisor employed on a part-time basis may also be employed by a local board as a teacher. The board of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall employ principals for all high schools and for such other schools as the board designates, and those boards may appoint assistant principals for any school that they designate.

(C) In educational service centers and in city, exempted village, and local school districts, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and other administrators shall only be employed or reemployed in accordance with nominations of the superintendent, except that a board of education of a school district or the governing board of a service center, by a three-fourths vote of its full membership, may reemploy any assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator whom the superintendent refuses to nominate.

The board of education or governing board shall execute a written contract of employment with each assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and other administrator it employs or reemploys. The term of such contract shall not exceed three years except that in the case of a person who has been employed as an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator in the district or center for three years or more, the term of the contract shall be for not more than five years and, unless the superintendent of the district recommends otherwise, not less than two years. If the superintendent so recommends, the term of the contract of a person who has been employed by the district or service center as an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator for three years or more may be one year, but all subsequent contracts granted such person shall be for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years. When a teacher with continuing service status becomes an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator with the district or service center with which the teacher holds continuing service status, the teacher retains such status in the teacher's nonadministrative position as provided in sections 3311.77, 3319.08, and 3319.09 of the Revised Code.

A board of education or governing board may reemploy an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator at any regular or special meeting held during the period beginning on the first day of January of the calendar year immediately preceding the year of expiration of the employment contract and ending on the first day of June of the year the employment contract expires.

Except by mutual agreement of the parties thereto, no assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator shall be transferred during the life of a contract to a position of lesser responsibility. No contract may be terminated by a board except pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code. No contract may be suspended except pursuant to section 3319.17 or 3319.171 of the Revised Code. The salaries and compensation prescribed by such contracts shall not be reduced by a board unless such reduction is a part of a uniform plan affecting the entire district or center. The contract shall specify the employee's administrative position and duties as included in the job description adopted under division (D) of this section, the salary and other compensation to be paid for performance of duties, the number of days to be worked, the number of days of vacation leave, if any, and any paid holidays in the contractual year.

An assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator is, at the expiration of the current term of employment, deemed reemployed at the same salary plus any increments that may be authorized by the board, unless such employee notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, or unless such board, on or before the first day of June of the year in which the contract of employment expires, either reemploys such employee for a succeeding term or gives written notice of its intention not to reemploy the employee. The term of reemployment of a person reemployed under this paragraph shall be one year, except that if such person has been employed by the school district or service center as an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator for three years or more, the term of reemployment shall be two years.

(D)(1) Each board shall adopt procedures for the evaluation of all assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and other administrators and shall evaluate such employees in accordance with those procedures. The procedures for the evaluation of principals and assistant principals shall be based on principles comparable to the teacher evaluation policy adopted by the board under section 3319.111 of the Revised Code, but shall be tailored to the duties and responsibilities of principals and assistant principals and the environment in which they work. An evaluation based upon procedures adopted under this division shall be considered by the board in deciding whether to renew the contract of employment of an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator.

(2) The evaluation shall measure each assistant superintendent's, principal's, assistant principal's, and other administrator's effectiveness in performing the duties included in the job description and the evaluation procedures shall provide for, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Each assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and other administrator shall be evaluated annually through a written evaluation process.

(b) The evaluation shall be conducted by the superintendent or designee.

(c) In order to provide time to show progress in correcting the deficiencies identified in the evaluation process, the evaluation process shall be completed as follows:

(i) In any school year that the employee's contract of employment is not due to expire, at least one evaluation shall be completed in that year. A written copy of the evaluation shall be provided to the employee no later than the end of the employee's contract year as defined by the employee's annual salary notice.

(ii) In any school year that the employee's contract of employment is due to expire, at least a preliminary evaluation and at least a final evaluation shall be completed in that year. A written copy of the preliminary evaluation shall be provided to the employee at least sixty days prior to any action by the board on the employee's contract of employment. The final evaluation shall indicate the superintendent's intended recommendation to the board regarding a contract of employment for the employee. A written copy of the evaluation shall be provided to the employee at least five days prior to the board's acting to renew or not renew the contract.

(3) Termination of an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator's contract shall be pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code. Suspension of any such employee shall be pursuant to section 3319.17 or 3319.171 of the Revised Code.

(4) Before taking action to renew or nonrenew the contract of an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator under this section and prior to the first day of June of the year in which such employee's contract expires, the board shall notify each such employee of the date that the contract expires and that the employee may request a meeting with the board. Upon request by such an employee, the board shall grant the employee a meeting in executive session. In that meeting, the board shall discuss its reasons for considering renewal or nonrenewal of the contract. The employee shall be permitted to have a representative, chosen by the employee, present at the meeting.

(5) The establishment of an evaluation procedure shall not create an expectancy of continued employment. Nothing in division (D) of this section shall prevent a board from making the final determination regarding the renewal or nonrenewal of the contract of any assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator. However, if a board fails to provide evaluations pursuant to division (D)(2)(c)(i) or (ii) of this section, or if the board fails to provide at the request of the employee a meeting as prescribed in division (D)(4) of this section, the employee automatically shall be reemployed at the same salary plus any increments that may be authorized by the board for a period of one year, except that if the employee has been employed by the district or service center as an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator for three years or more, the period of reemployment shall be for two years.

(E) On nomination of the superintendent of a service center a governing board may employ supervisors who shall be employed under written contracts of employment for terms not to exceed five years each. Such contracts may be terminated by a governing board pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code. Any supervisor employed pursuant to this division may terminate the contract of employment at the end of any school year after giving the board at least thirty days' written notice prior to such termination. On the recommendation of the superintendent the contract or contracts of any supervisor employed pursuant to this division may be suspended for the remainder of the term of any such contract pursuant to section 3319.17 or 3319.171 of the Revised Code.

(F) A board may establish vacation leave for any individuals employed under this section. Upon such an individual's separation from employment, a board that has such leave may compensate such an individual at the individual's current rate of pay for all lawfully accrued and unused vacation leave credited at the time of separation, not to exceed the amount accrued within three years before the date of separation. In case of the death of an individual employed under this section, such unused vacation leave as the board would have paid to the individual upon separation under this section shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the estate.

(G) The board of education of any school district may contract with the governing board of the educational service center from which it otherwise receives services to conduct searches and recruitment of candidates for assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and other administrator positions authorized under this section.

Last updated September 1, 2023 at 3:17 PM

Section 3319.03 | Business manager.

• Effective: September 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district may create the position of business manager. The board shall appoint such business manager who shall serve pursuant to a contract in accordance with section 3319.02 of the Revised Code. In the discharge of all official duties, the business manager may be directly responsible to the board, or to the superintendent of schools, as the board directs at the time of appointment to the position. Where such business manager is responsible to the superintendent the business manager shall be appointed by the superintendent and confirmed by the board.

No board of education shall appoint or confirm as business manager any person who does not hold a valid business manager's license issued under section 3301.074 of the Revised Code. If the business manager fails to maintain a valid license, the business manager shall be removed by the board.

Section 3319.031 | Assignment of business manager functions.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, if the board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district does not appoint a business manager under section 3319.03 of the Revised Code, the board may assign powers and duties specified in section 3319.04 of the Revised Code to one or more employees or officers of the board, including the treasurer, and may give the employees or officers any title recognizing the assignment of the powers and duties. The prohibition, in section 3319.04 of the Revised Code, against a business manager having possession of moneys does not prevent a board from assigning powers and duties specified in that section to the treasurer and does not prevent a treasurer who is assigned those powers and duties from exercising the powers and duties of treasurer. If the board assigns the duties of a business manager under section 3319.04 of the Revised Code to the treasurer, the treasurer shall not have the authority to make recommendations to appoint or discharge noneducational employees, except as provided under section 3313.31 of the Revised Code. Instead, the district superintendent shall be responsible for making recommendations, subject to confirmation by the board, for the appointment or discharge of noneducational employees.

Section 3319.04 | Business manager - powers and duties.

• Effective: March 30, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 671 - 126th General Assembly

The business manager shall have the care and custody of all property of the school district, real or personal, except moneys, supervise the construction of buildings in the process of erection, and the maintenance, operation, and repairs thereof, advertise for bids, and purchase and have custody of all supplies and equipment authorized by the board. The business manager shall assist in the preparation of the annual appropriation resolution; shall appoint and may discharge, subject to confirmation by the board, noneducational employees, except as provided in division (B) of section 3313.31 of the Revised Code; and shall prepare and execute all contracts necessary in carrying out this section.

Section 3319.05 | Compensation of business manager - bond.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 291 - 132nd General Assembly

The business manager shall receive such compensation as is fixed by the board of education before election, which shall not be decreased during the business manager's term of office. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, the business manager shall give such bond as prescribed by the board for the faithful discharge of official duties.

Section 3319.06 | Internal auditor authorized - contract - evaluation.

• Effective: September 24, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 316 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, or local school district may create the position of internal auditor. Any person employed by the board as an internal auditor shall hold a valid permit issued under section 4701.10 of the Revised Code to practice as a certified public accountant or a public accountant.

(B) The board shall execute a written contract of employment with each internal auditor it employs. The contract shall specify the internal auditor's duties, the salary and other compensation to be paid for performance of those duties, the number of days to be worked, the number of days of vacation leave, if any, and any paid holidays in the contractual year. The salary and other compensation prescribed by the contract may be increased by the board during the term of the contract but shall not be reduced during that term unless such reduction is part of a uniform plan affecting employees of the entire district. The term of the initial contract shall not exceed three years. Any renewal of the contract shall be for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years.

The internal auditor shall be directly responsible to the board for the performance of all duties outlined in the contract. If the board does not intend to renew the contract upon its expiration, the board shall provide written notice to the internal auditor of its intention not to renew the contract not later than the first day of June of the year in which the contract expires. If the board does not provide such notice by that date, the internal auditor shall be deemed reemployed for a term of one year at the same salary plus any increments that may be authorized by the board. Termination of an internal auditor's contract shall be pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code.

(C) Each board that employs an internal auditor shall adopt procedures for the evaluation of the internal auditor and shall evaluate the internal auditor in accordance with those procedures. The evaluation based upon the procedures shall be considered by the board in deciding whether to renew the internal auditor's contract of employment. The establishment of an evaluation procedure shall not create an expectancy of continued employment. Nothing in this section shall prevent the board from making the final determination regarding the renewal or nonrenewal of the contract of an internal auditor.

Section 3319.07 | Employment of teachers.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, local, and joint vocational school district shall employ the teachers of the public schools of their respective districts.

The governing board of each educational service center may employ special instruction teachers, special education teachers, and teachers of academic courses in which there are too few students in each of the school districts entering into agreements pursuant to section 3313.843 of the Revised Code to warrant each district's employing teachers for those courses.

When any board makes appointments of teachers, the teachers in the employ of the board shall be considered before new teachers are chosen in their stead. In all school districts and in service centers, no teacher shall be employed unless such person is nominated by the superintendent of such district or center, or by another individual designated by the board in the event that the superintendent's nomination would be a violation of section 2921.42 of the Revised Code. Such board, by a three-fourths vote of its full membership, may re-employ any teacher whom the superintendent refuses to appoint.

(B) The board of education of any school district may contract with the governing board of the educational service center from which it otherwise receives services to conduct searches and recruitment of candidates for teacher positions.

Section 3319.071 | Professional development program for teachers.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

The board of education of any school district may, by resolution, establish a professional development program for teachers in accordance with which it may reimburse teachers employed by the district for all or any part of the cost incurred by the teacher in the successful completion of a course or training program in which the teacher enrolled as part of the development program. The terms and conditions for participation shall be determined by the board and shall be included in the resolution establishing the program.

No teacher shall be required to participate in a professional development program under this section. When a teacher is participating in such a program, such participation does not constitute the performance of duties by such teacher in addition to the teacher's regular teaching duties and is not subject to section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code.

As used in this section, "teacher" has the meaning contained in division (A) of section 3319.09 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.072 | Lunch period for teachers.

• Effective: September 29, 1995
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 117 - 121st General Assembly

Each teacher employed by the board of education of a school district or a governing board of an educational service center shall be granted at least thirty minutes for lunch each school day, during which time the teacher shall not be required to perform any school activity; except that in a one-teacher school where enforcement of the foregoing provisions may work a hardship, the governing board of the service center in which the one-teacher school is located may require the teacher to remain on duty.

The granting of the lunch period to a teacher shall not be cause for lengthening the school day.

Section 3319.073 | In-service training in child abuse prevention programs, school safety and violence prevention, and training on the board's harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy.

• Effective: April 9, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 208 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The board of education of each city and exempted village school district and the governing board of each educational service center shall adopt or adapt the curriculum developed by the department of education and workforce for, or shall develop in consultation with public or private agencies or persons involved in child abuse prevention or intervention programs, a program of in-service training in the prevention of child abuse, violence, and substance abuse and the promotion of positive youth development. Each person employed by any school district or service center to work in a school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator shall complete at least four hours of the in-service training within two years of commencing employment with the district or center, and every five years thereafter. A person who is employed by any school district or service center to work in an elementary school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator on March 30, 2007, shall complete at least four hours of the in-service training not later than March 30, 2009, and every five years thereafter. A person who is employed by any school district or service center to work in a middle or high school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator on October 16, 2009, shall complete at least four hours of the in-service training not later than October 16, 2011, and every five years thereafter.

(B) Each board shall incorporate training in school safety and violence prevention, including human trafficking content, into the in-service training required by division (A) of this section. For this purpose, the board shall adopt or adapt the curriculum developed by the department or shall develop its own curriculum in consultation with public or private agencies or persons involved in school safety and violence prevention programs.

(C) Each board shall incorporate training on the board's harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy adopted under section 3313.666 of the Revised Code into the in-service training required by division (A) of this section. Each board also shall incorporate training in the prevention of dating violence into the in-service training required by that division for middle and high school employees. The board shall develop its own curricula for these purposes.

(D) Each board shall incorporate training in youth suicide awareness and prevention into the in-service training required by division (A) of this section for each person employed by a school district or service center to work in a school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator, and any other personnel that the board determines appropriate. The board shall require each such person to undergo training in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs once every two years. For this purpose, the board shall adopt or adapt the curriculum developed by the department under section 3301.221 of the Revised Code or shall develop its own curriculum in consultation with public or private agencies or persons involved in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs.

The training completed under this division shall count toward the satisfaction of requirements for professional development required by the school district or service center board, and the training may be accomplished through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials approved by the board.

(E) Each board shall incorporate training on child sexual abuse into the in-service training required by division (A) of this section. The training completed under this division shall count toward the satisfaction of requirements for professional development required by the school district or service center board. Any training provided under this section may be presented by either of the following, at their own discretion, so long as they have experience in handling cases involving child sexual abuse or child sexual violence:

(1) Law enforcement officers;

(2) Prosecutors.

Last updated February 18, 2025 at 8:27 AM

Section 3319.074 | Professional qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Core subject area" means reading and English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts.

(2) "Properly certified or licensed teacher" means a classroom teacher who has successfully completed all requirements for certification or licensure under this chapter applicable to the subject areas and grade levels in which the teacher provides instruction and the students to whom the teacher provides the instruction.

(3) "Properly certified paraprofessional" means a paraprofessional who holds an educational aide permit issued under section 3319.088 of the Revised Code and satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

(a) Has a designation of "ESEA qualified" on the educational aide permit;

(b) Has successfully completed at least two years of coursework at an accredited institution of higher education;

(c) Holds an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education;

(d) Meets a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated by attainment of a qualifying score on an academic assessment specified by the department of education and workforce.

(B) Beginning July 1, 2019, no city, exempted village, local, joint vocational, or cooperative education school district shall do either of the following:

(1) Employ any classroom teacher to provide instruction in a core subject area to any student, unless such teacher is a properly certified or licensed teacher;

(2) Employ any paraprofessional in a program supported with funds received under Title I of the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965," 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq., to provide academic support in a core subject area to any student, unless such paraprofessional is a properly certified paraprofessional.

(C) At the start of each school year, each school district shall notify the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district that the parent or guardian may request information on the professional qualifications of each classroom teacher who provides instruction to the student. The district shall provide the information on each applicable teacher in a timely manner to any parent or guardian who requests it. Such information shall include at least the following:

(1) Whether the teacher has satisfied all requirements for certification or licensure under this chapter applicable to the subject areas and grade levels in which the teacher provides instruction and the students to whom the teacher provides the instruction, or whether the teacher provides instruction under a waiver of any such requirements;

(2) Whether a paraprofessional provides any services to the student and, if so, the qualifications of the paraprofessional.

Last updated September 1, 2023 at 3:24 PM

Section 3319.075 | Use of professional development standards.

• Effective: November 2, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 216 - 132nd General Assembly

Once the state board of education adopts professional development standards pursuant to section 3319.61 of the Revised Code, the board of education of each school district shall use the standards for the following purposes:

(A) To guide the design of teacher education programs serving both teacher candidates and experienced teachers;

(B) To guide school-based professional development that is aligned with student achievement;

(C) To determine what types of professional development the school district and the schools within the district should provide;

(D) To guide how state and federal funding for professional development should be spent;

(E) To develop criteria for decision making by the local professional development committees established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(F) To guide the school district in the hiring of third-party providers of instructional services who use or meet the professional development standards;

(G) To guide all licensed school personnel in developing their own plans for professional growth ;

(H) To guide the development of professional growth plans and improvement plans resulting from the teacher evaluations conducted under section 3319.111 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.076 | License required to teach physical education.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 210 - 128th General Assembly

No school district shall employ any classroom teacher initially hired on or after July 1, 2013, to provide instruction in physical education in any of grades kindergarten through twelve unless the teacher holds a valid license issued pursuant to section 3319.22 of the Revised Code for teaching physical education.

Section 3319.077 | Teacher professional development in dyslexia.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Dyslexia" has the same meaning as in section 3323.25 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Ohio dyslexia committee" means the committee established under section 3325.25 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Special education" has the same meaning as in section 3323.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Teacher" does not include any teacher who provides instruction in fine arts, music, or physical education.

(B)(1) The department of education and workforce, in collaboration with the Ohio dyslexia committee, shall maintain a list of training that fulfills the professional development requirements prescribed in division (C) of this section. The list may consist of online or classroom learning models.

(2) Each approved training shall align with the guidebook developed under section 3323.25 of the Revised Code, be evidence-based, and require instruction and training for identifying characteristics of dyslexia and understanding the pedagogy for instructing students with dyslexia.

(3) The Ohio dyslexia committee shall prescribe a total number of clock hours of instruction in training approved under this section for a teacher to complete to satisfy the professional development requirements prescribed in division (C) of this section. The Ohio dyslexia committee shall prescribe a total number of clock hours that is not less than six clock hours and not more than eighteen clock hours.

(C)(1) Division (C)(1) of this section applies to any teacher who was employed by a local, city, or exempted village school district on April 12, 2021, and is still employed by that district on the dates specified under division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section as follows:

(a) Not later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, each district teacher employed by a local, city, or exempted village school district who provides instruction for students in kindergarten and first grade, including those providing special education instruction, shall complete the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required by the committee under this section.

(b) Not later than September 15, 2024, each district teacher employed by a school district who provides instruction for students in grades two and three, including those providing special education instruction, shall complete the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required by the committee under this section.

(c) Not later than September 15, 2025, each district teacher employed by a school district who provides special education instruction for students in grades four through twelve shall complete a professional development training approved under division (B) of this section.

(2) Any teacher hired by a local, city, or exempted village school district after April 12, 2021, who provides instruction for students in any of grades kindergarten through three, including a teacher providing special education instruction, or who provides special education instruction for students in any of grades four through twelve shall complete professional development training in accordance with division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section by the later of two years after the date of hire or the date specified under division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section, unless the teacher completed the training while employed by a different district under division (C)(1) of this section.

(D) Any professional development training completed by a teacher prior to April 12, 2021, that is then included on the list of training approved under division (B)(1) of this section shall count toward the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required under division (C) of this section.

(E) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a school district from requiring employees who are not subject to this section from completing professional development training approved under division (B) of this section.

Last updated August 17, 2023 at 11:18 AM

Section 3319.078 | Structured literacy certification.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 583 - 134th General Assembly

Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, each city, local, and exempted village school district shall establish a structured literacy certification process for teachers providing instruction for students in grades kindergarten through three employed by the district. Each process shall align with the guidebook developed under section 3323.25 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 18, 2022 at 3:29 PM

Section 3319.079 | License renewal - grade band.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The holder of a valid educator license with a grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as that division existed prior to October 3, 2023, who renews that license may receive either of the following:

(1) A grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as that division existed prior to October 3, 2023;

(2) A grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code as that division exists on the date of its renewal.

(B) The holder of a valid educator license with a grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as that division existed on and after October 3, 2023, but prior to the effective date of this amendment, who renews that license may receive either of the following:

(1) A grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as that division existed on and after October 3, 2023, but prior to the effective date of this amendment ;

(2) A grade band specification prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code as that division exists on the date of its renewal.

(C) Upon renewal of a license under this section, the holder of a valid educator license shall receive a grade band specification that includes one or more of the grades the holder was authorized to teach under the prior license.

Last updated August 16, 2024 at 11:11 AM

Section 3319.08 | Contracts for employment or reemployment of teachers.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, local, and joint vocational school district and the governing board of each educational service center shall enter into written contracts for the employment and reemployment of all teachers. Contracts for the employment of teachers shall be of two types, limited contracts and continuing contracts. The board of each school district or service center that authorizes compensation in addition to the salary paid under section 3317.14 or 3317.141 of the Revised Code for the performance of duties by a teacher that are in addition to the teacher's regular teaching duties, shall enter into a supplemental written contract with each teacher who is to perform additional duties. Such supplemental written contracts shall be limited contracts. Such written contracts and supplemental written contracts shall set forth the teacher's duties and shall specify the salaries and compensation to be paid for regular teaching duties and additional teaching duties, respectively, either or both of which may be increased but not diminished during the term for which the contract is made, except as provided in section 3319.12 of the Revised Code.

If a board adopts a motion or resolution to employ a teacher under a limited or continuing contract and the teacher accepts such employment, the failure of such parties to execute a written contract shall not void such employment contract.

(B) Teachers must be paid for all time lost when the schools in which they are employed are closed due to an epidemic or other public calamity, and for time lost due to illness or otherwise for not less than five days annually as authorized by regulations which each board shall adopt.

(C) A limited contract is:

(1) For a superintendent, a contract for such term as authorized by section 3319.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) For an assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator, a contract for such term as authorized by section 3319.02 of the Revised Code;

(3) For all other teachers, a contract for a term not to exceed five years.

(D) A continuing contract is a contract that remains in effect until the teacher resigns, elects to retire, or is retired pursuant to former section 3307.37 of the Revised Code, or until it is terminated or suspended and shall be granted only to the following:

(1) Any teacher holding a professional, permanent, or life teacher's certificate;

(2) Any teacher who meets the following conditions:

(a) The teacher was initially issued a teacher's certificate or educator license prior to January 1, 2011.

(b) The teacher holds a professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.222 or former section 3319.22 of the Revised Code or a senior professional educator license or lead professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(c) The teacher has completed the applicable one of the following:

(i) If the teacher did not hold a master's degree at the time of initially receiving a teacher's certificate under former law or an educator license, thirty semester hours of coursework in the area of licensure or in an area related to the teaching field since the initial issuance of such certificate or license, as specified in rules which the state board of education shall adopt;

(ii) If the teacher held a master's degree at the time of initially receiving a teacher's certificate under former law or an educator license, six semester hours of graduate coursework in the area of licensure or in an area related to the teaching field since the initial issuance of such certificate or license, as specified in rules which the state board shall adopt.

(3) Any teacher who meets the following conditions:

(a) The teacher never held a teacher's certificate and was initially issued an educator license on or after January 1, 2011.

(b) The teacher holds a professional educator license, senior professional educator license, or lead professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(c) The teacher has held an educator license for at least seven years.

(d) The teacher has completed the applicable one of the following:

(i) If the teacher did not hold a master's degree at the time of initially receiving an educator license, thirty semester hours of coursework in the area of licensure or in an area related to the teaching field since the initial issuance of that license, as specified in rules which the state board shall adopt;

(ii) If the teacher held a master's degree at the time of initially receiving an educator license, six semester hours of graduate coursework in the area of licensure or in an area related to the teaching field since the initial issuance of that license, as specified in rules which the state board shall adopt.

(E) Division (D) of this section applies only to continuing contracts entered into on or after October 16, 2009. Nothing in that division shall be construed to void or otherwise affect a continuing contract entered into prior to that date.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the requirements of division (D)(3) of this section prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after October 16, 2009.

(F) Wherever the term "educator license" is used in this section without reference to a specific type of educator license, the term does not include an educator license for substitute teaching issued under section 3319.226 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.081 | Contracts for nonteaching employees.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section, in all school districts wherein the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply, the following employment contract system shall control for employees whose contracts of employment are not otherwise provided by law:

(A) Newly hired regular nonteaching school employees, including regular hourly rate and per diem employees, shall enter into written contracts for their employment which shall be for a period of not more than one year. If such employees are rehired, their three subsequent contracts shall be for a period of two years each.

(B) After the termination of the third two-year contract provided in division (A) of this section, if the contract of a nonteaching employee is renewed, the employee shall be continued in employment, and the salary provided in the contract may be increased but not reduced unless such reduction is a part of a uniform plan affecting the nonteaching employees of the entire district.

(C) The contracts as provided for in this section may be terminated by a majority vote of the board of education. Except as provided in sections 3319.0810 and 3319.172 of the Revised Code, the contracts may be terminated only for violation of written rules and regulations as set forth by the board of education or for incompetency, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, or any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance. In addition to the right of the board of education to terminate the contract of an employee, the board may suspend an employee for a definite period of time or demote the employee for the reasons set forth in this division. The action of the board of education terminating the contract of an employee or suspending or demoting the employee shall be served upon the employee by certified mail, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, including electronic delivery with electronic proof of delivery. Within ten days following the receipt of such notice by the employee, the employee may file an appeal, in writing, with the court of common pleas of the county in which such school board is situated. After hearing the appeal the common pleas court may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the action of the school board.

A violation of division (A)(7) of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code is grounds for termination of employment of a nonteaching employee under this division.

(D) All employees who have been employed by a school district where the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply, for a period of at least three years on November 24, 1967, shall hold continuing contracts of employment pursuant to this section.

(E) Any nonteaching school employee may terminate the nonteaching school employee's contract of employment thirty days subsequent to the filing of a written notice of such termination with the treasurer of the board.

(F) A person hired exclusively for the purpose of replacing a nonteaching school employee while such employee is on leave of absence granted under section 3319.13 of the Revised Code is not a regular nonteaching school employee under this section.

(G) All nonteaching employees employed pursuant to this section and Chapter 124. of the Revised Code shall be paid for all time lost when the schools in which they are employed are closed owing to an epidemic or other public calamity. Nothing in this division shall be construed as requiring payment in excess of an employee's regular wage rate or salary for any time worked while the school in which the employee is employed is officially closed for the reasons set forth in this division.

Last updated August 16, 2023 at 12:26 PM

Section 3319.082 | Annual notice of salary to nonteaching school employees.

• Effective: August 26, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 112th General Assembly

In all school districts wherein the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply, each board of education shall cause notice to be given annually not later than the first day of July to each nonteaching school employee, who holds a contract valid for the succeeding school year, as to the salary to be paid such school employee during such year. Such salary shall not be lower than the salary paid during the preceding school year unless such reduction is a part of a uniform plan affecting the nonteaching employees of the entire district. This section does not prevent increases of salary after the board's annual notice has been given.

Section 3319.083 | Notice of intention not to re-employ.

• Effective: August 5, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 114th General Assembly

In all school districts wherein the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply, each board of education shall cause notice to be given of its intention not to re-employ said non-teaching employee, at the expiration of his contract. If such notice is not given the non-teaching school employee on or before the first day of June, said employee shall be deemed re-employed.

Section 3319.084 | Nonteaching school employees - vacation leave and vacation credit.

• Effective: July 1, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 553 - 110th General Assembly

In all school districts each full-time nonteaching school employee including full-time hourly-rate and per diem employees, after service of one year with a board of education, shall be entitled, during each year thereafter, while continuing in the employ of such board of education, to vacation leave with full pay for a minimum of two calendar weeks, excluding legal holidays. Employees continuing in the employ of such board of education for ten or more years of service shall be entitled to vacation leave with full pay for a minimum of three calendar weeks, excluding legal holidays. Employees continuing in the employ of such board of education for twenty or more years of service shall be entitled to vacation leave with full pay for a minimum of four calendar weeks, excluding legal holidays.

Upon separation from employment a nonteaching school employee shall be entitled to compensation at his current rate of pay for all lawfully accrued and unused vacation leave to his credit at the time of separation, not to exceed the vacation leave accrued to his credit for the two years immediately preceding his separation and the prorated portion of his earned but unused vacation leave for the current year. In case of the death of a non-teaching school employee such accrued and unused vacation leave and prorated portion for the current year shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to his estate.

For the purposes of this section, a full-time employee is a person who is in service for not less than eleven months in each calendar year. A board of education may establish vacation leave for employees who are in service less than eleven months in each calendar year.

Section 3319.085 | Military leave for nonteaching employees.

• Effective: March 20, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 154 - 135th General Assembly

Any nonteaching school employee who performs service in the uniformed services or service under section 5923.12 of the Revised Code and who has returned, or returns, from that service with a discharge under honorable conditions or is released from service under section 5923.12 of the Revised Code shall be re-employed by the board of education of the district in which the nonteaching school employee held the nonteaching school employee position as required by the "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C. 4303.

The board of education of the district in which the nonteaching school employee was employed and is re-employed under this section may suspend the contract of the nonteaching school employee whose services become unnecessary by reason of the return of a nonteaching school employee from service in the uniformed services.

As used in this section, "service in the uniformed services" and "uniformed services" have the same meanings as in section 124.23 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM

Section 3319.086 | Standard work week.

• Effective: September 16, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 131 - 105th General Assembly

In all school districts, forty hours shall be the standard work week for all non-teaching school employees. Such employees shall not be required to work on days declared by the employing board of education as school holidays unless failure to work on such holidays would impair the public service. Where such employees are required by their responsible administrative superiors to work in excess of forty hours in any seven day period or to work on days declared by the employing board of education to be school holidays, they shall be compensated for such time worked at not less than their regular rate of pay, or be granted compensatory time off. As used in this section, "non-teaching school employees" does not include any person employed in the public schools of the state in an administrative or supervisory capacity in connection with the services rendered by non-teaching school employees.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the school district from establishing a work week of less than forty hours.

Section 3319.087 | Paid holidays.

• Effective: June 10, 2022
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 11 - 134th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 3319.086 of the Revised Code, all regular nonteaching school employees employed on an eleven or twelve month basis, whether salaried or compensated on an hourly or per diem basis, are entitled to a minimum of the following holidays for which they shall be paid their regular salary or their regular rate of pay, provided each such employee accrued earnings on the employee's next preceding and next following scheduled work days before and after such holiday or was properly excused from attendance at work on either or both of those days: New Year's day, Martin Luther King day, Memorial day, Juneteenth day, Independence day, Labor day, Thanksgiving day, and Christmas day of each year. All regular nonteaching school employees employed on a nine or ten month basis, whether salaried or compensated on an hourly or per diem basis, are entitled to a minimum of the following holidays for which they shall be paid their regular salary or their regular rate of pay, provided each such employee accrued earnings on the employee's next preceding and next following scheduled work days before and after such holiday or was properly excused from attendance at work on either or both of those days: New Year's day, Martin Luther King day, Memorial day, Labor day, Thanksgiving day, and Christmas day of each year. Regular nonteaching school employees employed less than nine months shall be entitled to a minimum of those holidays enumerated in this section which fall during the employees' time of employment. In addition to the above named holidays, a board of education may declare any other day, except days approved for teachers' attendance at an educational meeting, as a holiday and shall pay to all such regular nonteaching school employees, whether salaried or compensated on an hourly or per diem basis, their regular salary or their regular rate of pay. When any employee is required by the employee's responsible administrative superior to work on any of the paid holidays, the employee shall be granted compensatory time off for which the employee shall be paid the employee's regular salary or regular rate of pay, or a board of education may establish a premium rate of pay for work performed on a paid holiday. Holidays shall occur on the days specified in section 1.14 of the Revised Code.

For purposes of determining whether a person who is not in the employ of a board of education on Labor day is in compliance with the requirement of this section that states that in order for a nonteaching employee to be eligible for Labor day holiday pay the employee must have accrued earnings on the scheduled work day immediately preceding Labor day or have been excused from attendance at work on that day, a board of education shall count the employee's last scheduled work day of the employee's preceding period of employment as the employee's last scheduled day of employment for purposes of this requirement.

For the purposes of this section, "employed" and "time of employment" mean the period from the initial date of employment to the termination of employment with that school district.

Last updated March 15, 2022 at 2:39 PM

Section 3319.088 | Educational aide permits - educational paraprofessional licenses for educational assistants.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

As used in this section, "educational assistant" means any nonteaching employee in a school district who directly assists a teacher as defined in section 3319.09 of the Revised Code, by performing duties for which a license issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code is not required.

(A) Except as provided in division (G) of this section, the state board of education shall issue educational aide permits and educational paraprofessional licenses for educational assistants and shall adopt rules for the issuance and renewal of such permits and licenses which shall be consistent with the provisions of this section. Educational aide permits and educational paraprofessional licenses may be of several types and the rules shall prescribe the minimum qualifications of education and health for the service to be authorized under each type. The prescribed minimum qualifications may require special training or educational courses designed to qualify a person to perform effectively the duties authorized under an educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (G) of this section, any application for a permit or license, or a renewal or duplicate of a permit or license, under this section shall be accompanied by the payment of a fee in the amount established under division (A) of section 3319.51 of the Revised Code. Any fees received under this division shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state board of education licensure fund established under division (B) of section 3319.51 of the Revised Code.

(2) Any person applying for or holding a permit or license pursuant to this section is subject to sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code and sections 3319.31 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code.

(C) Educational assistants shall at all times while in the performance of their duties be under the supervision and direction of a teacher as defined in section 3319.09 of the Revised Code. Educational assistants may assist a teacher to whom assigned in the supervision of pupils, in assisting with instructional tasks, and in the performance of duties which, in the judgment of the teacher to whom the assistant is assigned, may be performed by a person not licensed pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code and for which a teaching license, issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code is not required. The duties of an educational assistant shall not include the assignment of grades to pupils. The duties of an educational assistant need not be performed in the physical presence of the teacher to whom assigned, but the activity of an educational assistant shall at all times be under the direction of the teacher to whom assigned. The assignment of an educational assistant need not be limited to assisting a single teacher. In the event an educational assistant is assigned to assist more than one teacher the assignments shall be clearly delineated and so arranged that the educational assistant shall never be subject to simultaneous supervision or direction by more than one teacher.

Educational assistants assigned to supervise children shall, when the teacher to whom assigned is not physically present, maintain the degree of control and discipline that would be maintained by the teacher.

Educational assistants may not be used in place of classroom teachers or other employees and any payment of compensation by boards of education to educational assistants for such services is prohibited. The ratio between the number of licensed teachers and the pupils in a school district may not be decreased by utilization of educational assistants and no grouping, or other organization of pupils, for utilization of educational assistants shall be established which is inconsistent with sound educational practices and procedures. A school district may employ up to one full time equivalent educational assistant for each six full time equivalent licensed employees of the district. Educational assistants shall not be counted as licensed employees for purposes of state support in the school foundation program and no grouping or regrouping of pupils with educational assistants may be counted as a class or unit for school foundation program purposes. Neither special courses required by the regulations of the state board of education, prescribing minimum qualifications of education for an educational assistant, nor years of service as an educational assistant shall be counted in any way toward qualifying for a teacher license, for a teacher contract of any type, or for determining placement on a salary schedule in a school district as a teacher.

(D) Educational assistants employed by a board of education shall have all rights, benefits, and legal protection available to other nonteaching employees in the school district, except that provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code shall not apply to any person employed as an educational assistant, and shall be members of the school employees retirement system. Educational assistants shall be compensated according to a salary plan adopted annually by the board.

Except as provided in this section nonteaching employees shall not serve as educational assistants without first obtaining an appropriate educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license from the state board of education. A nonteaching employee who is the holder of a valid educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license shall neither render nor be required to render services inconsistent with the type of services authorized by the permit or license held. No person shall receive compensation from a board of education for services rendered as an educational assistant in violation of this provision.

Nonteaching employees whose functions are solely secretarial-clerical and who do not perform any other duties as educational assistants, even though they assist a teacher and work under the direction of a teacher shall not be required to hold a permit or license issued pursuant to this section.

Following the determination of the assignment and general job description of an educational assistant and subject to supervision by the teacher's immediate administrative officer, a teacher to whom an educational assistant is assigned shall make all final determinations of the duties to be assigned to such assistant. Teachers shall not be required to hold a license designated for being a supervisor or administrator in order to perform the necessary supervision of educational assistants.

(E) No person who is, or who has been employed as an educational assistant shall divulge, except to the teacher to whom assigned, or the administrator of the school in the absence of the teacher to whom assigned, or when required to testify in a court or proceedings, any personal information concerning any pupil in the school district which was obtained or obtainable by the educational assistant while so employed. Violation of this provision is grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal, or both.

(F) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the superintendent of a school district may allow an employee who does not hold a permit or license issued under this section to work as a substitute for an educational assistant who is absent on account of illness or on a leave of absence, or to fill a temporary position created by an emergency, provided that the superintendent believes the employee's application materials indicate that the employee is qualified to obtain a permit or license under this section.

An employee shall begin work as a substitute under this division not earlier than on the date on which the employee files an application with the state board for a permit or license under this section. An employee shall cease working as a substitute under this division on the earliest of the following:

(1) The date on which the employee files a valid permit or license issued under this section with the superintendent;

(2) The date on which the employee is denied a permit or license under this section;

(3) Sixty days following the date on which the employee began work as a substitute under this division.

The superintendent shall ensure that an employee assigned to work as a substitute under division (F) of this section has undergone a criminal records check in accordance with section 3319.391 of the Revised Code.

(G) The state board shall issue an educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a permit or license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an educational aide or educational paraprofessional in a state that does not issue that permit or license or both.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:01 AM

Section 3319.089 | Using work experience program participants.

• Effective: November 14, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 190 - 127th General Assembly

The board of education of any city, local, or exempted village school district may adopt a resolution approving a contract with a county department of job and family services under section 5107.541 of the Revised Code to provide for a participant of the work experience program who has a child enrolled in a public school in that district to fulfill the work requirements of the work experience program by volunteering or working in that public school in accordance with section 5107.541 of the Revised Code. Such recipients are not employees of such board of education.

Before a school district places a participant in a public school under this section, the appointing officer or hiring officer of the board of education of a school district shall request a criminal records check of the participant to be conducted in the same manner as required for a person under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. The records check shall be conducted even though the participant, if subsequently hired, would not be considered an employee of the school district for purposes of working at the school. A participant shall not be placed in a school if the participant previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.0810 | Contracting for student transportation services.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of education of any school district wherein the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply may terminate any of its transportation staff positions for reasons of economy and efficiency if the board instead of employing its own staff to transport some or all of the students enrolled in the district schools enters into a contract with an independent agent for the provision of transportation services for such students. Such a contract may be entered into only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) Any collective bargaining agreement between the employee organization representing the employees whose positions are terminated under this section and the board has expired or will expire within sixty days and has not been renewed in conformance with provisions of that agreement and with Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, or the agreement contains provisions permitting the termination of positions for reasons of economy and efficiency while the agreement is in force and the board is in conformance with those provisions.

(2) The board permits any employee whose position is terminated under this section to fill any vacancy within the district's organization for which the employee is qualified. The board shall select from among similarly qualified employees to fill such vacancies pursuant to procedures established under any collective bargaining agreement between the employee organization representing the terminated employees and the board that is in force at the time of the termination, or in absence of such provisions on the basis of seniority of employment by the board with the employee with the greatest seniority having highest priority.

(3) Unless a collective bargaining agreement between the employee organization representing the terminated employees and the board that is in force at the time of the termination provides otherwise, the board permits any employee whose position is terminated under this section to fill the employee's former position in the event that the board reinstates that position within one year after the date the position is terminated under this section.

(4) The board permits any employee whose position is terminated under this section to appeal in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code the board's decision to terminate the employee's position, not to hire that employee for another position pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section, or not to rehire that employee for the position if it is reinstated within one year after the position is terminated pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section.

(5) The contract entered into by the board and an independent agent for the provision of transportation services contains a stipulation requiring the agent to consider hiring any employees of the school district whose positions are terminated under this section for similar positions within the agent's organization.

(6) The contract entered into by the board and an independent agent for the provision of transportation services contains a stipulation requiring the agent to recognize for purposes of employee representation in collective bargaining any employee organization that represented the employees whose positions are terminated under this section in collective bargaining with the board at the time of the termination provided:

(a) A majority of all employees in the bargaining unit agree to such representation;

(b) Such representation is not prohibited by federal law, including any ruling of the national labor relations board;

(c) The employee organization is not prohibited from representing nonpublic employees by other provisions of law or its own governing instruments.

However, any employee whose position is terminated under this section shall not be compelled to be included in such bargaining unit if there is another bargaining unit within the agent's organization that is applicable to the employee.

(B) If after terminating any positions of employment under this section the board fails to comply with any condition prescribed in division (A) of this section or fails to enforce on the agent its contractual obligations prescribed in divisions (A)(5) and (6) of this section, the terminations shall be void and the board shall reinstate the positions and fill them with the employees who filled those positions just prior to the terminations. Such employees shall be compensated at a rate equal to their rate of compensation in those positions just prior to the terminations plus any increases paid since the terminations to other nonteaching employees. The employees shall also be entitled to back pay at such rate for the period from the date of the terminations to the date of the reinstatements minus any pay received by the employees during any time the board was in compliance with such conditions or during any time the board enforced those obligations.

Any employee aggrieved by the failure of the board to comply with any condition prescribed in division (A) of this section or to enforce on the agent its contractual obligations prescribed in divisions (A)(5) and (6) of this section shall have the right to sue the board for reinstatement of the employee's former position as provided for in this division in the court of common pleas for the county in which the school district is located or, if the school district is located in more than one county, in the court of common pleas for the county in which the majority of the territory of the school district is located.

Section 3319.0811 | Supplemental contracts for courses taught outside normal school day.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if the board of education of a school district offers to students of compulsory school age courses for high school credit that are taught at times outside the district's normal school day, the board shall enter into supplemental contracts under section 3319.08 of the Revised Code with the teachers assigned to teach those courses and shall not include such assignment of duties within the teachers' regular employment contracts under that section.

(B) A supplemental contract shall not be required under this section if a teacher voluntarily agrees to a regularly occurring schedule that begins or ends outside the normal school day, so long as the teacher is not assigned more total daily hours than a teacher assigned to the district's normal school day and is otherwise in compliance with applicable requirements of the district's collective bargaining agreement.

Last updated August 15, 2024 at 4:53 PM

Section 3319.0812 | Pre-service teacher permit.

• Effective: April 9, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 208 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining a pre-service teacher permit. The permit shall be required for an individual who is enrolled in an educator preparation program in order to participate in any student classroom teaching or other training experience that involves students in any of grades pre-kindergarten through twelve in a public or chartered nonpublic school and that is required for completion of the program.

(B) Notwithstanding section 3319.226 of the Revised Code, a school district or school may employ an individual who holds a permit issued under this section as a substitute teacher. The individual may teach for up to the equivalent of one full semester, subject to the approval of the employing district board of education or school governing authority and may be compensated for that service. The district superintendent or chief administrator of the school may request that the board or governing authority approve one or more additional subsequent semester-long periods of teaching for the individual.

(C) A pre-service teacher permit shall be valid for one or three years. The state board, on a case-by-case basis, may extend the permit's duration as needed to enable the permit holder to complete the educator preparation program in which the permit holder is enrolled.

(D) An individual applying for a pre-service teacher permit shall be subject to a criminal records check as prescribed by section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. In the manner prescribed by the state board, the individual shall submit the criminal records check to the state board. The state board shall use the information submitted to enroll the individual in the retained applicant fingerprint database, established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, in the same manner as any teacher licensed under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

If the state board receives notification of the arrest or conviction of an individual under division (D) of this section, the state board shall promptly notify the applicable educator preparation program and any school district or school in which the pre-service teacher has been employed or assigned as part of the program and may take any action authorized under sections 3319.31 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code that it considers to be appropriate. Upon receiving notification from the state board of an arrest or conviction of an individual under division (D) of this section, the educator preparation program shall provide to the state board a list of all school districts and schools to which the pre-service teacher has been assigned as a part of the program.

Last updated February 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM

Section 3319.09 | Teacher definitions.

• Effective: June 9, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 125th General Assembly

As used in sections 3319.08 to 3319.18, inclusive, of the Revised Code:

(A) "Teacher" means all persons licensed to teach and who are employed in the public schools of this state as instructors, principals, supervisors, superintendents, or in any other educational position for which the state board of education requires licensure under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code including persons having a license issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code and employed in an educational position, as determined by the state board of education, under programs provided for by federal acts or regulations and financed in whole or in part from federal funds, but for which no licensure requirements for the position can be made under the provisions of such federal acts or regulations.

(B) "Year" as applied to term of service means actual service of not less than one hundred twenty days within a school year; provided that any board of education may grant a leave of absence for professional advancement with full credit for service.

(C) "Continuing service status" for a teacher means employment under a continuing contract.

Section 3319.10 | Employment and status of substitute teachers.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

Teachers may be employed as substitute teachers for terms not to exceed one year for assignment as services are needed to take the place of regular teachers absent on account of illness or on leaves of absence or to fill temporarily positions created by emergencies; such assignment to be subject to termination when such services no longer are needed.

A teacher employed as a substitute with an assignment to one specific teaching position shall after sixty days of service be granted sick leave, visiting days, and other local privileges granted to regular teachers including a salary not less than the minimum salary on the current adopted salary schedule.

A teacher employed as a substitute for one hundred twenty days or more during a school year and re-employed for or assigned to a specific teaching position for the succeeding year shall receive a contract as a regular teacher if the substitute meets the local educational requirements for the employment of regular teachers.

Teachers employed as substitutes on a casual or day-to-day basis shall not be entitled to the notice of nonre-employment prescribed in section 3311.81 or 3319.11 of the Revised Code, but boards of education may grant such teachers sick leave and other local privileges and cumulate such service in determining seniority.

For purposes of determining in any school year the days of service of a substitute teacher under this section, any teacher's days of service in that school year while conditionally employed as a substitute teacher under section 3319.101 of the Revised Code shall count as days of service as a substitute teacher under this section.

Section 3319.101 | Conditional employment of substitute teachers pending receipt of teacher's certificate.

• Effective: June 5, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 81 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Except as provided under division (B) of this section, if any person applies to the board of education of a school district to be employed as a substitute teacher and the person does not hold a valid teacher's certificate issued under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, and if the superintendent of the district believes the person's application materials indicate that the person is qualified to obtain a teacher's certificate under those sections, the board may conditionally employ the person as a substitute teacher during the period, which shall not exceed sixty days, commencing on the date on which the person files an application with the state board of education for a teacher's certificate and ending on the date on which the district board receives notice from the superintendent of the district that the teacher has filed with the superintendent a valid teacher's certificate.

(B) If a person conditionally employed under division (A) of this section is denied a teacher's certificate by the state board, the employing board shall terminate the person from employment.

Section 3319.102 | [Former Section 4 of S.B. 1, 134th General Assembly, as amended by H.B. 583, 134th General Assembly, and amended and codified as R.C. 3319.102 by H.B. 33, 135th General Assembly] Temporary substitute teaching license.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "school governing body" means any of the following:

(1) The board of education of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district;

(2) The governing authority of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;

(3) The governing body of a STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code;

(4) The governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school;

(5) The governing board of an educational service center or a regional council of governments, established under Chapter 167. of the Revised Code, consisting of one or more educational service centers that provide substitute teaching services.

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sections 3301.071, 3319.226, 3319.30, and 3319.36 and Chapters 3314. and 3326. of the Revised Code, or the administrative rules of the state board of education, a school governing body may employ an individual who does not hold a post-secondary degree as a substitute teacher provided that the individual also meets the following requirements:

(1) The individual meets the district's or school's own set of educational requirements.

(2) The individual is deemed to be of good moral character.

(3) The individual successfully completes a criminal records check as prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 3319.226 of the Revised Code, the state board shall issue a one-year temporary substitute teaching license to an individual who does not hold a post-secondary degree but meets the requirements prescribed in division (B) of this section.

(2) The state board shall establish procedures and criteria under which the one-year temporary substitute teaching license may be renewed.

Last updated October 12, 2023 at 1:27 PM

Section 3319.11 | Continuing service status - limited contract - notice of intent not to re-employ.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Evaluation procedures" means the procedures required by the policy adopted pursuant to division (A) of section 3319.111 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Limited contract" means a limited contract, as described in section 3319.08 of the Revised Code, that a school district board of education or governing board of an educational service center enters into with a teacher who is not eligible for continuing service status.

(3) "Extended limited contract" means a limited contract, as described in section 3319.08 of the Revised Code, that a board of education or governing board enters into with a teacher who is eligible for continuing service status.

(B) Teachers eligible for continuing service status in any city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district or educational service center shall be those teachers qualified as described in division (D) of section 3319.08 of the Revised Code, who within the last five years have taught for at least three years in the district or center, and those teachers who, having attained continuing contract status elsewhere, have served two years in the district or center, but the board, upon the recommendation of the superintendent, may at the time of employment or at any time within such two-year period, declare any of the latter teachers eligible.

(1) Upon the recommendation of the superintendent that a teacher eligible for continuing service status be reemployed, a continuing contract shall be entered into between the board and the teacher unless the board by a three-fourths vote of its full membership rejects the recommendation of the superintendent. If the board rejects by a three-fourths vote of its full membership the recommendation of the superintendent that a teacher eligible for continuing service status be reemployed and the superintendent makes no recommendation to the board pursuant to division (C) of this section, the board may declare its intention not to reemploy the teacher by giving the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher. If evaluation procedures have not been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or the board does not give the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher, the teacher is deemed reemployed under an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year at the same salary plus any increment provided by the salary schedule. The teacher is presumed to have accepted employment under the extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year shall be executed accordingly. Upon any subsequent reemployment of the teacher only a continuing contract may be entered into.

(2) If the superintendent recommends that a teacher eligible for continuing service status not be reemployed, the board may declare its intention not to reemploy the teacher by giving the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher. If evaluation procedures have not been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or the board does not give the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher, the teacher is deemed reemployed under an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year at the same salary plus any increment provided by the salary schedule. The teacher is presumed to have accepted employment under the extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year shall be executed accordingly. Upon any subsequent reemployment of a teacher only a continuing contract may be entered into.

(3) Any teacher receiving written notice of the intention of a board not to reemploy such teacher pursuant to this division is entitled to the hearing provisions of division (G) of this section.

(C)(1) If a board rejects the recommendation of the superintendent for reemployment of a teacher pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the superintendent may recommend reemployment of the teacher, if continuing service status has not previously been attained elsewhere, under an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed two years, provided that written notice of the superintendent's intention to make such recommendation has been given to the teacher with reasons directed at the professional improvement of the teacher on or before the first day of June. Upon subsequent reemployment of the teacher only a continuing contract may be entered into.

(2) If a board of education takes affirmative action on a superintendent's recommendation, made pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, of an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed two years but the board does not give the teacher written notice of its affirmative action on the superintendent's recommendation of an extended limited contract on or before the first day of June, the teacher is deemed reemployed under a continuing contract at the same salary plus any increment provided by the salary schedule. The teacher is presumed to have accepted employment under such continuing contract unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and a continuing contract shall be executed accordingly.

(3) A board shall not reject a superintendent's recommendation, made pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, of an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed two years except by a three-fourths vote of its full membership. If a board rejects by a three-fourths vote of its full membership the recommendation of the superintendent of an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed two years, the board may declare its intention not to reemploy the teacher by giving the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher. If evaluation procedures have not been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or if the board does not give the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher, the teacher is deemed reemployed under an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year at the same salary plus any increment provided by the salary schedule. The teacher is presumed to have accepted employment under the extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and an extended limited contract for a term not to exceed one year shall be executed accordingly. Upon any subsequent reemployment of the teacher only a continuing contract may be entered into.

Any teacher receiving written notice of the intention of a board not to reemploy such teacher pursuant to this division is entitled to the hearing provisions of division (G) of this section.

(D) A teacher eligible for continuing contract status employed under an extended limited contract pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section, is, at the expiration of such extended limited contract, deemed reemployed under a continuing contract at the same salary plus any increment granted by the salary schedule, unless evaluation procedures have been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code and the employing board, acting on the superintendent's recommendation that the teacher not be reemployed, gives the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy such teacher. A teacher who does not have evaluation procedures applied in compliance with section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or who does not receive notice on or before the first day of June of the intention of the board not to reemploy such teacher is presumed to have accepted employment under a continuing contract unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and a continuing contract shall be executed accordingly.

Any teacher receiving a written notice of the intention of a board not to reemploy such teacher pursuant to this division is entitled to the hearing provisions of division (G) of this section.

(E) The board shall enter into a limited contract with each teacher employed by the board who is not eligible to be considered for a continuing contract.

Any teacher employed under a limited contract, and not eligible to be considered for a continuing contract, is, at the expiration of such limited contract, considered reemployed under the provisions of this division at the same salary plus any increment provided by the salary schedule unless evaluation procedures have been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code and the employing board, acting upon the superintendent's written recommendation that the teacher not be reemployed, gives such teacher written notice of its intention not to reemploy such teacher on or before the first day of June. A teacher who does not have evaluation procedures applied in compliance with section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or who does not receive notice of the intention of the board not to reemploy such teacher on or before the first day of June is presumed to have accepted such employment unless such teacher notifies the board in writing to the contrary on or before the fifteenth day of June, and a written contract for the succeeding school year shall be executed accordingly.

Any teacher receiving a written notice of the intention of a board not to reemploy such teacher pursuant to this division is entitled to the hearing provisions of division (G) of this section.

(F) The failure of a superintendent to make a recommendation to the board under any of the conditions set forth in divisions (B) to (E) of this section, or the failure of the board to give such teacher a written notice pursuant to divisions (C) to (E) of this section shall not prejudice or prevent a teacher from being deemed reemployed under either a limited or continuing contract as the case may be under the provisions of this section. A failure of the parties to execute a written contract shall not void any automatic reemployment provisions of this section.

(G)(1) Any teacher receiving written notice of the intention of a board of education not to reemploy such teacher pursuant to division (B), (C)(3), (D), or (E) of this section may, within ten days of the date of receipt of the notice, file with the treasurer of the board a written demand for a written statement describing the circumstances that led to the board's intention not to reemploy the teacher.

(2) The treasurer of a board, on behalf of the board, shall, within ten days of the date of receipt of a written demand for a written statement pursuant to division (G)(1) of this section, provide to the teacher a written statement describing the circumstances that led to the board's intention not to reemploy the teacher.

(3) Any teacher receiving a written statement describing the circumstances that led to the board's intention not to reemploy the teacher pursuant to division (G)(2) of this section may, within five days of the date of receipt of the statement, file with the treasurer of the board a written demand for a hearing before the board pursuant to divisions (G)(4) to (6) of this section.

(4) The treasurer of a board, on behalf of the board, shall, within ten days of the date of receipt of a written demand for a hearing pursuant to division (G)(3) of this section, provide to the teacher a written notice setting forth the time, date, and place of the hearing. The board shall schedule and conclude the hearing within forty days of the date on which the treasurer of the board receives a written demand for a hearing pursuant to division (G)(3) of this section.

(5) Any hearing conducted pursuant to this division shall be conducted by a majority of the members of the board. The hearing shall be held in executive session of the board unless the board and the teacher agree to hold the hearing in public. The superintendent, assistant superintendent, the teacher, and any person designated by either party to take a record of the hearing may be present at the hearing. The board may be represented by counsel and the teacher may be represented by counsel or a designee. A record of the hearing may be taken by either party at the expense of the party taking the record.

(6) Within ten days of the conclusion of a hearing conducted pursuant to this division, the board shall issue to the teacher a written decision containing an order affirming the intention of the board not to reemploy the teacher reported in the notice given to the teacher pursuant to division (B), (C)(3), (D), or (E) of this section or an order vacating the intention not to reemploy and expunging any record of the intention, notice of the intention, and the hearing conducted pursuant to this division.

(7) A teacher may appeal an order affirming the intention of the board not to reemploy the teacher to the court of common pleas of the county in which the largest portion of the territory of the school district or service center is located, within thirty days of the date on which the teacher receives the written decision, on the grounds that the board has not complied with this section or section 3319.111 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding section 2506.04 of the Revised Code, the court in an appeal under this division is limited to the determination of procedural errors and to ordering the correction of procedural errors and shall have no jurisdiction to order a board to reemploy a teacher, except that the court may order a board to reemploy a teacher in compliance with the requirements of division (B), (C)(3), (D), or (E) of this section when the court determines that evaluation procedures have not been complied with pursuant to section 3319.111 of the Revised Code or the board has not given the teacher written notice on or before the first day of June of its intention not to reemploy the teacher pursuant to division (B), (C)(3), (D), or (E) of this section. Otherwise, the determination whether to reemploy or not reemploy a teacher is solely a board's determination and not a proper subject of judicial review and, except as provided in this division, no decision of a board whether to reemploy or not reemploy a teacher shall be invalidated by the court on any basis, including that the decision was not warranted by the results of any evaluation or was not warranted by any statement given pursuant to division (G)(2) of this section.

No appeal of an order of a board may be made except as specified in this division.

(H)(1) In giving a teacher any notice required by division (B), (C), (D), or (E) of this section, the board or the superintendent shall do either of the following:

(a) Deliver the notice by personal service upon the teacher;

(b) Deliver the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, addressed to the teacher at the teacher's place of employment and deliver a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, addressed to the teacher at the teacher's place of residence. Delivery of the notice required under division (H)(1)(b) of this section may be satisfied by electronic delivery with electronic proof of delivery.

(2) In giving a board any notice required by division (B), (C), (D), or (E) of this section, the teacher shall do either of the following:

(a) Deliver the notice by personal delivery to the office of the superintendent during regular business hours;

(b) Deliver the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, addressed to the office of the superintendent and deliver a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, addressed to the president of the board at the president's place of residence. Delivery of the notice required under division (H)(2)(b) of this section may be satisfied by electronic delivery with electronic proof of delivery.

(3) When any notice and copy of the notice are mailed pursuant to division (H)(1)(b) or (2)(b) of this section, the notice or copy of the notice with the earlier date of receipt shall constitute the notice for the purposes of division (B), (C), (D), or (E) of this section.

(I) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any supplemental written contracts entered into pursuant to section 3319.08 of the Revised Code.

(J) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the dates set forth in this section as "on or before the first day of June" or "on or before the fifteenth day of June" prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after March 22, 2013.

Last updated August 16, 2023 at 12:31 PM

Section 3319.111 | Applicability of section; evaluating teachers on limited contracts.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 3319.09 of the Revised Code, this section applies to any person who is employed under a teacher license issued under this chapter, or under a professional or permanent teacher's certificate issued under former section 3319.222 of the Revised Code, and who spends at least fifty per cent of the time employed providing student instruction. However, this section does not apply to any person who is employed as a substitute teacher or as an instructor of adult education.

(A) The board of education of each school district, in consultation with teachers employed by the board, shall update its standards-based teacher evaluation policy to conform with either the framework for evaluation of teachers adopted under section 3319.112 of the Revised Code or a framework created or adopted by the board. The policy shall become operative at the expiration of any collective bargaining agreement covering teachers employed by the board that is in effect on November 2, 2018, and shall be included in any renewal or extension of such an agreement.

(B) When using measures of student performance as evidence in a teacher's evaluation, those measures shall be high-quality student data. The board of education of each school district may use data from the assessments on the list developed under division (B)(2) of section 3319.112 of the Revised Code as high-quality student data.

(C)(1) The board shall conduct an evaluation of each teacher employed by the board at least once each school year, except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section. The evaluation shall be completed by the first day of May and the teacher shall receive a written report of the results of the evaluation by the tenth day of May.

(2)(a) The board may evaluate each teacher who received a rating of accomplished on the teacher's most recent evaluation conducted under this section once every three school years, so long as the teacher submits a self-directed professional growth plan to the evaluator that focuses on specific areas identified in the observations and evaluation and the evaluator determines that the teacher is making progress on that plan.

(b) The board may evaluate each teacher who received a rating of skilled on the teacher's most recent evaluation conducted under this section once every two years, so long as the teacher and evaluator jointly develop a professional growth plan for the teacher that focuses on specific areas identified in the observations and evaluation and the evaluator determines that the teacher is making progress on that plan.

(c) For each teacher who is evaluated pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, the evaluation shall be completed by the first day of May of the applicable school year, and the teacher shall receive a written report of the results of the evaluation by the tenth day of May of that school year.

(d) The board may elect not to conduct an evaluation of a teacher who meets one of the following requirements:

(i) The teacher was on leave from the school district for fifty per cent or more of the school year, as calculated by the board.

(ii) The teacher has submitted notice of retirement and that notice has been accepted by the board not later than the first day of December of the school year in which the evaluation is otherwise scheduled to be conducted.

(e) The board may elect not to conduct an evaluation of a teacher who is participating in the teacher residency program established under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code for the year during which that teacher takes, for the first time, at least half of the performance-based assessment prescribed by the state board of education for resident educators.

(3) In any year that a teacher is not formally evaluated pursuant to division (C) of this section as a result of receiving a rating of accomplished or skilled on the teacher's most recent evaluation, an individual qualified to evaluate a teacher under division (D) of this section shall conduct at least one observation of the teacher and hold at least one conference with the teacher. The conference shall include a discussion of progress on the teacher's professional growth plan.

(D) Each evaluation conducted pursuant to this section shall be conducted by one or more of the following persons who hold a credential established by the state board of education for being an evaluator:

(1) A person who is under contract with the board pursuant to section 3319.01 or 3319.02 of the Revised Code and holds a license designated for being a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or principal issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(2) A person who is under contract with the board pursuant to section 3319.02 of the Revised Code and holds a license designated for being a vocational director, administrative specialist, or supervisor in any educational area issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(3) A person designated to conduct evaluations under an agreement entered into by the board, including an agreement providing for peer review entered into by the board and representatives of teachers employed by the board;

(4) A person who is employed by an entity contracted by the board to conduct evaluations and who holds a license designated for being a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, vocational director, administrative specialist, or supervisor in any educational area issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code or is qualified to conduct evaluations.

(E) Notwithstanding division (A)(3) of section 3319.112 of the Revised Code, the board shall require at least three formal observations of each teacher who is under consideration for nonrenewal and with whom the board has entered into a limited contract or an extended limited contract under section 3319.11 of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall include in its evaluation policy procedures for using the evaluation results for retention and promotion decisions and for removal of poorly performing teachers. Seniority shall not be the basis for a decision to retain a teacher, except when making a decision between teachers who have comparable evaluations.

(G) For purposes of section 3333.0411 of the Revised Code, the board annually shall report to the state board the number of teachers for whom an evaluation was conducted under this section and the number of teachers assigned each rating prescribed under division (B)(1) of section 3319.112 of the Revised Code or the equivalent framework created or adopted by the board, aggregated by the teacher preparation programs from which and the years in which the teachers graduated. The state board shall establish guidelines for reporting the information required by this division. The guidelines shall not permit or require that the name of, or any other personally identifiable information about, any teacher be reported under this division.

(H) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the requirements of this section prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after November 2, 2018.

Last updated August 15, 2024 at 4:53 PM

Section 3319.112 | Revision of standards-based state framework for the evaluation of teachers.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall revise the standards-based state framework for the evaluation of teachers based on the recommendations of the educator standards board established under section 3319.60 of the Revised Code. The state board shall hold at least one public hearing on the revised framework and shall make the full text of the revised framework available at each hearing it holds on the revised framework. The state board shall adopt the revised framework. The state board may update the framework periodically by adoption of a resolution. The framework shall establish an evaluation system that does the following:

(1) Provides for multiple evaluation factors;

(2) Is aligned with the standards for teachers adopted under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code;

(3) Requires observation of the teacher being evaluated, including at least two formal observations by the evaluator of at least thirty minutes each and classroom walk-throughs;

(4) Assigns a rating on each evaluation in accordance with division (B) of this section;

(5) Requires each teacher to be provided with a written report of the results of the teacher's evaluation;

(6) Uses at least two measures of high-quality student data to provide evidence of student learning attributable to the teacher being evaluated. The state board shall define "high-quality student data" for this purpose. When applicable to the grade level or subject area taught by a teacher, high-quality student data shall include the value-added progress dimension established under section 3302.021 of the Revised Code, but the teacher or evaluator shall use at least one other measure of high-quality student data to demonstrate student learning. In accordance with the guidance described in division (D)(3) of this section, high-quality student data may be used as evidence in any component of the evaluation related to the following:

(a) Knowledge of the students to whom the teacher provides instruction;

(b) The teacher's use of differentiated instructional practices based on the needs or abilities of individual students;

(c) Assessment of student learning;

(d) The teacher's use of assessment data;

(e) Professional responsibility and growth.

(7) Prohibits the shared attribution of student performance data among all teachers in a district, building, grade, content area, or other group;

(8) Includes development of a professional growth plan or improvement plan for the teacher that is based on the results of the evaluation and is aligned to any school district or building improvement plan required for the teacher's district or building under the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965," as amended by the "Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015," Pub. L. No. 114-95, 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.;

(9) Provides for professional development to accelerate and continue teacher growth and provide support to poorly performing teachers;

(10) Provides for the allocation of financial resources to support professional development;

(11) Prohibits the use of student learning objectives.

(B) For purposes of the framework adopted under this section, the state board also shall do the following:

(1) Revise, as necessary, specific standards and criteria that distinguish between the following levels of performance for teachers and principals for the purpose of assigning ratings on any evaluations conducted under sections 3311.80, 3311.84, 3319.02, and 3319.111 of the Revised Code using the framework prescribed by this section:

(a) Accomplished;

(b) Skilled;

(c) Developing;

(d) Ineffective.

(2) Develop a list of student assessments that measure mastery of the course content for the appropriate grade level, which may include nationally normed standardized assessments, industry certification examinations, or end-of-course examinations. The data from these assessments may be considered high-quality student data.

(C) The state board shall consult with experts, teachers and principals employed in public schools, the educator standards board, and representatives of stakeholder groups in revising the standards and criteria required by division (B)(1) of this section.

(D) To assist school districts in developing evaluation policies under sections 3311.80, 3311.84, 3319.02, and 3319.111 of the Revised Code, the state board shall do all of the following:

(1) Serve as a clearinghouse of promising evaluation procedures and evaluation models that districts may use;

(2) Provide technical assistance to districts in creating evaluation policies;

(3) Provide guidance to districts on how high-quality student data may be used as evidence of student learning attributable to a particular teacher, including examples of appropriate use of that data within the framework adopted under this section;

(4) Provide guidance to districts on how information from student surveys, student portfolios, peer review evaluations, teacher self-evaluations, and other components determined appropriate by the district may be used as part of the evaluation process.

(E) Not later than July 1, 2020, the state board, in consultation with state agencies that employ teachers, shall update its standards-based framework for the evaluation of teachers employed by those agencies. Each state agency that employs teachers shall adopt a standards-based teacher evaluation policy to conform with the framework. The policy shall become operative at the expiration of any collective bargaining agreement covering teachers employed by the agency that is in effect on November 2, 2018, and shall be included in any renewal or extension of such an agreement. However, this division does not apply to any person who is employed as a substitute teacher or as an instructor of adult education.

Last updated August 15, 2024 at 4:54 PM

Section 3319.113 | Standards-based state framework for evaluation of school counselors.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall develop a standards-based state framework for the evaluation of school counselors. The state board may update the framework periodically by adoption of a resolution. The framework shall establish an evaluation system that does the following:

(1) Requires school counselors to demonstrate their ability to produce positive student outcomes using metrics, including those from the school or school district's report card issued under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code when appropriate;

(2) Is aligned with the standards for school counselors adopted under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code and requires school counselors to demonstrate their ability in all the areas identified by those standards;

(3) Requires that all school counselors be evaluated annually, except as otherwise appropriate for high-performing school counselors or as specified in division (D) of this section;

(4) Assigns a rating on each evaluation in accordance with division (B) of this section;

(5) Designates the personnel that may conduct evaluations of school counselors in accordance with this framework;

(6) Requires that each school counselor be provided with a written report of the results of that school counselor's evaluation;

(7) Provides for professional development to accelerate and continue school counselor growth and provide support to poorly performing school counselors.

(B)(1) The state board shall develop specific standards and criteria that distinguish between the following levels of performance for school counselors for the purposes of assigning ratings on the evaluations conducted under this section:

(a) Accomplished;

(b) Skilled;

(c) Developing;

(d) Ineffective.

(2) The state board shall consult with experts, school counselors and principals employed in public schools, and representatives of stakeholder groups in developing the standards and criteria required by division (B)(1) of this section.

(C)(1) Not later than September 30, 2016, each school district board of education shall adopt a standards-based school counselor evaluation policy that conforms with the framework for the evaluation of school counselors developed under this section. The policy shall become operative at the expiration of any collective bargaining agreement covering school counselors employed by the board that is in effect on September 29, 2015, and shall be included in any renewal or extension of such an agreement.

(2) A district board shall include both of the following in its evaluation policy:

(a) The implementation of the framework for the evaluation of school counselors developed under this section beginning in the 2016-2017 school year;

(b) Procedures for using the evaluation results, beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, for both of the following:

(i) Decisions regarding retention and promotion of school counselors;

(ii) Removal of poorly performing school counselors.

(D) Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, a district board may elect not to conduct an evaluation of a school counselor who meets one of the following requirements:

(1) The school counselor was on leave from the school district for fifty per cent or more of the school year, as calculated by the board.

(2) The school counselor has submitted notice of retirement and that notice has been accepted by the board not later than the first day of December of the school year in which the evaluation is otherwise scheduled to be conducted.

(E) Each district board shall annually submit a report to the state board, in a form and manner prescribed by the state board, regarding its implementation of division (C) of this section. At no time shall the state board permit or require that the name or personally identifiable information of any school counselor be reported to the state board under this division.

(F) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the requirements of this section prevail over any conflicting provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after September 29, 2015.

Last updated September 1, 2023 at 3:48 PM

Section 3319.12 | Annual notice of salary to be paid teacher - transfer to other positions.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

Each board of education shall cause notice to be given annually not later than the first day of July to each teacher who holds a contract valid for the succeeding school year, as to the salary to be paid such teacher during such year. Such salary shall not be lower than the salary paid during the preceding school year unless such reduction is a part of a uniform plan affecting the entire district. This section does not prevent increases of salary after the board's annual notice has been given.

Except by mutual agreement of the parties thereto a teacher employed under a contract of employment in an administrative or supervisory position in a school district, or in any position provided for by section 3319.01 or 3319.02 of the Revised Code, shall not be transferred during the life of the teacher's contract to a position of lesser responsibility. No contract or supplemental contract for the employment of a teacher, whether for an administrative or supervisory position, a position provided for by sections 3319.01 and 3319.02 of the Revised Code, regular teaching duties, or additional duties, may be terminated or suspended by a board of education except pursuant to section 3311.82, 3319.02, or 3319.16 of the Revised Code, and the salaries and compensations prescribed by such contracts shall not be reduced by a board of education unless such reduction is a part of a uniform plan affecting the entire district. This section shall apply only to contracts entered into after August 18, 1969.

Section 3319.13 | Leave of absence - request - employment of replacement.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

Upon the written request of a teacher or a regular nonteaching school employee, a board of education may grant a leave of absence for a period of not more than two consecutive school years for educational, professional, or other purposes, and shall grant such leave where illness or other disability is the reason for the request. Upon subsequent request, such leave may be renewed by the board. Without request, a board may grant similar leave of absence and renewals thereof to any teacher or regular nonteaching school employee because of physical or mental disability, but such teacher may have a hearing on such unrequested leave of absence or its renewals in accordance with section 3311.82 or 3319.16 of the Revised Code, and such nonteaching school employee may have a hearing on such unrequested leave of absence or its renewals in accordance with division (C) of section 3319.081 of the Revised Code. Upon the return to service of a teacher or a nonteaching school employee at the expiration of a leave of absence, the teacher or nonteaching school employee shall resume the contract status that the teacher or nonteaching school employee held prior to the leave of absence. Any teacher who leaves a teaching position for service in the uniformed services and who returns from service in the uniformed services that is terminated in a manner other than as described in section 4304 of Title 38 of the United States Code, "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C.A. 4304, shall resume the contract status held prior to entering the uniformed services, subject to passing a physical examination by an individual authorized by the Revised Code to conduct physical examinations, including a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife. Any written documentation of the physical examination shall be completed by the individual who conducted the examination. Such contract status shall be resumed at the first of the school semester or the beginning of the school year following return from the uniformed services. For purposes of this section and section 3319.14 of the Revised Code, "uniformed services" and "service in the uniformed services" have the same meanings as defined in section 5923.05 of the Revised Code.

Upon the return of a nonteaching school employee from a leave of absence, the board may terminate the employment of a person hired exclusively for the purpose of replacing the returning employee while the returning employee was on leave. If, after the return of a nonteaching employee from leave, the person employed exclusively for the purpose of replacing an employee while the employee was on leave is continued in employment as a regular nonteaching school employee or if the person is hired by the board as a regular nonteaching school employee within a year after employment as a replacement is terminated, the person shall, for purposes of section 3319.081 of the Revised Code, receive credit for the person's length of service with the school district during such replacement period in the following manner:

(A) If employed as a replacement for less than twelve months, the person shall be employed under a contract valid for a period equal to twelve months less the number of months employed as a replacement. At the end of such contract period, if the person is reemployed it shall be under a two-year contract. Subsequent reemployment shall be pursuant to division (B) of section 3319.081 of the Revised Code.

(B) If employed as a replacement for twelve months or more but less than twenty-four months, the person shall be employed under a contract valid for a period equal to twenty-four months less the number of months employed as a replacement. Subsequent reemployment shall be pursuant to division (B) of section 3319.081 of the Revised Code.

(C) If employed as a replacement for more than twenty-four months, the person shall be employed pursuant to division (B) of section 3319.081 of the Revised Code.

For purposes of this section, employment during any part of a month shall count as employment during the entire month.

Section 3319.131 | Leaves of absence for professional growth.

• Effective: September 6, 1957
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 163 - 102nd General Assembly

A public school teacher who has completed five years of service may, with the permission of the board of education and the superintendent of schools, be entitled to take a leave of absence with part pay, for one or two semesters subject to the following restrictions: The teacher shall present to the superintendent for approval, a plan for professional growth prior to such a grant of permission, and at the conclusion of the leave provide evidence that the plan was followed. The teacher may be required to return to the district at the end of the leave for a period of at least one year, unless the teacher has completed twenty-five years of teaching in this state.

The board of education may not grant such a leave unless there is available a satisfactory substitute, nor grant such leaves to more than five per cent of the professional staff at any one time, nor allow a part salary in excess of the difference between the substitute's pay and the teacher's expected salary, nor grant a leave longer than one school year, nor grant a leave to any teacher more often than once for each five years of service, nor grant a leave a second time to the same individual when other members of the staff have filed a request for such a leave.

Section 3319.14 | Military leave of absence.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

Any teacher who has left, or leaves, a teaching position, by resignation or otherwise, and within forty school days thereafter entered, or enters, the uniformed services and whose service is terminated in a manner other than as described in section 4304 of Title 38 of the United States Code, "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C.A. 4304, shall be reemployed by the board of education of the district in which the teacher held such teaching position, under the same type of contract as that which the teacher last held in such district, if the teacher applies to the board of education for reemployment in accordance with the "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C.A. 4312. Upon such application, the teacher shall be reemployed at the first of the next school semester, if the application is made not less than thirty days prior to the first of the next school semester, in which case the teacher shall be reemployed the first of the following school semester, unless the board of education waives the requirement for the thirty-day period.

For the purposes of seniority and placement on the salary schedule, years of absence performing service in the uniformed services shall be counted as though teaching service had been performed during such time.

The board of education of the district in which such teacher was employed and is reemployed under this section may suspend the contract of the teacher whose services become unnecessary by reason of the return of a teacher from service in the uniformed services in accordance with section 3311.83, 3319.17, or 3319.171 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.141 | Sick leave.

• Effective: March 20, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 196 - 135th General Assembly

Each person who is employed by any board of education in this state, except for substitutes, adult education instructors who are scheduled to work the full-time equivalent of less than one hundred twenty days per school year, or persons who are employed on an as-needed, seasonal, or intermittent basis, shall be entitled to fifteen days sick leave with pay, for each year under contract, which shall be credited at the rate of one and one-fourth days per month. Teachers and regular nonteaching school employees, upon approval of the responsible administrative officer of the school district, may use sick leave for absence due to personal illness, pregnancy, injury, exposure to contagious disease which could be communicated to others, and for absence due to illness, injury, or death in the employee's immediate family. Unused sick leave shall be cumulative up to one hundred twenty work days, unless more than one hundred twenty days are approved by the employing board of education. The previously accumulated sick leave of a person who has been separated from public service, whether accumulated pursuant to section 124.38 of the Revised Code or pursuant to this section, shall be placed to the person's credit upon re-employment in the public service, provided that such re-employment takes place within ten years of the date of the last termination from public service. A teacher or nonteaching school employee who transfers from one public agency to another shall be credited with the unused balance of the teacher's or nonteaching employee's accumulated sick leave up to the maximum of the sick leave accumulation permitted in the public agency to which the employee transfers. Teachers and nonteaching school employees who render regular part-time, per diem, or hourly service shall be entitled to sick leave for the time actually worked at the same rate as that granted like full-time employees, calculated in the same manner as the ratio of sick leave granted to hours of service established by section 124.38 of the Revised Code. Each board of education may establish regulations for the entitlement, crediting and use of sick leave by those substitute teachers employed by such board pursuant to section 3319.10 of the Revised Code who are not otherwise entitled to sick leave pursuant to such section. A board of education shall require a teacher or nonteaching school employee to furnish a written, signed statement on forms prescribed by such board to justify the use of sick leave. If medical attention is required, the employee's statement shall list the name and address of the attending physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse practitioner and the dates when the physician or nurse was consulted. Nothing in this section shall be construed to waive the physician-patient or advanced practice registered nurse-patient privilege provided by section 2317.02 of the Revised Code. Falsification of a statement is grounds for suspension or termination of employment under sections 3311.82, 3319.081, and 3319.16 of the Revised Code. No sick leave shall be granted or credited to a teacher after the teacher's retirement or termination of employment.

Except to the extent used as sick leave, leave granted under regulations adopted by a board of education pursuant to section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code shall not be charged against sick leave earned or earnable under this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect in any other way the granting of leave pursuant to section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code and any granting of sick leave pursuant to such section shall be charged against sick leave accumulated pursuant to this section.

This section shall not be construed to interfere with any unused sick leave credit in any agency of government where attendance records are maintained and credit has been given for unused sick leave. Unused sick leave accumulated by teachers and nonteaching school employees under section 124.38 of the Revised Code shall continue to be credited toward the maximum accumulation permitted in accordance with this section. Each newly hired regular nonteaching and each regular nonteaching employee of any board of education who has exhausted the employee's accumulated sick leave shall be entitled to an advancement of not less than five days of sick leave each year, as authorized by rules which each board shall adopt, to be charged against the sick leave the employee subsequently accumulates under this section.

This section shall be uniformly administered.

Last updated February 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM

Section 3319.142 | Personal leave for nonteaching employees.

• Effective: June 23, 1976
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 238 - 111th General Assembly

Each board of education shall adopt rules entitling regular nonteaching employees, during each school year, to a minimum of three days of personal leave at the employee's regular compensation. The rules shall govern the use and administration of personal leave, but they need not specify each occasion or purpose for which personal leave may be taken. Personal leave shall be administered by the superintendent or an administrative employee designated by him. Personal leave days shall not be charged against sick leave earned under section 3319.141 of the Revised Code.

If a board of education fails to adopt rules as required by this section, each regular non-teaching employee of the board is entitled to three days of unrestricted personal leave during the school year.

Section 3319.143 | Policy of assault leave.

• Effective: March 20, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 196 - 135th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 3319.141 of the Revised Code, the board of education of a city, exempted village, local or joint vocational school district may adopt a policy of assault leave by which an employee who is absent due to physical disability resulting from an assault which occurs in the course of board employment will be maintained on full pay status during the period of such absence. A board of education electing to effect such a policy of assault leave shall establish rules for the entitlement, crediting, and use of assault leave and file a copy of same with the department of education and workforce. A board of education adopting this policy shall require an employee to furnish a signed statement on forms prescribed by such board to justify the use of assault leave. If medical attention is required, a certificate from a licensed physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse practitioner stating the nature of the disability and its duration shall be required before assault leave can be approved for payment. Falsification of either the statement or the certificate is grounds for suspension or termination of employment under section 3311.82 or 3319.16 of the Revised Code.

Assault leave granted under rules adopted by a board of education pursuant to this section shall not be charged against sick leave earned or earnable under section 3319.141 of the Revised Code or leave granted under rules adopted by a board of education pursuant to section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code. This section shall be uniformly administered in those districts where such policy is adopted.

Last updated February 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM

Section 3319.15 | Termination of contract by teacher.

• Effective: October 29, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 230 - 121st General Assembly

No teacher shall terminate the teacher's contract after the tenth day of July of any school year or during the school year, prior to the termination of the annual session, without the consent of the board of education; and such teacher may terminate the teacher's contract at any other time by giving five days' written notice to the employing board. Upon complaint by the employing board to the state board of education and after investigation by it, the license of a teacher terminating the teacher's contract in any other manner than provided in this section may be suspended for not more than one year.

Section 3319.151 | Prohibition on assisting students in cheating on assessments.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "assessment" means an assessment administered under section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Reveal to any student any specific question that the person knows is part of an assessment or in any other way assist a pupil to cheat on an assessment;

(2) Obtain prior knowledge of the contents of an assessment;

(3) Use prior knowledge of the contents of an assessment to assist students in preparing for the assessment;

(4) Fail to comply with any rule adopted by the department of education and workforce regarding security protocols for an assessment.

(C) On a finding by the state board of education, after investigation, that a school employee who holds a license , as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, has violated division (B) of this section, the state board shall take any action against the employee under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code that it considers appropriate, based on the nature and extent of the violation. The state board shall give the employee notice of the allegation upon commencing an investigation and shall give the employee an opportunity to respond prior to taking any disciplinary action.

(D)(1) Violation of division (B) of this section is grounds for termination of employment of a nonteaching employee under division (C) of section 3319.081 or section 124.34 of the Revised Code.

(2) Violation of division (B) of this section is grounds for termination of a teacher contract under section 3311.82 or 3319.16 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 1, 2023 at 3:52 PM

Section 3319.16 | Termination of contract by board of education.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The contract of any teacher employed by the board of education of any city, exempted village, local, county, or joint vocational school district may not be terminated except for good and just cause. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of this section relating to the grounds for termination of the contract of a teacher prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into after October 16, 2009.

Before terminating any contract, the employing board shall furnish the teacher a written notice signed by its treasurer of its intention to consider the termination of the teacher's contract with full specification of the grounds for such consideration. The board shall not proceed with formal action to terminate the contract until after the tenth day after receipt of the notice by the teacher. Within ten days after receipt of the notice from the treasurer of the board, the teacher may file with the treasurer a written demand for a hearing before the board or before a referee, and the board shall set a time for the hearing which shall be within thirty days from the date of receipt of the written demand, and the treasurer shall give the teacher at least twenty days' notice in writing of the time and place of the hearing. If a referee is demanded by either the teacher or board, the treasurer also shall give twenty days' notice to the department of education and workforce. No hearing shall be held during the summer vacation without the teacher's consent. The hearing shall be private unless the teacher requests a public hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by a referee appointed pursuant to section 3319.161 of the Revised Code, if demanded; otherwise, it shall be conducted by a majority of the members of the board and shall be confined to the grounds given for the termination. The board shall provide for a complete record of the proceedings, a copy of the record to be furnished to the teacher. The board may suspend a teacher pending final action to terminate the teacher's contract if, in its judgment, the character of the charges warrants such action.

Both parties may be present at such hearing, be represented by counsel, require witnesses to be under oath, cross-examine witnesses, take a record of the proceedings, and require the presence of witnesses in their behalf upon subpoena to be issued by the treasurer of the board. In case of the failure of any person to comply with a subpoena, a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the person resides, upon application of any interested party, shall compel attendance of the person by attachment proceedings as for contempt. Any member of the board or the referee may administer oaths to witnesses. After a hearing by a referee, the referee shall file a report within ten days after the termination of the hearing. After consideration of the referee's report, the board, by a majority vote, may accept or reject the referee's recommendation on the termination of the teacher's contract. After a hearing by the board, the board, by majority vote, may enter its determination upon its minutes. Any order of termination of a contract shall state the grounds for termination. If the decision, after hearing, is against termination of the contract, the charges and the record of the hearing shall be physically expunged from the minutes, and, if the teacher has suffered any loss of salary by reason of being suspended, the teacher shall be paid the teacher's full salary for the period of such suspension.

Any teacher affected by an order of termination of contract may appeal to the court of common pleas of the county in which the school is located within thirty days after receipt of notice of the entry of such order. The appeal shall be an original action in the court and shall be commenced by the filing of a complaint against the board, in which complaint the facts shall be alleged upon which the teacher relies for a reversal or modification of such order of termination of contract. Upon service or waiver of summons in that appeal, the board immediately shall transmit to the clerk of the court for filing a transcript of the original papers filed with the board, a certified copy of the minutes of the board into which the termination finding was entered, and a certified transcript of all evidence adduced at the hearing or hearings before the board or a certified transcript of all evidence adduced at the hearing or hearings before the referee, whereupon the cause shall be at issue without further pleading and shall be advanced and heard without delay. The court shall examine the transcript and record of the hearing and shall hold such additional hearings as it considers advisable, at which it may consider other evidence in addition to the transcript and record.

Upon final hearing, the court shall grant or deny the relief prayed for in the complaint as may be proper in accordance with the evidence adduced in the hearing. Such an action is a special proceeding, and either the teacher or the board may appeal from the decision of the court of common pleas pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

In any court action, the board may utilize the services of the prosecuting attorney, village solicitor, city director of law, or other chief legal officer of a municipal corporation as authorized by section 3313.35 of the Revised Code, or may employ other legal counsel.

A violation of division (A)(7) of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code is grounds for termination of a teacher contract under this section.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 12:21 PM

Section 3319.161 | Appointing referees for contract termination cases.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

For the purpose of providing referees for the hearings required by section 3319.16 of the Revised Code, the department of education and workforce shall compile a list of resident electors from names that the department shall solicit annually from the state bar association.

Upon receipt of notice that a referee has been demanded by a teacher or by a board of education, the department shall immediately designate three persons from such list, from whom the referee to hear the matter shall be chosen, and the department shall immediately notify the designees, the teacher, and the board of the school district involved. If within five days of receipt of the notice, the teacher and board are unable to select a mutually agreeable designee to serve as referee, the department shall appoint one of the three designees to serve as referee. The appointment of the referee shall be entered in the minutes of the board. The referee appointed shall be paid the referee's usual and customary fee for attending the hearing which shall be paid from the school district general fund upon vouchers approved by the department and presented to the treasurer of the district. No referee shall be a member of, an employee of, or teacher employed by the board of education nor related to any such person by consanguinity or marriage.

Last updated September 1, 2023 at 3:55 PM

Section 3319.17 | Reduction in number of teachers - restoration.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "interdistrict contract" means any contract or agreement entered into by an educational service center governing board and another board or other public entity pursuant to section 3313.17, 3313.841, 3313.842, 3313.843, 3313.844, 3313.845, 3313.91, or 3323.08 of the Revised Code, including any such contract or agreement for the provision of services funded under division (E) of section 3317.024 of the Revised Code.

(B) When, for any of the following reasons that apply to any city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district or any educational service center, the board decides that it will be necessary to reduce the number of teachers it employs, it may make a reasonable reduction:

(1) In the case of any district or service center, return to duty of regular teachers after leaves of absence including suspension of schools, territorial changes affecting the district or center, or financial reasons;

(2) In the case of any city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district, decreased enrollment of pupils in the district;

(3) In the case of any governing board of a service center providing any particular service directly to pupils pursuant to one or more interdistrict contracts requiring such service, reduction in the total number of pupils the governing board is required to provide with the service under all interdistrict contracts as a result of the termination or nonrenewal of one or more of these interdistrict contracts;

(4) In the case of any governing board providing any particular service that it does not provide directly to pupils pursuant to one or more interdistrict contracts requiring such service, reduction in the total level of the service the governing board is required to provide under all interdistrict contracts as a result of the termination or nonrenewal of one or more of these interdistrict contracts.

(C) In making any such reduction, any city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school board shall proceed to suspend contracts in accordance with the recommendation of the superintendent of schools who shall, within each teaching field affected, give preference to teachers on continuing contracts. The board shall not give preference to any teacher based on seniority, except when making a decision between teachers who have comparable evaluations.

On a case-by-case basis, in lieu of suspending a contract in whole, a board may suspend a contract in part, so that an individual is required to work a percentage of the time the employee otherwise is required to work under the contract and receives a commensurate percentage of the full compensation the employee otherwise would receive under the contract.

The teachers whose continuing contracts are suspended by any board pursuant to this section shall have the right of restoration to continuing service status by that board if and when teaching positions become vacant or are created for which any of such teachers are or become qualified. No teacher whose continuing contract has been suspended pursuant to this section shall lose that right of restoration to continuing service status by reason of having declined recall to a position that is less than full-time or, if the teacher was not employed full-time just prior to suspension of the teacher's continuing contract, to a position requiring a lesser percentage of full-time employment than the position the teacher last held while employed in the district or service center. Seniority shall not be the basis for rehiring a teacher, except when making a decision between teachers who have comparable evaluations.

(D) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code:

(1) The requirements of this section, as it existed prior to September 29, 2011, prevail over any conflicting provisions of agreements between employee organizations and public employers entered into between September 29, 2005, and September 29, 2011;

(2) The requirements of this section, as it exists on and after September 29, 2011, prevail over any conflicting provisions of agreements between employee organizations and public employers entered into on or after September 29, 2011.

Section 3319.171 | Administrative personnel suspension policy.

• Effective: June 30, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding section 3319.17 of the Revised Code, the board of education of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district or the governing board of an educational service center may adopt an administrative personnel suspension policy governing the suspension of any contract of employment entered into by a board under section 3319.02 of the Revised Code. If a board adopts a policy under this section, no contract entered into by a board under section 3319.02 of the Revised Code may be suspended except pursuant to the policy. If a board does not adopt such a policy, no such contract may be suspended by a board except pursuant to section 3319.17 of the Revised Code.

(B) The administrative personnel suspension policy shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) One or more reasons that a board may consider for suspending any contract of employment entered into under section 3319.02 of the Revised Code. A reason for such suspension may include the financial conditions of the school district or educational service center.

(2) Procedures for determining the order of suspension of contracts within the employment service areas affected;

(3) Provisions requiring a right of restoration for employees whose contracts of employment are suspended under the policy if and when any positions become vacant or are created for which any of them are or become qualified.

(C) The policy procedures and provisions adopted under divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section shall be developed by the board of a district or service center with input from the superintendent and all assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and other administrators employed by that board under section 3319.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.172 | Reasonable reductions in nonteaching employees.

• Effective: September 29, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly

The board of education of each school district wherein the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code do not apply and the governing board of each educational service center may adopt a resolution ordering reasonable reductions in the number of nonteaching employees for any of the reasons for which the board of education or governing board may make reductions in teaching employees, as set forth in division (B) of section 3319.17 of the Revised Code.

In making any reduction under this section, the board of education or governing board shall proceed to suspend contracts in accordance with the recommendation of the superintendent of the district or service center who shall, within each pay classification affected, give preference first to employees under continuing contracts and then to employees on the basis of seniority. On a case-by-case basis, in lieu of suspending a contract in whole, a board may suspend a contract in part, so that an individual is required to work a percentage of the time the employee otherwise is required to work under the contract and receives a commensurate percentage of the full compensation the employee otherwise would receive under the contract.

Any nonteaching employee whose continuing contract is suspended under this section shall have the right of restoration to continuing service status by the board of education or governing board that suspended that contract in order of seniority of service in the district or service center, if and when a nonteaching position for which the employee is qualified becomes vacant or is created. No nonteaching employee whose continuing contract has been suspended under this section shall lose that right of restoration to continuing service status by reason of having declined recall to a position requiring fewer regularly scheduled hours of work than required by the position the employee last held while employed in the district or service center.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the requirements of this section prevail over any conflicting provisions of agreements between employee organizations and public employers entered into after the effective date of this section.

Section 3319.18 | Status of teachers under transfer or consolidation.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

If an entire school district or that part of a school district which comprises the territory in which a school is situated is transferred to any other district, or if a new school district is created, the teachers in such districts or schools employed on continuing contracts immediately prior to such transfer, or creation shall, subject to section 3311.83, 3319.17, or 3319.171 of the Revised Code, have continuing service status in the newly created district, or in the district to which the territory is transferred.

The limited contracts of the teachers employed in such districts or schools immediately prior to such transfer, or creation, shall become the legal obligations of the board of education in the newly created district, or in the district to which the territory is transferred, subject to section 3311.83, 3319.17, or 3319.171 of the Revised Code. The teaching experience of such teachers in such prior districts or schools shall be included in the three years of service required under section 3319.11 of the Revised Code for a teacher to become eligible for continuing service status.

Teachers employed on limited or continuing contracts in an entire school district or that part of a school district which comprises the territory in which a school is situated which is transferred to any other district or which is merged with other school territory to create a new school district, shall be placed, on the effective date of such transfer or merger, on the salary schedule of the district to which the territory is transferred or the newly created district, according to their training and experience. Such experience shall be the total sum of the years taught in the district whose territory was transferred or merged to create a new district, plus the total number of years of teaching experience recognized by such previous district upon its first employment of such teachers.

The placement of the teachers on the salary schedule, pursuant to this section, shall not result, however, in the salary of any teacher being less than the teacher's current annual salary for regular duties, in existence immediately prior to the merger or transfer.

When suspending contracts in accordance with an administrative personnel suspension policy adopted under section 3319.171 of the Revised Code, a board may consider years of teaching service in the previous district in its decision if it is a part of the suspension policy.

Section 3319.181 | Civil service status of nonteaching employees in transferred or new district.

• Effective: August 26, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 112th General Assembly

If an entire school district or that part of a school district which comprises the territory in which a school is situated is transferred to any other district, or if a new school district is created, the nonteaching school employees in such district or school immediately prior to such transfer or creation shall have civil service status in the newly created district, or in the district to which the territory is transferred, if the new district is a city school board, or shall be employed pursuant to section 3319.081 of the Revised Code in the newly created district, or in the district to which the territory is transferred, if the district is one to which Chapter 124. of the Revised Code does not apply. The tenure or seniority of each nonteaching school employee in the newly created district, or in the district to which the territory is transferred, shall be from the date of last employment in the district from which the territory is transferred.

Section 3319.20 | Notification of nonlicensed employee's guilty plea or conviction of certain offenses.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

(A) Whenever an employee of a board of education, other than an employee who is a license holder to whom section 3319.52 of the Revised Code applies, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, a violation of section 2907.04 or 2907.06 or of division (A) or (B) of section 2907.07 of the Revised Code, an offense of violence, theft offense, or drug abuse offense that is not a minor misdemeanor, or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to a felony or to a violation or offense of that nature, or if the employee has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for one of those offenses, the prosecutor in the case, on forms prescribed and furnished by the state board of education, shall notify the employing board of education of the employee's name and residence address, the fact that the employee was convicted of, pleaded guilty to, has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to a diversion program for the specified offense, the section of the Revised Code or the municipal ordinance violated, and the sentence imposed by the court.

(B) In the case of a conviction or guilty plea, the prosecutor shall give the notification required by this section no earlier than the fifth day following the expiration of the period within which the employee may file a notice of appeal from the judgment of the trial court under Appellate Rule 4(B) and no later than the eighth day following the expiration of that period. The notification also shall indicate whether the employee appealed the conviction, and, if applicable, the court in which the appeal will be heard. If the employee is permitted, by leave of court pursuant to Appellate Rule 5, to appeal the judgment of the trial court subsequent to the expiration of the period for filing a notice of appeal under Appellate Rule 4(B), the prosecutor promptly shall notify the employing board of education of the appeal and the court in which the appeal will be heard.

(C) In the case of a finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction or an agreement to participate in a pre-trial diversion program, the prosecutor shall give the notification required by this section by a deadline prescribed by the state board.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

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

(3) "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.

(4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Theft offense" has the same meaning as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 13, 2023 at 1:01 PM

Section 3319.21 | Contract employing relative as teacher void.

• Effective: January 16, 1980
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 44 - 113th General Assembly

Whenever a local director or member of a board of education votes for or participates in the making of a contract with a person as a teacher or instructor in a public school to whom he is related as father, brother, mother, or sister, or acts in any matter in which he is pecuniarily interested, such contract, or such act in such matter, is void.

This section does not apply where a director or a member of such board, being a shareholder of a corporation but not being an officer or director thereof, owns not in excess of five per cent of the stock of such corporation and the value of the stock so owned does not exceed five hundred dollars. If a stockholder desires to avail himself of the exception provided in this section, before entering upon such contract such person shall first file with the treasurer of the board an affidavit stating his exact status and connection with said corporation.

Section 3319.22 | Standards and requirements for educator licenses; local professional development committees.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The state board of education shall issue the following educator licenses:

(a) A resident educator license, which shall be valid for two years and shall be renewable for reasons specified by rules adopted by the state board pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section. The state board, on a case-by-case basis, may extend the license's duration as necessary to enable the license holder to complete the Ohio teacher residency program established under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code ;

(b) A professional educator license, which shall be valid for five years and shall be renewable;

(c) A senior professional educator license, which shall be valid for five years and shall be renewable;

(d) A lead professional educator license, which shall be valid for five years and shall be renewable.

Subject to division (A)(4) of this section, licenses issued under division (A)(1) of this section on and after the effective date of this amendment shall specify whether the educator is licensed to teach grades pre-kindergarten through eight or grades seven through twelve. The changes to the grade band specifications under this section shall not apply to a person who holds a license under division (A)(1) of this section prior to the effective date of this amendment . Further, the changes to the grade band specifications under this section shall not apply to any license issued to teach in the area of computer information science, bilingual education, dance, drama or theater, world language, health, library or media, music, physical education, teaching English to speakers of other languages, career-technical education, or visual arts or to any license issued to an intervention specialist, including a gifted intervention specialist, or to any other license that does not align to the grade band specifications.

(2)(a) Except as provided in division (A)(2)(b) of this section, the state board may issue any additional educator licenses of categories, types, and levels the board elects to provide.

(b) Not later than December 31, 2024, the state board shall cease licensing school psychologists. The state board shall coordinate with the state board of psychology to transition to licensure under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code any school psychologists licensed under rules adopted in accordance with sections 3301.07 and 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(3) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the state board shall adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining each educator license issued under this section. The rules shall also include the reasons for which a resident educator license may be renewed under division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(4) Notwithstanding the requirement that each license issued under division (A)(1) of this section specify the grade band in which the educator is licensed to teach, a school district or community school may employ an educator to teach outside of the designated grade band by not more than two grade levels and for not more than two school years at a time. The school district superintendent or governing authority of the community school may renew that teacher's eligibility to teach in accordance with this division on a biennial basis. Any educator to whom division (A)(4) of this section applies shall be considered a "properly certified or licensed teacher" for the purposes of section 3319.074 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the rules adopted under this section shall require at least the following standards and qualifications for the educator licenses described in division (A)(1) of this section:

(1) An applicant for a resident educator license shall hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited teacher preparation program or be a participant in the teach for America program and meet the qualifications required under section 3319.227 of the Revised Code.

(2) An applicant for a professional educator license shall:

(a) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization;

(b) Have successfully completed the Ohio teacher residency program established under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code, if the applicant's current or most recently issued license is a resident educator license issued under this section or an alternative resident educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code.

(3) An applicant for a senior professional educator license shall:

(a) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization;

(b) Have previously held a professional educator license issued under this section or section 3319.222 or under former section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(c) Meet the criteria for the accomplished or distinguished level of performance, as described in the standards for teachers adopted by the state board under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code.

(4) An applicant for a lead professional educator license shall:

(a) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization;

(b) Have previously held a professional educator license or a senior professional educator license issued under this section or a professional educator license issued under section 3319.222 or former section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(c) Meet the criteria for the distinguished level of performance, as described in the standards for teachers adopted by the state board under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code;

(d) Either hold a valid certificate issued by the national board for professional teaching standards or meet the criteria for a master teacher or other criteria for a lead teacher adopted by the educator standards board under division (F)(4) or (5) of section 3319.61 of the Revised Code.

(C) The state board shall align the standards and qualifications for obtaining a principal license with the standards for principals adopted by the state board under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code.

(D) If the state board requires any examinations for educator licensure, the state board shall provide the results of such examinations received by the state board to the chancellor of higher education, in the manner and to the extent permitted by state and federal law.

(E) Any rules the state board of education adopts, amends, or rescinds for educator licenses under this section or any other law shall be adopted, amended, or rescinded under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code except as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding division (E) of section 119.03 and division (A)(1) of section 119.04 of the Revised Code, in the case of the adoption of any rule or the amendment or rescission of any rule that necessitates institutions' offering preparation programs for educators and other school personnel that are approved by the chancellor of higher education under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code to revise the curriculum of those programs, the effective date shall not be as prescribed in division (E) of section 119.03 and division (A)(1) of section 119.04 of the Revised Code. Instead, the effective date of such rules, or the amendment or rescission of such rules, shall be the date prescribed by section 3333.048 of the Revised Code.

(2) Notwithstanding the authority to adopt, amend, or rescind emergency rules in division (G) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code, this authority shall not apply to the state board of education with regard to rules for educator licenses.

(F)(1) The rules adopted under this section establishing standards requiring additional coursework for the renewal of any educator license shall require a school district and a chartered nonpublic school to establish local professional development committees. In a nonpublic school, the chief administrative officer shall establish the committees in any manner acceptable to such officer. The committees established under this division shall determine whether coursework that a district or chartered nonpublic school teacher proposes to complete meets the requirement of the rules. The state board shall provide technical assistance and support to committees as the committees incorporate the professional development standards adopted pursuant to section 3319.61 of the Revised Code into their review of coursework that is appropriate for license renewal. The rules shall establish a procedure by which a teacher may appeal the decision of a local professional development committee.

(2) In any school district in which there is no exclusive representative established under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the professional development committees shall be established as described in division (F)(2) of this section.

Not later than the effective date of the rules adopted under this section, the board of education of each school district shall establish the structure for one or more local professional development committees to be operated by such school district. The committee structure so established by a district board shall remain in effect unless within thirty days prior to an anniversary of the date upon which the current committee structure was established, the board provides notice to all affected district employees that the committee structure is to be modified. Professional development committees may have a district-level or building-level scope of operations, and may be established with regard to particular grade or age levels for which an educator license is designated.

Each professional development committee shall consist of at least three classroom teachers employed by the district, one principal employed by the district, and one other employee of the district appointed by the district superintendent. For committees with a building-level scope, the teacher and principal members shall be assigned to that building, and the teacher members shall be elected by majority vote of the classroom teachers assigned to that building. For committees with a district-level scope, the teacher members shall be elected by majority vote of the classroom teachers of the district, and the principal member shall be elected by a majority vote of the principals of the district, unless there are two or fewer principals employed by the district, in which case the one or two principals employed shall serve on the committee. If a committee has a particular grade or age level scope, the teacher members shall be licensed to teach such grade or age levels, and shall be elected by majority vote of the classroom teachers holding such a license and the principal shall be elected by all principals serving in buildings where any such teachers serve. The district superintendent shall appoint a replacement to fill any vacancy that occurs on a professional development committee, except in the case of vacancies among the elected classroom teacher members, which shall be filled by vote of the remaining members of the committee so selected.

Terms of office on professional development committees shall be prescribed by the district board establishing the committees. The conduct of elections for members of professional development committees shall be prescribed by the district board establishing the committees. A professional development committee may include additional members, except that the majority of members on each such committee shall be classroom teachers employed by the district. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which a predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term.

The initial meeting of any professional development committee, upon election and appointment of all committee members, shall be called by a member designated by the district superintendent. At this initial meeting, the committee shall select a chairperson and such other officers the committee deems necessary, and shall adopt rules for the conduct of its meetings. Thereafter, the committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the filing of a petition with the district superintendent signed by a majority of the committee members calling for the committee to meet.

(3) In the case of a school district in which an exclusive representative has been established pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, professional development committees shall be established in accordance with any collective bargaining agreement in effect in the district that includes provisions for such committees.

If the collective bargaining agreement does not specify a different method for the selection of teacher members of the committees, the exclusive representative of the district's teachers shall select the teacher members.

If the collective bargaining agreement does not specify a different structure for the committees, the board of education of the school district shall establish the structure, including the number of committees and the number of teacher and administrative members on each committee; the specific administrative members to be part of each committee; whether the scope of the committees will be district levels, building levels, or by type of grade or age levels for which educator licenses are designated; the lengths of terms for members; the manner of filling vacancies on the committees; and the frequency and time and place of meetings. However, in all cases, except as provided in division (F)(4) of this section, there shall be a majority of teacher members of any professional development committee, there shall be at least five total members of any professional development committee, and the exclusive representative shall designate replacement members in the case of vacancies among teacher members, unless the collective bargaining agreement specifies a different method of selecting such replacements.

(4) Whenever an administrator's coursework plan is being discussed or voted upon, the local professional development committee shall, at the request of one of its administrative members, cause a majority of the committee to consist of administrative members by reducing the number of teacher members voting on the plan.

(5) A professional development committee may grant an individual seeking to renew a license under this section credit towards continuing education requirements for completion of a statutorily required professional development training. Such an individual shall receive continuing education credit for one completed professional development course per licensure renewal period. To qualify for continuing education credit under this division, a professional development course shall be completed during the time in which an individual holds a valid license under this section.

(G)(1) The state board of education, educational service centers, county boards of developmental disabilities, college and university departments of education, head start programs, and the Ohio education computer network may establish local professional development committees to determine whether the coursework proposed by their employees who are licensed or certificated under this section or section 3319.222 of the Revised Code, or under the former version of either section as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, meet the requirements of the rules adopted under this section. They may establish local professional development committees on their own or in collaboration with a school district or other agency having authority to establish them.

Local professional development committees established by county boards of developmental disabilities shall be structured in a manner comparable to the structures prescribed for school districts in divisions (F)(2) and (3) of this section, as shall the committees established by any other entity specified in division (G)(1) of this section that provides educational services by employing or contracting for services of classroom teachers licensed or certificated under this section or section 3319.222 of the Revised Code, or under the former version of either section as it existed prior to October 16, 2009. All other entities specified in division (G)(1) of this section shall structure their committees in accordance with guidelines which shall be issued by the state board.

(2) Educational service centers may establish local professional development committees to serve educators who are not employed in schools in this state, including pupil services personnel who are licensed under this section. Local professional development committees shall be structured in a manner comparable to the structures prescribed for school districts in divisions (F)(2) and (3) of this section.

These committees may agree to review the coursework, continuing education units, or other equivalent activities related to classroom teaching or the area of licensure that is proposed by an individual who satisfies both of the following conditions:

(a) The individual is licensed or certificated under this section or under the former version of this section as it existed prior to October 16, 2009.

(b) The individual is not currently employed as an educator or is not currently employed by an entity that operates a local professional development committee under this section.

Any committee that agrees to work with such an individual shall work to determine whether the proposed coursework, continuing education units, or other equivalent activities meet the requirements of the rules adopted by the state board under this section.

(3) Any public agency that is not specified in division (G)(1) or (2) of this section but provides educational services and employs or contracts for services of classroom teachers licensed or certificated under this section or section 3319.222 of the Revised Code, or under the former version of either section as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, may establish a local professional development committee, subject to the approval of the state board. The committee shall be structured in accordance with guidelines issued by the state board.

(H) The state board, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section that do both of the following:

(1) Exempt consistently high-performing teachers and school counselors from the requirement to complete any additional coursework for the renewal of an educator license issued under this section or section 3319.26 of the Revised Code. The rules also shall specify that such teachers and school counselors are exempt from any requirements prescribed by professional development committees established under divisions (F) and (G) of this section.

(2) For purposes of division (H)(1) of this section, the term "consistently high-performing teacher or school counselor" means any teacher or school counselor who meets both of the following:

(a) For at least four of the past five years, the teacher or school counselor has received the highest level of performance rating under section 3319.112 or 3319.113 of the Revised Code, as applicable, or an equivalent performance rating under section 3311.80 of the Revised Code;

(b) The teacher or school counselor meets at least one, or any combination, of the following for at least three of the five years of the current licensure cycle:

(i) Holds a valid senior or lead professional educator license;

(ii) Holds a locally recognized educational leadership role that enhances educational practices by providing professional learning experience at district, regional, state, or higher educational level;

(iii) Serves in a leadership role for a national or state professional academic education organization;

(iv) Serves on a state-level committee supporting education;

(v) Receives a state or national educational recognition or award.

(I) The state board shall issue a resident educator license, professional educator license, senior professional educator license, lead professional educator license, or any other educator license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a resident educator, professional educator, senior professional educator, lead professional educator, or any other type of educator in a state that does not issue one or more of those licenses.

Last updated August 16, 2024 at 11:13 AM

Section 3319.221 | Pupil services personnel registration.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education, the department of education and workforce, any city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district board of education, and any other public school, as defined in section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, shall not require a separate pupil services license issued by the state board as a credential for working in a public school, on either a permanent basis or a substitute or other temporary basis, for the following licensed professionals:

(1) A speech-language pathologist who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(2) An audiologist who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(3) A registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree and a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(4) A physical therapist who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(5) An occupational therapist who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(6) A physical therapy assistant who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(7) An occupational therapy assistant who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(8) A social worker who holds a currently valid license issued under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

(B) A person employed by a school district or school for any of the occupations listed in divisions (A)(1) to (8) of this section shall be required to apply for and receive a registration from the state board of education. The registration shall be valid for five years. As a condition of registration under this section, an individual shall be subject to a criminal records check as prescribed by section 3319.391 of the Revised Code. In the manner prescribed by the state board, the individual shall submit the criminal records check to the state board. The state board shall use the information submitted to enroll the individual in the retained applicant fingerprint database, established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, in the same manner as any teacher licensed under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

If the state board receives notification of the arrest or conviction of an individual registered under division (B) of this section, the state board shall promptly notify the employing district and may take any action authorized under sections 3319.31 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code that it considers appropriate. No district shall employ any individual under division (A) of this section if the district learns that the individual has plead guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, or has been convicted of any of the offenses listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(C) The state board shall charge a registration fee of one hundred fifty dollars each for the initial registration and one hundred fifty dollars for renewal of the registration.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:07 AM

Section 3319.222 | Effect on licenses and certificates issued before change in law.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 554 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding the amendments to and repeal of statutes by H.B. 1 of the 128th general assembly, the state board of education shall accept applications for new, and renewal and upgrade of, temporary, associate, provisional, and professional educator licenses, alternative educator licenses, one-year conditional teaching permits, and school nurse licenses through December 31, 2010, and issue them on the basis of the applications received by that date in accordance with the former statutes in effect immediately prior to amendment or repeal by H.B. 1 of the 128th general assembly.

(B) A permanent teacher's certificate issued under former sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code prior to October 29, 1996, or under former section 3319.222 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, shall be valid for teaching in the subject areas and grades for which the certificate was issued, except as the certificate is limited, suspended, or revoked under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(C) The following certificates, permits, or licenses shall be valid until the certificate, permit, or license expires for teaching in the subject areas and grades for which the certificate, permit, or license was issued, except as the certificate, permit, or license is limited, suspended, or revoked under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code:

(1) Any professional teacher's certificate issued under former section 3319.222 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to October 16, 2009;

(2) Any temporary, associate, provisional, or professional educator license issued under former section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, or under division (A) of this section;

(3) Any alternative educator license issued under former section 3319.26 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, or under division (A) of this section;

(4) Any one-year conditional teaching permit issued under former section 3319.302 or 3319.304 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, or under division (A) of this section.

(D) Any school nurse license issued under former section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to October 16, 2009, or under division (A) of this section shall be valid until the license expires for employment as a school nurse, except as the license is limited, suspended, or revoked under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(E) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from applying to the state board for an educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, a school nurse license or a school nurse wellness coordinator license issued under former section 3319.221 of the Revised Code, or an alternative resident educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code, as the section exists on and after October 16, 2009.

(F) On and after October 16, 2009, any reference in the Revised Code to educator licensing is hereby deemed to refer also to certification or licensure under divisions (A) to (D) or (G) of this section.

(G)(1) On and after the effective date of this amendment, the state board shall accept an application from and issue a nonrenewable, two-year temporary educator license to an individual who has an expired professional teacher's certificate or professional educator license issued under any version of section 3319.22 or 3319.222 of the Revised Code and who, at the time of expiration of the license or certificate, had no disciplinary sanctions on the certificate or license. The temporary educator license shall be valid for teaching in the same subject areas and grades for which the expired certificate or license was issued including any endorsements attached to the expired certificate or license, except as the temporary license is subsequently limited, suspended, or revoked under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(2) Prior to providing instruction at an employing school district or school under a temporary educator license issued under division (G)(1) of this section, an individual shall complete any training required by the employing school district or school.

(3) The state board shall issue a professional educator license with any applicable license endorsements to an individual who receives a temporary educator license issued under division (G)(1) of this section and who, during the duration of that license, completes either eighteen continuing education units or six semester hours of coursework in the area of licensure or in an area related to the teaching field. The license and endorsements shall be valid for teaching in the same subject areas and grades for which the individual's expired certificate or license and endorsements were issued, except as the professional educator license is subsequently limited, suspended, or revoked under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 2, 2023 at 12:59 PM

Section 3319.223 | Ohio teacher residency program.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education jointly shall establish the Ohio teacher residency program, which shall be a two-year, entry-level program for classroom teachers. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the teacher residency program shall include at least the following components:

(1) Mentoring by teachers, which may be provided online or in person. The state superintendent shall provide participants and mentors with access to online professional development resources and sample videos of Ohio classroom lessons submitted for the assessment prescribed under division (A)(3) of this section at no cost.

(2) Counseling, as determined necessary by the school district or school, to ensure that program participants receive needed professional development. The state superintendent shall provide to each participant who does not receive a passing score on the assessment under division (A)(3) of this section, at no cost, the opportunity to meet online with an instructional coach who is a certified assessor of the assessment to review the participant's assessment score results and discuss improvement strategies and professional development.

Participants who choose to meet with an instructional coach shall select from an online pool of instructional coaches who have completed training and are approved by the state superintendent. The characteristics of each coach's school or district, including its size, typology, and demographics, shall be made available. However, participants shall not be required to choose an instructional coach from a similar district or school.

Participants who have not taken the assessment under division (A)(3) of this section may meet online with instructional coaches approved by the state superintendent if the participant's school district or school pays the costs associated with the meetings.

(3) Measures of appropriate progression through the program, which shall include the performance-based assessment prescribed by the state board of education for resident educators. The state board shall not limit the number of attempts to successfully complete the performance-based assessment.

An individual may submit the assessment between the first Tuesday of October and the first Friday of April of the individual's second year of the program. The results of the assessment shall be returned within thirty days unless a new assessor is contracted, in which case the results shall be returned in forty-five days.

(B) No individual who is teaching career-technical courses under an alternative resident educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code or rule of the state board shall be required to do either of the following:

(1) Complete the conditions of the Ohio teacher residency program that a participant, as of September 29, 2015, would have been required to complete during the participant's first and second year of teaching under an alternative resident educator license.

(2) Take a performance-based assessment.

(C) The teacher residency program shall be aligned with the standards for teachers adopted by the state board under section 3319.61 of the Revised Code and best practices identified by the superintendent of public instruction.

(D) Each person who holds a resident educator license issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.227 of the Revised Code or an alternative resident educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code shall participate in the teacher residency program. Successful completion of the program shall be required to qualify any such person for a professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 2:12 PM

Section 3319.224 | Contracts for speech and language or audiology services.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 3319.30 of the Revised Code, a school district or educational service center may contract with a provider licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code for speech and language services or for audiology services. The contracted services shall be retained only after the district or service center has demonstrated to the department of education and workforce that attempts to obtain the services of a speech and language or audiology provider licensed under this chapter have been unsuccessful.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:07 AM

Section 3319.226 | Educator licenses for substitute teaching.

• Effective: March 10, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Beginning July 1, 2019, the state board of education shall issue educator licenses for substitute teaching only under this section.

(B) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, the state board shall adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for obtaining a license under this section and for renewal of the license. Except as provided in division (G) of section 3319.229 of the Revised Code, the rules shall require an applicant to hold a post-secondary degree, but not in any specified subject area. The rules also shall allow the holder of a license issued under this section to work:

(1) For an unlimited number of school days if the license holder has a post-secondary degree in either education or a subject area directly related to the subject of the class the license holder will teach;

(2) For one full semester, subject to the approval of the employing school district board of education, if the license holder has a post-secondary degree in a subject area that is not directly related to the subject of the class that the license holder will teach.

The district superintendent may request that the board approve one or more additional subsequent semester-long periods of teaching for the license holder.

(C) The rules adopted under division (B) of this section shall permit a substitute career-technical teaching license holder to teach outside the license holder's certified career field for up to one semester, subject to approval of the employing school district superintendent.

(D) Any license issued or renewed under former section 3319.226 of the Revised Code that was still in force on November 2, 2018, shall remain in force for the remainder of the term for which it was issued or renewed. Upon the expiration of that term, the holder of that license shall be subject to licensure under the rules adopted under this section.

(E) The state board shall issue an educator license for substitute teaching in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a substitute teacher in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM

Section 3319.227 | Teach for America educator's license.

• Effective: April 12, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary, the state board shall issue a resident educator license under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code to each person who is assigned to teach in this state as a participant in the teach for America program and who satisfies the following conditions for the duration of the program:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;

(2) Maintained a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or its equivalent;

(3) Has passed an examination prescribed by the state board in the subject area to be taught;

(4) Has successfully completed the summer training institute operated by teach for America;

(5) Remains an active member of the teach for America two-year support program.

(B) The state board shall issue a resident educator license under this section for teaching in any grade level or subject area for which a person may obtain a resident educator license under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code. The state board shall not adopt rules establishing any additional qualifications for the license beyond those specified in this section.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board to the contrary, the state board shall issue a resident educator license under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code to any applicant who has completed at least two years of teaching in another state as a participant in the teach for America program and meets all of the conditions of divisions (A)(1) to (4) of this section. The state board shall credit an applicant under this division as having completed the teacher residency program under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code.

(D) In order to place teachers in this state, the teach for America program shall enter into an agreement with one or more accredited four-year public or private institutions of higher education in the state to provide optional training of teach for America participants for the purpose of enabling those participants to complete an optional master's degree or an equivalent amount of coursework. Nothing in this division shall require any teach for America participant to complete a master's degree as a condition of holding a license issued under this section.

(E) The superintendent of public instruction, on behalf of the state board, shall inactivate a resident educator license issued to a participant in the teach for America program who is assigned to teach in this state if the participant resigns or is dismissed from the program prior to completion of the two-year teach for America support program. The inactivation of a license under this division does not constitute a suspension or revocation of the license by the state board under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code and the state board and the state superintendent need not provide the person with an opportunity for a hearing with respect to the inactivation.

Last updated April 22, 2023 at 7:41 AM

Section 3319.228 | Issuance of license to those licensed in other states; list of states with inadequate licensure standards.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) This section applies only to a person who meets the following conditions:

(1) Holds a minimum of a baccalaureate degree;

(2) Has been licensed and employed as a teacher in another state for each of the preceding five years;

(3) Was initially licensed as a teacher in any state within the preceding fifteen years;

(4) Has not had a teacher's license suspended or revoked in any state.

(B)(1) Not later than July 1, 2012, the superintendent of public instruction shall develop a list of states that the superintendent considers to have standards for teacher licensure that are inadequate to ensure that a person to whom this section applies and who was most recently licensed to teach in that state is qualified for a professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(2) Following development of the list, the superintendent shall establish a panel of experts to evaluate the adequacy of the teacher licensure standards of each state on the list. Each person selected by the superintendent to be a member of the panel shall be approved by the state board of education. In evaluating the superintendent's list, the panel shall provide an opportunity for representatives of the department of education, or similar state-level agency, of each state on the list to provide evidence to refute the state's placement on the list.

Not later than April 1, 2013, the panel shall recommend to the state board that the list be approved without changes or that specified states be removed from the list prior to approval. Not later than July 1, 2013, the state board shall approve a final list of states with standards for teacher licensure that are inadequate to ensure that a person to whom this section applies and who was most recently licensed to teach in that state is qualified for a professional educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(1) of this section, until the date on which the state board approves a final list of states with inadequate teacher licensure standards under division (B)(2) of this section, the state board shall issue a one-year provisional educator license to any applicant to whom this section applies. On and after that date, neither the state board nor the department of education and workforce shall be party to any reciprocity agreement with a state on that list that requires the state board to issue a person to whom this section applies any type of professional educator license on the basis of the person's licensure and teaching experience in that state.

(D) Upon the expiration of a provisional license issued to a person under division (C) of this section, the state board shall issue the person a professional educator license, if the person satisfies either of the following conditions:

(1) The person was issued the provisional license prior to the development of the list by the state superintendent under division (B)(1) of this section and, prior to issuance of the provisional license, the person was most recently licensed to teach by a state not on the superintendent's list or, if the final list of states with inadequate teacher licensure standards has been approved by the state board under division (B)(2) of this section, by a state not on that list.

(2) All of the following apply to the person:

(a) Prior to obtaining the provisional license, the person was most recently licensed to teach by a state on the superintendent's list or, if the final list of states with inadequate teacher licensure standards has been approved by the state board under division (B)(2) of this section, by a state on that list.

(b) The person was employed under the provisional license by a school district; community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code; or an entity contracted by such a district or school to provide internet- or computer-based instruction or distance learning programs to students.

(c) The district or school certifies to the state board that the person's teaching was satisfactory while employed or contracted by the district or school.

(E)(1) From July 1, 2012, until the date on which the state board approves a final list of states with inadequate teacher licensure standards under division (B)(2) of this section, the state board shall issue a professional educator license to any applicant to whom this section applies and who was most recently licensed to teach by a state that is not on the list developed by the state superintendent under division (B)(1) of this section.

(2) Beginning on the date on which the state board approves a final list of states with inadequate teacher licensure standards under division (B)(2) of this section, the state board shall issue a professional educator license to any applicant to whom this section applies and who was most recently licensed to teach by a state that is not on that list.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:10 AM

Section 3319.229 | Career-technical workforce development educator license.

• Effective: March 10, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Notwithstanding the repeal of former section 3319.229 of the Revised Code by S.B. 216 of the 132nd general assembly, the state board of education shall accept applications for new, and for renewal of, professional career-technical teaching licenses through June 30, 2019, and issue them on the basis of the applications received by that date in accordance with the rules described in that former section. Except as otherwise provided in section 3319.2212 of the Revised Code, and divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section, beginning July 1, 2019, the state board shall issue career-technical workforce development educator licenses only under this section.

(2) An individual who, on July 1, 2019, holds a professional career-technical teaching license issued under the rules described in former section 3319.229 of the Revised Code, may continue to renew that license in accordance with those rules for the remainder of the individual's teaching career. However, nothing in this division shall be construed to prohibit the individual from applying to the state board for a career-technical workforce development educator license under this section.

(3) An individual who, on July 1, 2019, holds an alternative resident educator license for teaching career-technical education issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code may, upon the expiration of the license, apply for a professional career-technical teaching license issued under the rules described in former section 3319.229 of the Revised Code. Such an individual may continue to renew the professional license in accordance with those rules for the remainder of the individual's teaching career. However, nothing in this division shall be construed to prohibit the individual from applying to the state board for a career-technical workforce development educator license under this section.

(B) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board, in collaboration with the chancellor of higher education, shall adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for obtaining a two-year initial career-technical workforce development educator license and a five-year advanced career-technical workforce development educator license. Each license shall be valid for teaching career-technical education or workforce development programs in grades four through twelve. The rules shall require applicants for either license to have a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence as awarded under section 3301.80 of the Revised Code or as recognized as the equivalent of such certificate under division (C) of that section.

(C) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board shall issue an initial career-technical workforce development educator license to an applicant upon request from the applicant or the superintendent of a school district that has agreed to employ the applicant. In making the request, the applicant or superintendent shall provide documentation, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the state board, showing that the applicant has at least five years of work experience, or the equivalent, in the subject area in which the applicant will teach. The license requested by a superintendent shall be valid for teaching only in the requesting district. The applicant or superintendent also shall provide documentation, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the state board, that the applicant is enrolled in a program described in division (D) of this section.

As a condition of continuing to hold the initial career-technical workforce development license, the holder of the license shall be participating in a program described in division (D) of this section.

The state board shall renew an initial career-technical workforce development educator license if the supervisor of the program described in division (D) of this section or the superintendent of the employing school district indicate that the applicant is making sufficient progress in both the program and, if applicable, the teaching position.

(D) An applicant for a license under division (C) of this section shall be enrolled in one of the following:

(1) A in a career-technical workforce development educator preparation program offered by an institution of higher education that has an existing teacher preparatory program in place that meets all of the following criteria:

(a) Is approved by the chancellor of higher education to provide instruction in teaching methods and principles;

(b) Provides classroom support to the license holder;

(c) Includes at least three semester hours of coursework in the teaching of reading in the subject area;

(d) Is aligned with career-technical education and workforce development competencies developed by the department of education and workforce;

(e) Uses a summative performance-based assessment developed by the program and aligned to the competencies described in division (D)(1)(d) of this section to evaluate the license holder's knowledge and skills;

(f) Consists of not less than twenty-four semester hours of coursework, or the equivalent.

(2) If the applicant has obtained an offer of employment as a classroom teacher, a modified educator preparation program created by one or more lead districts, as defined in section 3317.023 of the Revised Code. The program shall be aligned with career-technical education and workforce development competencies developed by the department of education and workforce and include both of the following:

(a) Not less than nine credit hours or three semester hours of coursework in the area to be taught;

(b) Not less than forty-five hours of local professional development designed by the employing district.

(3) If the applicant has obtained an offer of employment as a classroom teacher, a two-year alternative career-technical licensure program under which an employing district provides a mentoring program created by one or more lead districts, as defined in section 3317.023 of the Revised Code, and aligned with career-technical education and workforce development competencies developed by the department, that includes all of the following:

(a) An assigned mentor who holds a license issued under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, or who has served in the capacity of an administrator;

(b) A competency based self-assessment developed and approved by the state board of education, in consultation with individuals in the career-technical education field;

(c) A personal learning plan approved by the lead district, or the district's designee;

(d) Participation in a structured mentoring program aligned to the individual's personal learning plan and consisting of ninety clock hours of professional development during the initial two-year license period.

(E) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board shall issue an advanced career-technical workforce development educator license to an applicant who has successfully completed either of the following:

(1) A program described in division (D)(1) of this section, as indicated by the supervisor of the program, and who demonstrates mastery of the applicable career-technical education and workforce development competencies described in division (D)(1)(d) of this section in the teaching position, as indicated by the superintendent of the employing school district;

(2) A program described in division (D)(2) or (3) of this section, as indicated by the supervisor of the program, and has taught under the initial career-technical workforce development educator license for four school years.

(F) The holder of an advanced career-technical workforce development educator license shall work with a local professional development committee established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code in meeting requirements for renewal of the license.

(G) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3319.226 of the Revised Code, the state board shall not require any applicant for an educator license for substitute teaching who holds a license issued under this section to hold a post-secondary degree in order to be issued a license under section 3319.226 of the Revised Code to work as a substitute teacher for career-technical education classes.

(H) The state board shall issue a license to practice as an initial career-technical workforce development educator or advanced career-technical workforce development educator in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a career-technical workforce development educator in a state that does not issue one or both of those licenses.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM

Section 3319.2210 | One-year out-of-state educator license.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall issue a one-year nonrenewable out-of-state educator license, valid for teaching the grade levels and curriculum areas named in such license, upon the request of an employing school district to a qualified applicant who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Is deemed to be of good moral character;

(2) Is an out-of-state applicant and the holder of a valid out-of-state teaching license who has completed a baccalaureate degree, an approved teacher preparation program, and the examination prescribed by the state in which the licensure is held, but who has not yet successfully completed the examination prescribed by the state board for Ohio licensure;

(3) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, has completed at least six of the required twelve semester hours of coursework in the teaching of reading as described in section 3319.24 of the Revised Code for educators requesting an early childhood, primary, middle childhood, pre-kindergarten through eight, intervention specialist, early childhood intervention specialist, or primary intervention specialist license. The remaining coursework requirement shall be listed as a limitation on the license and must be completed before the out-of-state license expires.

(B) An applicant for a one-year nonrenewable out-of-state educator license who successfully completes Ohio's foundations of reading exam on the applicant's first attempt shall not be required to have completed at least six of the required twelve semester hours of coursework in the teaching of reading as described in section 3319.24 of the Revised Code prior to receipt of the license.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 2:09 PM

Section 3319.2211 | Employment of adult education permit holder.

• Effective: March 2, 2021
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 89 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) An individual who holds an adult education permit may be employed by any school district and shall not be limited to employment solely by the district that recommended and employed that individual at the time of the initial issuance of the individual's permit.

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 3319.226 of the Revised Code, an individual who holds an adult education permit issued by the state board of education may be assigned as a substitute teacher for any of grades nine through twelve, in the same manner as the holder of a substitute career-technical teaching license issued under section 3319.226 of the Revised Code, to teach courses offered by the individual's employing district.

Section 3319.2212 | Career-technical licenses for teachers licensed in other areas.

• Effective: March 10, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 3319.229 of the Revised Code, the state board of education shall issue a two-year career-technical educator license to an individual who meets all of the following conditions:

(a) The individual holds a valid educator license issued under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(b) The individual has at least five years of work experience in the subject area the individual will teach, or the individual's work experience has been affirmed by a panel of experts as required by the state board of education.

(c) The superintendent of the employing school district has made an informal recommendation of appointment for the individual to a position as a career-technical educator.

(2) Each employing district or school shall assign a mentor to any teacher it employs to teach under this division.

A license issued under this section shall be renewable only once to enable the license holder to apply for a professional career-technical workforce development educator license.

(B) The state board of education shall issue an advanced career-technical workforce development educator license to a person who holds a license issued under division (A) of this section upon the completion of the four years of teaching experience under that license. A license issued under this division shall be valid for five years and shall be renewable.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM

Section 3319.2213 | School counselor professional development in building trades.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall enter into an agreement with a construction trade organization located in this state, such as affiliated construction trades (ACT) Ohio, or its successor organization, to develop a training program to educate school counselors about building and construction trades career pathways.

A training program developed under this section shall be completed at a building and construction trades training facility and include information about both of the following:

(1) The pay and benefits available to people who work in the building and construction trades;

(2) Job opportunities and available apprenticeships for boilermakers, electrical workers, bricklayers, insulators, laborers, iron workers, plumbers and pipefitters, roofers, plasterers and cement masons, sheet metal workers, painters and glazers, elevator constructors, operating engineers, carpenters, and teamsters.

(B)(1) A licensed school counselor serving students in any of grades seven through twelve shall complete four hours of training developed under this section every five years. This training shall qualify toward meeting professional development activity requirements for the renewal of a pupil services license in school counseling. An individual who begins working with students in any of grades seven through twelve in the last two years of the individual's five-year renewal cycle shall complete this requirement during the following license renewal cycle.

(2) Local professional development committees established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code shall incorporate this training as part of the independent professional development programs for school counselors that serve students in any of grades seven through twelve.

(C) Participating building and construction trades shall ensure ample opportunities for school counselors to complete the training prescribed under this section during each renewal cycle for licensure. Participating building and construction trades training facilities or the entity with which the state board enters into an agreement under this section shall bear all costs associated with this training.

Last updated October 4, 2023 at 1:15 PM

Section 3319.23 | License required for teaching American history and government content.

• Effective: June 29, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 165 - 129th General Assembly

A valid educator license for teaching social studies in the applicable grade shall be considered sufficient to teach the additional American history and American government content adopted under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.231 | Qualifications for teaching community service education.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

As used in this section, "community service" has the same meaning as in section 3313.605 of the Revised Code.

The department of education and workforce shall adopt rules establishing qualifications for the teaching of community service education for high school credit under division (C) of section 3313.605 of the Revised Code. In addition, the department shall provide technical assistance to school districts providing community service instructional programs for teachers.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:14 AM

Section 3319.232 | License for teaching students with visual disabilities.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

The state board of education shall adopt standards for attaining a license for teaching students with visual disabilities that require the licensee to demonstrate competency in reading and writing braille. The standards for demonstrating competency shall be developed with reference to those adopted for transcribers by the national library service for the blind and print disabled, library of congress.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:30 AM

Section 3319.233 | Educator license requirements beginning 7/1/2017.

• Effective: March 10, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

(A) All new educator licenses issued for grades pre-kindergarten through eight shall require the applicant to attain a passing score on a rigorous examination of principles of scientifically research-based reading instruction that is aligned with the reading competencies adopted by the department of education and workforce under section 3301.077 of the Revised Code.

(B) The state board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code prescribing criteria and procedures necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:08 PM

Section 3319.235 | Integrating educational technology.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The standards for the preparation of teachers adopted under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code shall require any institution that provides a course of study for the training of teachers to ensure that graduates of such course of study are skilled at integrating educational technology in the instruction of children, as evidenced by the graduate having either demonstrated proficiency in such skills in a manner prescribed by the department of education and workforce or completed a course that includes training in such skills.

(B) The chancellor of higher education, in consultation with the department of education and workforce, shall establish model professional development programs to assist teachers who completed their teacher preparation prior to the effective date of division (A) of this section to become skilled at integrating educational technology in the instruction of children. The chancellor shall provide technical assistance to school districts wishing to establish such programs.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:17 AM

Section 3319.236 | Qualifications to teach computer science.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) or (E) of this section, a school district shall require an individual to hold a valid educator license in computer science, or have a license endorsement in computer technology and a passing score on a content examination in the area of computer science, to teach computer science courses.

(B) A school district may employ an individual, for the purpose of teaching computer science courses, who holds a valid educator license, provided the individual meets the requirements established by rules of the state board of education to qualify for a supplemental teaching license for teaching computer science. The rules shall require an applicant for a supplemental teaching license to pass a content examination in the area of computer science. The rules also shall permit an individual, after at least two years of successfully teaching computer science courses under the supplemental teaching license, to advance to a standard educator license in computer science by completing a pedagogy course applicable to the grade levels in which the individual is teaching. However, the rules may exempt an individual teaching computer science from the requirement to complete a pedagogy course if the individual previously completed a pedagogy course applicable to the grade levels in which the individual is teaching.

(C) In order for an individual to teach advanced placement computer science courses, a school district shall require the individual to also complete a professional development program endorsed or provided by the organization that creates and administers national advanced placement examinations. For this purpose, the individual may complete the program at any time during the calendar year.

(D) Notwithstanding section 3301.012 of the Revised Code, as used in this section, "computer science courses" means any courses that are reported in the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code as computer science courses and which are aligned to computer science standards adopted by the department of education and workforce.

(E) The state board of education shall adopt rules to create a computer science teaching license for industry professionals to teach computer science to specific grades. The holder of a computer science teaching license for industry professionals shall be limited to teaching forty hours in a week in the subject area of computer science. The superintendent of public instruction shall consult with the chancellor of higher education in creating and revising the requirements for computer science teacher licensure.

(F) Licenses issued under this section shall specify whether the educator is licensed to teach grades kindergarten through twelve, pre-kindergarten through five, grades four through nine, or grades seven through twelve.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:20 AM

Section 3319.237 | Courses to teach in grades pre-k through 5; curriculum; continuing education.

• Effective: November 2, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 318 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The standards for the preparation of teachers adopted under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code shall require each institution that provides a teacher preparation program to include a semester course, or the equivalent, for all students pursuing a license to teach in any of grades pre-kindergarten through five that includes instruction on all of the following:

(1) Positive behavior intervention and supports and social-emotional development;

(2) Classroom systems for establishing the foundation for positive behavior, such as supervision, acknowledgment, prompts, and precorrection;

(3) Classroom systems for responding to unwanted behavior, including error correction and other strategies;

(4) Classroom data collection systems;

(5) Effective instructional strategies and how to implement them with fidelity;

(6) Matching curriculum to student needs and data;

(7) The impact of trauma, toxic stress, and other environmental variables on learning behavior.

(B) Within three years after the effective date of this section, each school district shall provide professional development or continuing education in positive behavior intervention and supports, as part of the school-wide implementation of the positive behavior intervention and supports framework required under section 3319.46 of the Revised Code, to all of the following:

(1) Any of the district's teachers who teach in buildings that serve students in any of grades pre-kindergarten through three and who completed a teacher preparation program prior to the effective date of this section;

(2) All of the district's administrators who serve students in any of grades pre-kindergarten through three, including the school district superintendent, building principals, and assistant principals, who have not already completed a course of instruction, professional development, or continuing education in positive behavior intervention and supports.

Each district's local professional development committee, established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, shall monitor compliance with division (B) of this section and shall establish model professional development courses to assist in that compliance.

Section 3319.238 | Financial literacy license validation.

• Effective: June 12, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 17 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a school district shall require an individual to have an educator license validation in financial literacy to provide financial literacy instruction under division (C)(9) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

(B) To obtain a license validation in financial literacy, an individual shall hold a valid educator license issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.26 of the Revised Code or a permanent teaching certificate issued under former law and meet additional requirements adopted under rules by the state board of education.

(C) Prior to adopting rules under division (B) of this section, the state board shall establish and consult with an advisory committee of at least four classroom teachers and one expert in financial literacy instruction for classroom teachers. The classroom teachers shall include a representative of each of the following:

(1) The Ohio council of teachers of mathematics;

(2) The Ohio council for the social studies;

(3) The Ohio business educators association;

(4) The Ohio association of teachers of family and consumer sciences.

(D) Each district shall pay for any costs necessary for an individual employed by the district who is required under division (A) of this section to meet the additional requirements adopted by the state board under division (B) of this section. The district may seek reimbursement from the department of education for those costs under section 3319.239 of the Revised Code.

(E) This section does not apply to any chartered nonpublic school.

(F) A classroom teacher who holds a valid educator license or endorsement that is required to provide instruction in social studies, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, or business education shall not be required to have a validation prescribed under this section to provide financial literacy instruction under division (C)(9) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code. A teacher to which this division applies may obtain the validation described in division (A) of this section at the district's expense.

Last updated March 19, 2024 at 11:51 AM

Section 3319.239 | Reimbursement for financial literacy validation costs.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Approved costs" means any costs necessary to meet the additional requirements adopted by the state board of education under division (B) of section 3319.238 of the Revised Code for educator license validation in financial literacy.

(2) "Eligible entity" includes the following:

(a) A city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district;

(b) A community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;

(c) A science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code;

(d) An educational service center.

(B)(1) The department shall reimburse eligible entities for approved costs incurred under division (D) or (F) of section 3319.238 of the Revised Code.

(2) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, the total amount reimbursed to an eligible entity for paying the costs of an individual teacher under division (D) or (F) of section 3319.238 of the Revised Code shall be the lesser of five hundred dollars or the total approved costs incurred by the qualifying teacher.

(C) Reimbursements paid under this section shall be taken from moneys in the high school financial literacy fund established under section 121.086 of the Revised Code. At least two times each fiscal year, the department shall request the treasurer of state to transfer moneys from the fund to the department to reimburse eligible entities in accordance with this section.

(D) Each eligible entity seeking reimbursement under this section shall report to the department, in the form and manner determined by the department, the number of teachers employed by the entity who, during the reporting period, met the additional requirements adopted by the state board under division (B) of section 3319.238 of the Revised Code for educator license validation in financial literacy.

(E)(1) The department may use a portion of the moneys transferred from the high school financial literacy fund for administration of the reimbursement program prescribed by this section.

(2) In the event the moneys available in the fund are insufficient to cover all requests for reimbursement under division (B)(1) of this section, the department may limit the number of teachers for which an eligible entity may request reimbursement or may prorate reimbursement amounts as necessary to pay all reimbursement requests.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 4:44 PM

Section 3319.2310

• Effective: September 30, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "other public school" has the same meaning as in section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of education and workforce shall do both of the following:

(1) Maintain a training course for licensed educators that serves as an introduction to the science of reading;

(2) Develop a competency-based training course for licensed educators that updates and reinforces educators' knowledge and skills in the science of reading.

(C) Each individual employed by a school district or other public school as a teacher, administrator, school psychologist, or speech-language pathologist shall complete training in the science of reading in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(1) An individual hired by the district or other public school as a teacher or administrator prior to July 1, 2025, shall complete the training described in division (B)(2) of this section by June 30, 2030, and every five years thereafter.

(2) An individual hired by the district or other public school as a teacher or administrator on or after July 1, 2025, shall complete the training described in division (B)(1) of this section within one year after the date of hire and shall complete the training described in division (B)(2) of this section every five years thereafter. However, an individual shall not be required to complete the training described in division (B)(1) of this section if the district superintendent or head administrator of the other public school has verified that the individual did either of the following within five years prior to the date of hire:

(a) Completed that training or a similar training, as determined by the department;

(b) Completed appropriate coursework in the science of reading as part of the individual's educator or licensure preparation program.

(3) An individual employed by the district or other public school as a school psychologist or speech-language pathologist shall complete the training described in division (B)(1) of this section by June 30, 2027, and shall complete the training described in division (B)(2) of this section every five years thereafter.

(D) A professional development committee established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code shall count training described in division (B) of this section toward professional development requirements for educator licensure renewal. The committee shall permit an individual to apply any hours earned over the minimum amount of hours required for professional development coursework for licensure renewal to the next renewal period for that license.

Last updated July 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM

Section 3319.24 | Coursework in teaching reading and phonics required for certain initial provisional license applicants.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

This section does not apply to any applicant for an educator license that is designed for persons specializing in teaching children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, or the equivalent, in the area of dance, drama, theater, music, visual arts, or physical education or a specialty area substantially equivalent to any of these when such applicant will be teaching children in the specialty area specified in the license.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Coursework in the teaching of reading" means coursework that includes training in a range of instructional strategies for teaching reading, in the assessment of reading skills, and in the diagnosis and remediation of reading difficulties;

(2) "Phonics" means the techniques and strategies used to teach children to match, blend, and translate letters of the alphabet into the sounds they represent, which techniques and strategies are systematically integrated and thoroughly practiced in a developmentally appropriate instructional program to assist the child in learning to read, write, and spell;

(3) "Course in the teaching of phonics" means a course providing the background necessary for effectively teaching and assessing phonics, phonemic awareness, and word recognition, including, but not limited to, the following topics:

(a) Phonological and morphological underpinnings of English spellings and the history thereof;

(b) The nature and role of word recognition in proficient reading;

(c) Methods and rationale for the instruction of phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and the application thereof in reading and writing;

(d) Methods and rationale for the assessment of phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and the application thereof in reading and writing;

(e) The relation of deficits in phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and word recognition to reading disabilities;

(4) "Phonemic awareness" means the awareness of sounds that make up spoken words and the ability to use this awareness of sounds in reading.

(B) The rules adopted under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code shall require an applicant for a resident educator license designated for teaching children in grades kindergarten through six or the equivalent to have successfully completed at least six semester hours, or the equivalent, of coursework in the teaching of reading that includes at least one separate course of at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, in the teaching of phonics in the context of reading, writing, and spelling. In addition, such rules shall require that the subsequent issuance of a professional educator license be contingent upon the applicant having completed six additional semester hours or the equivalent of coursework in the teaching of reading. The rules shall permit an applicant to apply undergraduate coursework in order to meet this requirement for additional coursework.

Section 3319.25 | Teacher performance assessment entity.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Any teacher performance assessment entity with which the department of education and workforce or the state board of education contracts or any independent agent with whom such entity, the department, or the state board contracts to provide services as a teacher performance assessor, trainer of assessors, or assessment coordinator is not liable for damages in a civil action concerning the actions of such entity or agent made in the conduct of a teacher performance assessment unless those actions were conducted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.

As used in this section, "teacher performance assessment" means an assessment prescribed by the state board of education to measure the classroom performance of a teacher who is a candidate for licensure based on observations conducted by a trained assessor while the teacher is engaged in actual classroom instruction.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:21 AM

Section 3319.26 | Alternative educator licenses.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining an alternative resident educator license or an alternative educator license for teaching in grades kindergarten to twelve, or the equivalent, in a designated subject area or in the area of intervention specialist, as defined by rule of the state board.

(B) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education jointly shall develop an intensive pedagogical training institute to provide instruction in the principles and practices of teaching for individuals seeking an alternative resident educator license. The instruction shall cover such topics as student development and learning, pupil assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology.

(C) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the rules adopted under this section shall require applicants for the alternative resident educator license to satisfy the following conditions prior to issuance of the license, but they shall not require applicants to have completed a major or coursework in the subject area for which application is being made:

(1) Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree;

(2) Successfully complete the pedagogical training institute described in division (B) of this section or the preservice training provided to participants of a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the chancellor. The chancellor may approve any such program that requires participants to hold a bachelor's degree; have either a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or its equivalent or a cumulative graduate school grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0; and successfully complete the program's preservice training.

(3) Pass an examination in the subject area for which application is being made.

(D) An alternative resident educator license shall be valid for two years and shall be renewable.

(E) The rules shall require the holder of an alternative resident educator license, as a condition of continuing to hold the license, to do all of the following:

(1) Show satisfactory progress in taking and successfully completing professional development provided by a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the chancellor under division (C)(2) of this section;

(2) Take an assessment of professional knowledge in the second year of teaching under the license.

The holder of an alternative resident educator license may obtain a professional educator license upon completion of the requirements contained in division (F) of this section or may renew the alternative resident educator license issued under this section, at which point the renewed license shall become an alternative educator license.

(F) The rules shall provide for the granting of an optional professional educator license to a holder of an alternative resident educator license upon successfully completing all of the following:

(1) Two years of teaching under the alternative license;

(2) The additional professional development described in division (E)(1) of this section or at least twelve additional semester hours, or the equivalent, of college coursework in the principles and practices of teaching in such topics as student development and learning, pupil assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology;

(3) The assessment of professional knowledge described in division (E)(2) of this section. The standards for successfully completing this assessment and the manner of conducting the assessment shall be the same as for any other individual who is required to take the assessment pursuant to rules adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(4) The Ohio teacher residency program;

(5) All other requirements for a professional educator license adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(G) A person who is assigned to teach in this state as a participant in the teach for America program or who has completed two years of teaching in another state as a participant in that program shall be eligible for a license only under section 3319.227 of the Revised Code and shall not be eligible for a license under this section.

(H) The board shall issue an alternative resident educator license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an educator for grades kindergarten through twelve in a state that does not issue that license.

(I) The holder of an alternative resident educator license may teach preschool students under that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:08 AM

Section 3319.261 | Alternative resident educator license.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary and except as provided in division (C) of this section, the state board shall issue an alternative resident educator license under division (C) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code to each applicant who meets the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;

(2) Has successfully completed a teacher education program offered by one of the following entities:

(a) The American Montessori society;

(b) The association Montessori internationale;

(c) An institution accredited by the Montessori accreditation council for teacher education.

(3) Is employed in a school that operates a program that uses the Montessori method endorsed by the American Montessori society, the Montessori accreditation council for teacher education, or the association Montessori internationale as its primary method of instruction.

(B) The holder of an alternative resident educator license issued under this section shall be subject to divisions (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code and shall be granted a professional educator license upon successful completion of the requirements described in division (F) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) The state board shall issue an alternative resident educator license under this section in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an educator providing instruction in a Montessori-method school in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:07 AM

Section 3319.262 | Standards and requirements for obtaining nonrenewable four-year initial early college high school educator license.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary and except as provided in division (C) of this section, the state board shall adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for obtaining a nonrenewable four-year initial early college high school educator license for teaching grades seven through twelve at an early college high school described in section 3313.6013 of the Revised Code to any applicant who meets the following conditions:

(1) Has a graduate or terminal degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a field related to the subject area to be taught, as determined by the state board;

(2) Has obtained a passing score on an examination in the subject area to be taught, as prescribed by the state board;

(3) Has experience teaching students at any grade level, including post-secondary students;

(4) Has proof that an early college high school intends to employ the applicant pending a valid license under this section.

An individual licensed under this section shall be subject to sections 3319.291 and 3319.39 of the Revised Code. An initial educator license issued under division (A) of this section shall be valid for teaching only at the employing school described in division (A)(4) of this section.

(B) After four years of teaching under an initial early college high school educator license issued under this section, an individual may apply for a renewable five-year professional educator license in the same subject area named in the initial license. The state board shall issue the applicant a professional educator license if the applicant attains a passing score on an assessment of professional knowledge prescribed by the state board. Nothing in division (B) of this section shall be construed to prohibit an individual from applying for a professional educator license under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(C) The state board shall issue an initial early college high school educator license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an early college high school educator in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:12 AM

Section 3319.263 | Alternative resident educator license subject areas.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Until July 1, 2028, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 3319.26 of the Revised Code or any rule of the state board of education adopted under that section, the state board shall not limit the subject areas for which an individual may receive an alternative resident educator license issued under that section.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:24 AM

Section 3319.264 | Alternative resident educator license for master's degree holders.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary, the state board of education shall issue an alternative resident educator license under division (C) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code to each applicant who meets both of the following conditions:

(1) The applicant has a master's degree in the subject area to be taught from an accredited institution of higher education.

(2) The applicant passes an examination in the subject area to be taught.

(B) The holder of an alternative resident educator license issued under this section shall be subject to divisions (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code and shall be granted a professional educator license upon successful completion of the requirements described in division (F) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) To renew an initial alternative resident educator license issued under this section, the holder of that license shall complete the pedagogical training institute described in division (B) of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 24, 2024 at 10:12 AM

Section 3319.27 | Alternative principal license.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt rules that establish an alternative principal license. The rules establishing an alternative principal license shall include a requirement that an applicant have obtained classroom teaching experience. Beginning on the effective date of the rules, the state board shall cease to issue temporary educator licenses pursuant to section 3319.225 of the Revised Code for employment as a principal. Any person who on the effective date of the rules holds a valid temporary educator license issued under that section and is employed as a principal shall be allowed to continue employment as a principal until the expiration of the license. Employment of any such person as a principal by a school district after the expiration of the temporary educator license shall be contingent upon the state board issuing the person an alternative principal license in accordance with the rules adopted under this division.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the state board shall adopt rules that establish an alternative administrator license, which shall be valid for employment as a superintendent or in any other administrative position except principal. Beginning on the effective date of the rules, the state board shall cease to issue temporary educator licenses pursuant to section 3319.225 of the Revised Code for employment as a superintendent or in any other administrative position except principal. Any person who on the effective date of the rules holds a valid temporary educator license issued under that section and is employed as a superintendent or in any other administrative position except principal shall be allowed to continue employment in that position until the expiration of the license. Employment of any such person as a superintendent or in any other administrative position except principal by a school district after the expiration of the temporary educator license shall be contingent upon the state board issuing the person an alternative administrator license in accordance with the rules adopted under this division.

(C) The state board shall issue an alternative principal or alternative administrator license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a school principal or school administrator in a state that does not issue one or both of those licenses.

Last updated May 31, 2024 at 12:08 PM

Section 3319.272 | Professional administrator license upon completion of bright new leaders for Ohio schools program.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) The "bright new leaders for Ohio schools program" administered by the Ohio state university Fisher college of business and college education and human ecology shall provide an alternative path for individuals to receive training and development in the administration of primary and secondary education and leadership, enable those individuals to earn degrees and obtain licenses in public school administration, and promote the placement of those individuals in public schools that have a poverty percentage greater than fifty per cent.

(B) The state board of education shall issue a professional administrator license for grades pre-kindergarten through twelve to an individual who successfully completes the bright new leaders for Ohio schools program and satisfies the requirements in rules adopted by the state board under division (C) of this section.

(C) The state board, in consultation with the bright new leaders for Ohio schools program, shall adopt rules that prescribe the requirements for obtaining a professional administrator license for grades pre-kindergarten through twelve under this section. The state board shall use the rules adopted under section 3319.27 of the Revised Code as guidance in developing the rules adopted under this division.

Section 3319.273 | Alternative administrator and superintendent licensure pathways.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The department of education and workforce may establish alternative pathways for an individual who holds a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency to obtain an educator license to work as an administrator or superintendent. The department may establish rules as needed to implement this section.

(B) The state board of education shall issue an educator license to work as an administrator or superintendent to an individual who completes an alternative pathway established by the department under this section.

Last updated September 24, 2024 at 10:12 AM

Section 3319.28 | Provisional educator license for STEM school teacher.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "STEM school" means a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary and except as provided in division (F) of this section, the state board shall issue a two-year provisional educator license for teaching science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in grades six through twelve in a STEM school to any applicant who meets the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a field related to the subject area to be taught;

(2) Has passed an examination prescribed by the state board in the subject area to be taught.

(C) The holder of a provisional educator license issued under this section shall complete a structured apprenticeship program provided by an educational service center or a teacher preparation program approved under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code, in partnership with the STEM school that employs the license holder. The apprenticeship program shall include the following:

(1) Mentoring by a teacher or administrator who regularly observes the license holder's classroom instruction, provides feedback on the license holder's teaching strategies and classroom management, and engages the license holder in discussions about methods for fostering and measuring student learning;

(2) Regularly scheduled seminars or meetings that address the following topics:

(a) The statewide academic standards adopted under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code and the importance of aligning curriculum with those standards;

(b) The achievement assessments prescribed by section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code;

(c) The school district and building accountability system established under Chapter 3302. of the Revised Code;

(d) Instructional methods and strategies;

(e) Student development;

(f) Assessing student progress and providing remediation and intervention, as necessary, to meet students' special needs;

(g) Classroom management and record keeping.

(D) After two years of teaching under a provisional educator license issued under this section, a person may apply for a five-year professional educator license in the same subject area named in the provisional license. The state board shall issue the applicant a professional educator license if the applicant meets the following conditions:

(1) The applicant completed the apprenticeship program described in division (C) of this section.

(2) The applicant receives a positive recommendation indicating that the applicant is an effective teacher from both of the following:

(a) The chief administrative officer of the STEM school that most recently employed the applicant as a classroom teacher;

(b) The educational service center or teacher preparation program administrator in charge of the apprenticeship program completed by the applicant.

(3) The applicant meets all other requirements for a professional educator license adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(E) The state board shall evaluate the experiences of STEM schools with classroom teachers holding provisional educator licenses issued under this section. The evaluation shall cover the first two school years for which licenses are issued and shall consider at least the schools' satisfaction with the teachers and the operation of the apprenticeship programs.

(F) The state board shall issue a provisional educator license for teaching in a STEM school in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a STEM educator in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:11 AM

Section 3319.283 | Veteran not certificated or licensed.

• Effective: November 2, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 216 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The board of education of any school district may employ an individual who is not certificated or licensed as required by Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code, but who meets the following qualifications, as a teacher in the schools of the district:

(1) The individual is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and was honorably discharged within three years of June 30, 1997;

(2) While in the armed forces the individual had meaningful teaching or other instructional experience;

(3) The individual holds at least a baccalaureate degree.

(B) An individual employed under this section shall be deemed to hold a teaching certificate or educator license for the purposes of state and federal law and rules and regulations and school district policies, rules, and regulations. However, an individual employed under this section is not a properly certified or licensed teacher for purposes of the school district's compliance with section 3319.074 of the Revised Code. Each individual employed under this section shall meet the requirement to successfully complete fifteen hours, or the equivalent, of coursework every five years that is approved by the local professional development committee as is required of other teachers licensed in accordance with Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code.

(C) The superintendent of public instruction may revoke the right of an individual employed under division (A) of this section to teach if, after an investigation and an adjudication conducted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the superintendent finds that the person is not competent to teach the subject the person has been employed to teach or did not fulfill the requirements of division (A) of this section. No individual whose right to teach has been revoked under this division shall teach in a public school, and no board of education may engage such an individual to teach in the schools of its district.

Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, a board of education is not required to comply with the provisions of sections 3311.81, 3311.82, 3319.11, and 3319.16 of the Revised Code with regard to termination of employment if the superintendent, after an investigation and an adjudication, has revoked the individual's right to teach.

Section 3319.284 | Extension of educator license for members of armed forces.

• Effective: June 12, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 47 - 125th General Assembly

A member of the national guard or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who is called to active duty and who, at the time of deployment, holds a valid educator license under this chapter is entitled to have the license extended for a period of time commensurate with the length of active duty service, provided the educator is honorably released from such active duty service. No extension granted pursuant to this section in any year shall be deemed to have expired before the next following thirtieth day of June.

As used in this section, "active duty" has the same meaning as in section 5919.34 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.285 | Alternative military educator license.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Eligible military individual" includes any of the following:

(a) An active-duty member of any branch of the United States armed forces;

(b) A veteran of any branch of the United States armed forces who separated from service with an honorable discharge;

(c) A member of the national guard or a member of a reserve component of the United States armed forces;

(d) A spouse of a member or veteran described in division (A)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section.

(2) "Teacher" has the same meaning as in section 3319.09 of the Revised Code.

(B) The state board of education, in consultation with the chancellor of higher education, shall adopt rules to establish an alternative military educator license for eligible military individuals. The rules shall ensure that eligible military individuals can obtain an educator license to work as a teacher in a public school on an expedited timeline. The rules shall allow eligible military individuals to apply leadership training or other military training toward requirements for college coursework, professional development, content knowledge examinations, or other licensure requirements.

(C) The state board may work with the credential review board created under section 3319.65 of the Revised Code to determine the types of military training that correspond with the educational training needed to be a successful teacher.

Last updated September 13, 2023 at 11:39 AM

Section 3319.29 | Fees.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly

Each application for any license, certificate, or permit under this chapter, or renewal or duplicate of such a license, certificate, or permit, shall be accompanied by the payment of a fee in the amount established under division (A) of section 3319.51 of the Revised Code. Any fees received under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state board of education licensure fund established under division (B) of section 3319.51 of the Revised Code.

Any person applying for or holding a license, certificate, or permit under this chapter is subject to sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code and sections 3319.31 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.291 | Fingerprints and authorization to forward to bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The state board of education shall require each of the following persons, at the times prescribed by division (A) of this section, to undergo a criminal records check, unless the person has undergone a records check under this section or a former version of this section less than five years prior to that time.

(1) Any person initially applying for any certificate, license, or permit described in this chapter or in division (B) of section 3301.071 or in section 3301.074 of the Revised Code at the time that application is made;

(2) Any person applying for renewal of any certificate, license, or permit described in division (A)(1) of this section at the time that application is made;

(3) Any person who is teaching under a professional teaching certificate issued under former section 3319.222 of the Revised Code upon a date prescribed by the state board;

(4) Any person who is teaching under a permanent teaching certificate issued under former section 3319.22 as it existed prior to October 29, 1996, or under former section 3319.222 of the Revised Code upon a date prescribed by the state board and every five years thereafter.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the state board shall require each person subject to a criminal records check under this section to submit two complete sets of fingerprints and written permission that authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to forward the fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to division (F) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code and that authorizes that bureau to forward the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for purposes of obtaining any criminal records that the federal bureau maintains on the person.

(2) If both of the following conditions apply to a person subject to a criminal records check under this section, the state board shall require the person to submit one complete set of fingerprints and written permission that authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to forward the fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation so that bureau may forward the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for purposes of obtaining any criminal records that the federal bureau maintains on the person:

(a) Under this section or any former version of this section, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction previously requested the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to determine whether the bureau has any information, gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, on the person.

(b) The person presents proof that the person has been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date upon which the person becomes subject to a criminal records check under this section.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, prior to issuing or renewing any certificate, license, or permit for a person described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section who is subject to a criminal records check and in the case of a person described in division (A)(3) or (4) of this section who is subject to a criminal records check, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction shall do one of the following:

(1) If the person is required to submit fingerprints and written permission under division (B)(1) of this section, request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to determine whether the bureau has any information, gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, pertaining to the person and to obtain any criminal records that the federal bureau of investigation has on the person.

(2) If the person is required to submit fingerprints and written permission under division (B)(2) of this section, request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to obtain any criminal records that the federal bureau of investigation has on the person.

(D) The state board or the superintendent of public instruction may choose not to request any information about a person required by division (C) of this section if the person provides proof that a criminal records check that satisfies the requirements of that division was conducted on the person as a condition of employment pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code within the immediately preceding year. The state board or the superintendent of public instruction may accept a certified copy of records that were issued by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and that are presented by the person in lieu of requesting that information under division (C) of this section if the records were issued by the bureau within the immediately preceding year.

(E)(1) If a person described in division (A)(3) or (4) of this section who is subject to a criminal records check fails to submit fingerprints and written permission by the date specified in the applicable division, and the state board or the superintendent of public instruction does not apply division (D) of this section to the person, or if a person who is subject to division (G) of this section fails to submit fingerprints and written permission by the date prescribed under that division, the superintendent shall prepare a written notice to be sent to the person by mail or electronically stating that if the person does not submit the fingerprints and written permission within fifteen days after the date the notice was mailed or sent electronically, the person's application will be rejected or the person's professional or permanent teaching certificate or license will be inactivated. The superintendent shall send the notification by regular mail to the person's last known residence address or last known place of employment, as indicated in the state board's records, or both. If the notice is sent electronically, the notification shall be sent via electronic mail to the person's last known electronic mail address.

If the person fails to submit the fingerprints and written permission within fifteen days after the date the notice was mailed, the superintendent of public instruction, on behalf of the state board, shall issue a written order rejecting the application or inactivating the person's professional or permanent teaching certificate or license. The rejection or inactivation shall remain in effect until the person submits the fingerprints and written permission. The superintendent shall send the order by regular mail or electronic mail to the person's last known residence address, last known electronic mail address, or last known place of employment, as indicated in the state board's records. The order shall state the reason for the rejection or inactivation and shall explain that the rejection or inactivation remains in effect until the person submits the fingerprints and written permission.

The rejection or inactivation of a professional or permanent teaching certificate or license under division (E)(1) of this section does not constitute a suspension or revocation of the certificate or license by the state board under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code and the state board and the superintendent of public instruction need not provide the person with an opportunity for a hearing with respect to the rejection or inactivation.

(2) If a person whose professional or permanent teaching certificate or license has been rejected or inactivated under division (E)(1) of this section submits fingerprints and written permission as required by division (B) or (G) of this section, the superintendent of public instruction, on behalf of the state board, shall issue a written order issuing or reactivating the certificate or license. The superintendent shall send the order to the person by regular mail or electronic mail.

(F) Notwithstanding divisions (A) to (C) of this section, if a person holds more than one certificate, license, or permit described in division (A)(1) of this section, the following shall apply:

(1) If the certificates, licenses, or permits are of different durations, the person shall be subject to divisions (A) to (C) of this section only when applying for renewal of the certificate, license, or permit that is of the longest duration. Prior to renewing any certificate, license, or permit with a shorter duration, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction shall determine whether the state board has received any information about the person pursuant to section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, but the person shall not be subject to divisions (A) to (C) of this section as long as the person's certificate, license, or permit with the longest duration is valid.

(2) If the certificates, licenses, or permits are of the same duration but do not expire in the same year, the person shall designate one of the certificates, licenses, or permits as the person's primary certificate, license, or permit and shall notify the state board of that designation. The person shall be subject to divisions (A) to (C) of this section only when applying for renewal of the person's primary certificate, license, or permit. Prior to renewing any certificate, license, or permit that is not the person's primary certificate, license, or permit, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction shall determine whether the state board has received any information about the person pursuant to section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, but the person shall not be subject to divisions (A) to (C) of this section as long as the person's primary certificate, license, or permit is valid.

(3) If the certificates, licenses, or permits are of the same duration and expire in the same year and the person applies for renewal of the certificates, licenses, or permits at the same time, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction shall request only one criminal records check of the person under division (C) of this section.

(G) If the state board is unable to enroll a person who has submitted an application for licensure, or to whom the state board has issued a license, in the retained applicant fingerprint database established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code because the person has not satisfied the requirements for enrollment, the board shall require the person to satisfy the requirements for enrollment, including requiring the person to submit, by a date prescribed by the state board, one complete set of fingerprints and written permission that authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to forward the fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for the purpose of enrolling the person in the database. If the person fails to comply by the prescribed date, the state board shall reject the application or shall take action to inactivate the person's license in accordance with division (E) of this section.

Last updated September 8, 2023 at 11:07 AM

Section 3319.292 | Questioning of applicant regarding criminal history.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

The state board of education may question an applicant for issuance or renewal of any license with respect to any criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant. If the record of a conviction, plea of guilty, bail forfeiture, or other disposition of a criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant has been sealed or expunged, the state board need not assert or demonstrate that its questioning with respect to the offense bears a direct and substantial relationship to the issuance or renewal of the license or to the position in which the applicant will work under the license.

Any questions regarding a record of a conviction, plea of guilty, bail forfeiture, or other disposition of a criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant that has been sealed or expunged and the responses of the applicant to such questions shall not be a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:10 PM

Section 3319.30 | Necessity of license - professional meetings.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

Except as provided in section 3319.36 of the Revised Code, no person shall receive any compensation for the performance of duties as teacher in any school supported wholly or in part by the state or by federal funds who has not obtained a license of qualification for the position as provided for under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code. Any teacher so qualified may, at the discretion of the employing board of education, receive compensation for days on which the teacher is excused by such board for the purpose of attending professional meetings, and the board may provide and pay the salary of a substitute teacher for such days.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:17 AM

Section 3319.301 | Board to issue permits to qualified nonlicensed individuals.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Dropout recovery community school" means a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code in which a majority of the students are enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program that is operated by the school.

(2) "Industry-recognized credential program" means a career-technical course in which a student may earn an industry-recognized credential approved under section 3313.6113 of the Revised Code.

(3) "STEM school" means a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code.

(B) The state board of education shall issue permits to individuals who are not licensed as required by sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code, but who are otherwise qualified, to teach classes for not more than a total of twelve hours a week, except that an individual teaching in a STEM school or an individual teaching an industry-recognized credential program offered at a dropout recovery community school may teach classes for not more than a total of forty hours a week. The state board, by rule, shall set forth the qualifications, other than licensure under sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code, to be met by individuals in order to be issued a permit as provided in this section. Such qualifications shall include the possession of a baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree in, or significant experience related to, the subject the individual is to teach. For an individual assigned to teach a career-technical class, significant experience related to a subject shall include career-technical experience. Applications for permits pursuant to this section shall be made in accordance with section 3319.29 of the Revised Code. A permit issued under this section shall be renewable.

The state board, by rule, shall authorize the board of education of each school district and each STEM school to engage individuals holding permits issued under this section to teach classes for not more than the total number of hours a week specified in the permit. The rules shall include provisions with regard to each of the following:

(1) That a board of education or STEM school shall engage a nonlicensed individual to teach pursuant to this section on a volunteer basis, or by entering into a contract with the individual or the individual's employer on such terms and conditions as are agreed to between the board or school and the individual or the individual's employer;

(2) That an employee of the board of education or STEM school who is licensed under sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code shall directly supervise a nonlicensed individual who is engaged to teach pursuant to this section until the superintendent of the school district or the chief administrative officer of the STEM school is satisfied that the nonlicensed individual has sufficient understanding of, and experience in, effective teaching methods to teach without supervision.

(C) A nonlicensed individual engaged to teach pursuant to this section is a teacher for the purposes of Title XXXIII of the Revised Code except for the purposes of Chapters 3307. and 3317. and sections 3319.07 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code. Such an individual is not an employee of the board of education or STEM school for the purpose of Titles I or XLI or Chapter 3309. of the Revised Code.

(D) Students enrolled in a class taught by a nonlicensed individual pursuant to this section and rules adopted thereunder shall receive the same credit as if the class had been taught by an employee licensed pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.30 of the Revised Code.

(E) No board of education of any school district shall engage any one or more nonlicensed individuals if such employment displaces from employment an existing licensed employee of the district.

(F) Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code does not apply to permits issued under this section.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:06 AM

Section 3319.303 | Standards and requirements for obtaining pupil-activity program permit.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for obtaining a pupil-activity program permit for any individual who does not hold a valid educator license, certificate, or permit issued by the state board under section 3319.22, 3319.26, or 3319.27 of the Revised Code. The permit issued under this section shall be valid for coaching, supervising, or directing a pupil-activity program under section 3313.53 of the Revised Code. Subject to the provisions of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, a permit issued under this division shall be valid for three years and shall be renewable.

(B) The state board shall adopt rules applicable to individuals who hold valid educator licenses, certificates, or permits issued by the state board under section 3319.22, 3319.26, or 3319.27 of the Revised Code setting forth standards to assure any such individual's competence to direct, supervise, or coach a pupil-activity program described in section 3313.53 of the Revised Code. The rules adopted under this division shall not be more stringent than the standards set forth in rules applicable to individuals who do not hold such licenses, certificates, or permits adopted under division (A) of this section. Subject to the provisions of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, a permit issued to an individual under this division shall be valid for the same number of years as the individual's educator license, certificate, or permit issued under section 3319.22, 3319.26, or 3319.27 of the Revised Code and shall be renewable.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, as a condition to issuing a pupil-activity program permit to coach interscholastic athletics, the state board shall require each individual applying for a first permit to successfully complete a training program that is specifically focused on brain trauma and brain injury management and the sudden cardiac arrest training course approved by the department of health under division (C) of section 3707.59 of the Revised Code.

(2) The state board shall require, as a condition to renewing a pupil-activity program permit to coach interscholastic athletics, each individual applying for a permit renewal to present evidence that the individual has successfully completed, within the duration of the individual's previous permit, both of the following:

(a) A training program in recognizing the symptoms of concussions and head injuries to which the department of health has provided a link on its internet web site under section 3707.52 of the Revised Code or a training program authorized and required by an organization that regulates interscholastic athletic competition and conducts interscholastic athletic events;

(b) The sudden cardiac arrest training course approved by the department of health under division (C) of section 3707.59 of the Revised Code.

(3) The state board shall require each individual applying for a permit renewal on or after the effective date of this amendment to present evidence that the individual has complied with the student mental health training requirement under section 3313.5318 of the Revised Code.

(D) The state board shall issue a permit for coaching, supervising, or directing a pupil-activity program in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license or permit in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a coach, supervisor, or pupil-activity program director in a state that does not issue that permit.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:08 AM

Section 3319.31 | Refusal to issue, suspension, revocation or limitations of license.

• Effective: December 9, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 (GA 135)

(A) As used in this section and sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code, "license" means a certificate, license, or permit described in this chapter or in division (B) of section 3301.071 or in section 3301.074 of the Revised Code or a registration described in division (B) of section 3302.151, section 3310.411, or section 3319.221 of the Revised Code.

(B) For any of the following reasons, the state board of education, except as provided in division (H) of this section and in accordance with Chapter 119. and section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, may refuse to issue a license to an applicant; may limit a license it issues to an applicant; may suspend, revoke, or limit a license that has been issued to any person; or may revoke a license that has been issued to any person and has expired:

(1) Engaging in an immoral act, incompetence, negligence, or conduct that is unbecoming to the applicant's or person's position;

(2) A plea of guilty to, a finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of any of the following:

(a) A felony other than a felony listed in division (C) of this section;

(b) An offense of violence other than an offense of violence listed in division (C) of this section;

(c) A theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, other than a theft offense listed in division (C) of this section;

(d) A drug abuse offense, as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is not a minor misdemeanor, other than a drug abuse offense listed in division (C) of this section;

(e) A violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to an offense listed in divisions (B)(2)(a) to (d) of this section.

(3) A judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code, or agreeing to participate in a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code, or a similar diversion program under rules of a court, for any offense listed in division (B)(2) or (C) of this section;

(4) Failure to comply with section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, 5126.253, or 5502.262 of the Revised Code;

(5) Purposely using or intentionally releasing information that is confidential under state or federal law concerning a student or student's family members for purposes other than student instruction in violation of the licensure code of professional conduct for Ohio educators developed by the state board of education.

(C) Upon learning of a plea of guilty to, a finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of any of the offenses listed in this division by a person who holds a current or expired license or is an applicant for renewal of a license, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction, if the state board has delegated the duty pursuant to division (D) of this section, shall by a written order revoke the person's license or deny renewal of the license to the person. The state board or the superintendent shall revoke a license that has been issued to a person to whom this division applies and has expired in the same manner as a license that has not expired.

Revocation of a license or denial of renewal of a license under this division is effective immediately at the time and date that the board or superintendent issues the written order and is not subject to appeal in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Revocation of a license or denial of renewal of license under this division remains in force during the pendency of an appeal by the person of the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the action taken under this division.

The state board or superintendent shall take the action required by this division for a violation of division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of section 2919.22 of the Revised Code; a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.15, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.241, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.311, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2907.33, 2907.34, 2909.02, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.44, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2917.33, 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.13, 2921.02, 2921.03, 2921.04, 2921.05, 2921.11, 2921.34, 2921.41, 2923.122, 2923.123, 2923.161, 2923.17, 2923.21, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.32, 2925.36, 2925.37, 2927.24, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code; a violation of section 2907.231 of the Revised Code unless the offender was coerced into committing a violation of that section; a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996; a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date; felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code; or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to an offense listed in this paragraph.

(D) The state board may delegate to the superintendent of public instruction the authority to revoke a person's license or to deny renewal of a license to a person under division (C) or (F) of this section.

(E)(1) If the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the action taken under division (B)(2) or (C) of this section, or under the version of division (F) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code in effect prior to September 12, 2008, is overturned on appeal, upon exhaustion of the criminal appeal, the clerk of the court that overturned the plea, finding, or conviction or, if applicable, the clerk of the court that accepted an appeal from the court that overturned the plea, finding, or conviction, shall notify the state board that the plea, finding, or conviction has been overturned. Within thirty days after receiving the notification, the state board shall initiate proceedings to reconsider the revocation or denial of the person's license in accordance with division (E)(2) of this section. In addition, the person whose license was revoked or denied may file with the state board a petition for reconsideration of the revocation or denial along with appropriate court documents.

(2) Upon receipt of a court notification or a petition and supporting court documents under division (E)(1) of this section, the state board, after offering the person an opportunity for an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall determine whether the person committed the act in question in the prior criminal action against the person that is the basis of the revocation or denial and may continue the revocation or denial, may reinstate the person's license, with or without limits, or may grant the person a new license, with or without limits. The decision of the board shall be based on grounds for revoking, denying, suspending, or limiting a license adopted by rule under division (G) of this section and in accordance with the evidentiary standards the board employs for all other licensure hearings. The decision of the board under this division is subject to appeal under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(3) A person whose license is revoked or denied under division (C) of this section shall not apply for any license if the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the revocation or denial, upon completion of the criminal appeal, either is upheld or is overturned but the state board continues the revocation or denial under division (E)(2) of this section and that continuation is upheld on final appeal.

(F) The state board may take action under division (B) of this section, and the state board or the superintendent shall take the action required under division (C) of this section, on the basis of substantially comparable conduct occurring in a jurisdiction outside this state or occurring before a person applies for or receives any license.

(G) The state board may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out this section and section 3319.311 of the Revised Code.

(H) The state board shall not refuse to issue a license to an applicant because of a conviction of, a plea of guilty to, or a finding of guilt by a jury or court of an offense unless the refusal is in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM

Section 3319.311 | Investigations.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The state board of education, or the superintendent of public instruction on behalf of the board, may investigate any information received about a person that reasonably appears to be a basis for action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, including information received pursuant to section 3314.40, 3319.291, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code. Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the board shall contract with the office of the Ohio attorney general to conduct any investigation of that nature. The board shall pay for the costs of the contract only from moneys in the state board of education licensure fund established under section 3319.51 of the Revised Code. Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, all information received pursuant to section 3314.40, 3319.291, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code, and all information obtained during an investigation is confidential and is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. If an investigation is conducted under this division regarding information received about a person and no action is taken against the person under this section or section 3319.31 of the Revised Code within two years of the completion of the investigation, all records of the investigation shall be expunged.

(2) In the case of a person about whom the board has learned of a plea of guilty to, finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, or substantially comparable conduct occurring in a jurisdiction outside this state, the board or the superintendent of public instruction need not conduct any further investigation and shall take the action required by division (C) or (F) of that section. Except as provided in division (G) of this section, all information obtained by the board or the superintendent of public instruction pertaining to the action is a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(B) The superintendent of public instruction shall review the results of each investigation of a person conducted under division (A)(1) of this section and shall determine, on behalf of the state board, whether the results warrant initiating action under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code. The superintendent shall advise the board of such determination at a meeting of the board. Within fourteen days of the next meeting of the board, any member of the board may ask that the question of initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code be placed on the board's agenda for that next meeting. Prior to initiating that action against any person, the person's name and any other personally identifiable information shall remain confidential.

(C) The board shall take no action against a person under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code without providing the person with written notice of the charges and with an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(D) For purposes of an investigation under division (A)(1) of this section or a hearing under division (C) of this section or under division (E)(2) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the board, or the superintendent on behalf of the board, may administer oaths, order the taking of depositions, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony. The issuance of subpoenas under this division may be by certified mail, regular mail with a certificate of mailing, or other form of delivery with proof of delivery, including electronic delivery with electronic proof of delivery, or personal delivery to the person.

(E) The superintendent, on behalf of the board, may enter into a consent agreement with a person against whom action is being taken under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code. The board may adopt rules governing the superintendent's action under this division.

(F) No surrender of a license shall be effective until the board takes action to accept the surrender unless the surrender is pursuant to a consent agreement entered into under division (E) of this section.

(G) The name of any person who is not required to report information under section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code, but who in good faith provides information to the state board or superintendent of public instruction about alleged misconduct committed by a person who holds a license or has applied for issuance or renewal of a license, shall be confidential and shall not be released. Any such person 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.

(H)(1) No person shall knowingly make a false report to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education alleging misconduct by an employee of a public or chartered nonpublic school or an employee of the operator of a community school established under Chapter 3314. or a college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (H)(1) 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.

(b) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (H)(1) 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 (H)(1) 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.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 12:24 PM

Section 3319.312 | Effect of child support default on certificate or permit.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 180 - 123rd General Assembly

On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the state board of education shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a certificate or permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

Section 3319.313 | Information concerning improper conduct by licensed employee.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 147 - 135th General Assembly

(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 superintendent of each school district and each educational service center or the president of the district or service center board, if division (C)(1) of this section applies, and the chief administrator of each chartered nonpublic school or the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the nonpublic school, if division (C)(2) 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 district, service center, or nonpublic school who holds a license issued by the state board of education:

(1) The superintendent, chief administrator, 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 district board of education, service center governing board, or nonpublic school chief administrator or governing authority has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator 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 or retired under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section;

(4) The employee has resigned or retired because of or in the course of an investigation by the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator 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.

(5) The district board of education, service center governing board, or nonpublic school chief administrator or governing authority has removed the employee from the list of eligible substitute teachers for the district, service center, or nonpublic school because the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession.

(C)(1) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the superintendent or treasurer of a school district or educational service center, the president of the board of education of the school district or of the governing board of the educational service center shall make the report required under this section.

(2) 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 a chartered nonpublic school, the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school shall make the report required under this section.

(D) If a report is required under this section, the superintendent, chief administrator, 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 applies to the employee.

(E) A determination made by the board of education, governing board, chief administrator, or governing authority as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, retirement, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (5) 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.

Last updated August 29, 2024 at 8:53 AM

Section 3319.314 | Report of improper conduct investigation kept in personnel file.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

The board of education of each school district, the governing board of each educational service center, and the chief administrator of each chartered nonpublic school shall require that the reports of any investigation by the district board of education, service center governing board, or nonpublic school chief administrator of an employee regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the district or service center superintendent or board president or nonpublic school chief administrator or governing authority president or chairperson is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3319.313 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 board of education, governing board, or chief administrator shall require the reports of the board's or chief administrator's investigation to be moved from the employee's personnel file to a separate public file.

Section 3319.315 | RC 3319.313 and RC 3319.314 prevail over contractual provisions.

• Effective: March 30, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 79 - 126th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of sections 3319.313 and 3319.314 of the Revised Code prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or contract for employment entered into after the effective date of this section.

Section 3319.316 | Participation in retained applicant fingerprint database.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

The state board of education shall be a participating public office for purposes of the retained applicant fingerprint database established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code and shall receive notification from the bureau of criminal identification and investigation of the arrest or conviction of the following persons:

(A) Persons to whom the state board has issued a license, as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code;

(B) On behalf of employers described in section 3319.391 or 3327.10 of the Revised Code, persons who are not required to hold a license issued by the state board and are employed in or contracted for a position that the district, service center, or school reasonably determines may involve routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, including persons who operate a school bus or motor van. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (E) of section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, the state board is authorized to and promptly shall transmit any notification received regarding a person under this division to the person's employer.

Last updated August 15, 2024 at 4:58 PM

Section 3319.317 | False report of employee misconduct prohibited.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

(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 school district or educational service center shall do either of the following:

(1) Knowingly make a false report to the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the district or service center;

(2) Knowingly cause the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent'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 school district or educational service center who in good faith reports to the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the district or service center 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 district or service center superintendent is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3319.313 of the Revised Code and the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent'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) No employee of a chartered nonpublic 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;

(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.

(E) Any employee of a chartered nonpublic 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 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 3319.313 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.

(F)(1) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (B) or (D) 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) or (D) 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) or (D) 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.

Section 3319.318 | Illegally assisting a sex offender in attaining school employment.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "School representative" includes all of the following:

(a) An employee of a school district, chartered nonpublic school, or county board of developmental disabilities;

(b) An employee of an entity with which a school district, chartered nonpublic school, or county board of developmental disabilities contracts for the provision of services;

(c) A member of a school district board of education, chartered nonpublic school governing body, or county board of developmental disabilities.

(2) "Student" means a child who is enrolled in a school district or chartered nonpublic school or who is receiving services from a county board of developmental disabilities.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, no school representative shall knowingly engage in any activity intended to assist another individual in obtaining employment with a school district or chartered nonpublic school, or in obtaining employment with a county board of developmental disabilities in a position responsible for providing educational services to children from six through twenty-one years of age, other than transmitting administrative and personnel files to the prospective employer, if the school representative knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the individual has committed an offense listed in Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code, or a substantially comparable offense, involving a student.

(C) Division (B) of this section shall not apply if the information on which the knowledge or reasonable cause is based has been reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities or, if applicable, to the appropriate public children services agency under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code and one of the following conditions is met:

(1) Law enforcement authorities have investigated the alleged offense and determined that there is insufficient information to indict the individual for the alleged offense.

(2) The individual has not been indicted for the alleged offense within four years after the date the alleged offense was reported to law enforcement authorities or a public children services agency.

(3) The individual has been acquitted or otherwise exonerated of the offense.

Last updated September 13, 2021 at 9:52 AM

Section 3319.319 | Release of information obtained during an investigation of an educator.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The appointing or hiring officer of a school district or school located in Ohio or another state may request from the state board of education any report received under sections section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, or 5126.253 of the Revised Code regarding an individual who is under consideration for employment by the district or school. If the superintendent of public instruction has received a report under any of those sections regarding the individual, the state superintendent shall provide the contents of the report to the requesting officer. Upon provision of the contents of the report to the requesting officer, the state superintendent shall notify the officer that the information provided is confidential and may not be disseminated to any other person or entity.

If the state superintendent provides the contents of a report to an appointing or hiring officer under this section, the state superintendent shall document the information provided in the record of any investigation undertaken pursuant to section 3319.311 of the Revised Code based on the report. Such documentation shall include a list of the information provided, the date the information was provided, and the name and contact information of the appointing or hiring officer to whom the information was provided.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:13 PM

Section 3319.32 | Records to be kept by superintendents and teachers of all schools - reports.

• Effective: August 24, 1976
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 367 - 111th General Assembly

Boards of education shall require all teachers and superintendents to keep the school records and to prepare reports in such manner as to enable the preparation of the annual reports required by law and shall withhold the pay of such teachers and superintendents who fail to file the reports required of them. The records of each school, in addition to all other requirements, shall be so kept as to exhibit the names of all pupils enrolled therein, the studies pursued, the character of the work done and the standing of each pupil; and these records shall be as nearly uniform throughout the state as practicable.

Nothing in this section shall require any person to release, or to permit access to, public school records in violation of section 3319.321 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.321 | Confidentiality.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 9 - 126th General Assembly

(A) No person shall release, or permit access to, the directory information concerning any students attending a public school to any person or group for use in a profit-making plan or activity. Notwithstanding division (B)(4) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code, a person may require disclosure of the requestor's identity or the intended use of the directory information concerning any students attending a public school to ascertain whether the directory information is for use in a profit-making plan or activity.

(B) No person shall release, or permit access to, personally identifiable information other than directory information concerning any student attending a public school, for purposes other than those identified in division (C), (E), (G), or (H) of this section, without the written consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian of each such student who is less than eighteen years of age, or without the written consent of each such student who is eighteen years of age or older.

(1) For purposes of this section, "directory information" includes a student's name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, date of graduation, and awards received.

(2)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, no school district board of education shall impose any restriction on the presentation of directory information that it has designated as subject to release in accordance with the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," 88 Stat. 571, 20 U.S.C. 1232q, as amended, to representatives of the armed forces, business, industry, charitable institutions, other employers, and institutions of higher education unless such restriction is uniformly imposed on each of these types of representatives, except that if a student eighteen years of age or older or a student's parent, guardian, or custodian has informed the board that any or all such information should not be released without such person's prior written consent, the board shall not release that information without such person's prior written consent.

(b) The names and addresses of students in grades ten through twelve shall be released to a recruiting officer for any branch of the United States armed forces who requests such information, except that such data shall not be released if the student or student's parent, guardian, or custodian submits to the board a written request not to release such data. Any data received by a recruiting officer shall be used solely for the purpose of providing information to students regarding military service and shall not be released to any person other than individuals within the recruiting services of the armed forces.

(3) Except for directory information and except as provided in division (E), (G), or (H) of this section, information covered by this section that is released shall only be transferred to a third or subsequent party on the condition that such party will not permit any other party to have access to such information without written consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian, or of the student who is eighteen years of age or older.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any parent of a student may give the written parental consent required under this section. Where parents are separated or divorced, the written parental consent required under this section may be obtained from either parent, subject to any agreement between such parents or court order governing the rights of such parents. In the case of a student whose legal guardian is in an institution, a person independent of the institution who has no other conflicting interests in the case shall be appointed by the board of education of the school district in which the institution is located to give the written parental consent required under this section.

(5)(a) A parent of a student who is not the student's residential parent, upon request, shall be permitted access to any records or information concerning the student under the same terms and conditions under which access to the records or information is available to the residential parent of that student, provided that the access of the parent who is not the residential parent is subject to any agreement between the parents, to division (F) of this section, and, to the extent described in division (B)(5)(b) of this section, is subject to any court order issued pursuant to section 3109.051 of the Revised Code and any other court order governing the rights of the parents.

(b) If the residential parent of a student has presented the keeper of a record or information that is related to the student with a copy of an order issued under division (H)(1) of section 3109.051 of the Revised Code that limits the terms and conditions under which the parent who is not the residential parent of the student is to have access to records and information pertaining to the student or with a copy of any other court order governing the rights of the parents that so limits those terms and conditions, and if the order pertains to the record or information in question, the keeper of the record or information shall provide access to the parent who is not the residential parent only to the extent authorized in the order. If the residential parent has presented the keeper of the record or information with such an order, the keeper of the record shall permit the parent who is not the residential parent to have access to the record or information only in accordance with the most recent such order that has been presented to the keeper by the residential parent or the parent who is not the residential parent.

(C) Nothing in this section shall limit the administrative use of public school records by a person acting exclusively in the person's capacity as an employee of a board of education or of the state or any of its political subdivisions, any court, or the federal government, and nothing in this section shall prevent the transfer of a student's record to an educational institution for a legitimate educational purpose. However, except as provided in this section, public school records shall not be released or made available for any other purpose. Fingerprints, photographs, or records obtained pursuant to section 3313.96 or 3319.322 of the Revised Code, or pursuant to division (E) of this section, or any medical, psychological, guidance, counseling, or other information that is derived from the use of the fingerprints, photographs, or records, shall not be admissible as evidence against the minor who is the subject of the fingerprints, photographs, or records in any proceeding in any court. The provisions of this division regarding the administrative use of records by an employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions or of a court or the federal government shall be applicable only when the use of the information is required by a state statute adopted before November 19, 1974, or by federal law.

(D) A board of education may require, subject to division (E) of this section, a person seeking to obtain copies of public school records to pay the cost of reproduction and, in the case of data released under division (B)(2)(b) of this section, to pay for any mailing costs, which payment shall not exceed the actual cost to the school.

(E) A principal or chief administrative officer of a public school, or any employee of a public school who is authorized to handle school records, shall provide access to a student's records to a law enforcement officer who indicates that the officer is conducting an investigation and that the student is or may be a missing child, as defined in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code. Free copies of information in the student's record shall be provided, upon request, to the law enforcement officer, if prior approval is given by the student's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Information obtained by the officer shall be used solely in the investigation of the case. The information may be used by law enforcement agency personnel in any manner that is appropriate in solving the case, including, but not limited to, providing the information to other law enforcement officers and agencies and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for purposes of computer integration pursuant to section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

(F) No person shall release to a parent of a student who is not the student's residential parent or to any other person, or permit a parent of a student who is not the student's residential parent or permit any other person to have access to, any information about the location of any elementary or secondary school to which a student has transferred or information that would enable the parent who is not the student's residential parent or the other person to determine the location of that elementary or secondary school, if the elementary or secondary school to which the student has transferred and that requested the records of the student under section 3313.672 of the Revised Code informs the elementary or secondary school from which the student's records are obtained that the student is under the care of a shelter for victims of domestic violence, as defined in section 3113.33 of the Revised Code.

(G) A principal or chief administrative officer of a public school, or any employee of a public school who is authorized to handle school records, shall comply with any order issued pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 2151.14 of the Revised Code, any request for records that is properly made pursuant to division (D)(3)(a) of section 2151.14 or division (A) of section 2151.141 of the Revised Code, and any determination that is made by a court pursuant to division (D)(3)(b) of section 2151.14 or division (B)(1) of section 2151.141 of the Revised Code.

(H) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a principal of a public school, to the extent permitted by the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," shall make the report required in section 3319.45 of the Revised Code that a pupil committed any violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code on property owned or controlled by, or at an activity held under the auspices of, the board of education, regardless of whether the pupil was sixteen years of age or older. The principal is not required to obtain the consent of the pupil who is the subject of the report or the consent of the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian before making a report pursuant to section 3319.45 of the Revised Code.

Section 3319.322 | Copy of photographs for school files.

• Effective: April 9, 1985
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 115th General Assembly

The principal or chief administrative officer of each public school shall request any person authorized to take photographs of students of the school, to provide one wallet size photograph, free of charge, to the school for inclusion in the school's student files. The principal or chief administrative officer shall indicate that the request is being made in order that the school has a current photograph of a child that could be shown to a law enforcement officer if the child is or could be a missing child, as defined in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code. The principal or chief administrative officer also shall indicate that the request is being made pursuant to this section, but that this section does not require the photographer to comply.

This section does not preclude the principal or chief administrative officer of a school or any other authorized school official dealing with a photographer from agreeing as a part of a contractual or other agreement with a photographer that a wallet or other size photograph shall be provided to the school as a condition to the taking of student photographs.

Section 3319.323 | Alterations of records prohibited.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

During the course of transferring a student's record to an educational institution for a legitimate educational purpose as specified under division (C) of section 3319.321 of the Revised Code, no school district or school shall alter, truncate, or redact any part of a student's record so that any information on the student's record is rendered unreadable or unintelligible.

Section 3319.324 | Student record transfer.

• Effective: April 9, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 206 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "school records" includes any academic records, student assessment data, or other information for which there is a legitimate educational interest.

(B) Except as provided for in division (C) of this section, when any school district or chartered nonpublic school receives a request from another district or school to which a student has transferred for that student's school records, the district or school receiving the request shall respond, within five school days after receiving the request, by transmitting to the requesting district or school either the student's school records as authorized under section 3319.321 of the Revised Code or, if the district or school has no record of the student's attendance, a statement of that fact.

(C) Except as provided for in division (E) of this section, a district or school may withhold a student's school records if there is two thousand five hundred dollars or more of outstanding debt attributed to the student. The district or school shall transmit the student's school records in the manner specified under division (A) of this section once the debt is paid.

(D) The provisions of this section are in addition to, and do not affect the obligations of a school district or school to comply with, the requirements of division (D) of section 3313.642 and section 3313.672 of the Revised Code.

(E) A district or school shall not withhold records related to a student's expulsion under division (B)(6) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code due to outstanding debt attributed to the student.

Last updated January 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM

Section 3319.325 | Student data and technology provider definitions.

• Effective: December 9, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

As used in sections 3319.325, 3319.326, and 3319.327 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Education records" has the same meaning as in the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and does not include any of the following:

(1) Records of instructional, supervisory, and administrative personnel and educational personnel that are in the sole possession of the maker and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a substitute teacher;

(2) In the case of persons who are employed by a school district, records made and maintained in the normal course of business that relate exclusively to such person in that person's capacity as an employee and are not available for use for any other purpose;

(3) Records on a student who is eighteen years of age or older, which are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in the person's professional or paraprofessional capacity, or assisting in that capacity, and that are made, maintained, or used only in connection with the provision of treatment to the student and are not available to anyone other than persons providing such treatment, except that such records can be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student's choice.

(B) "Educational support services data" means data on individuals collected, created, maintained, used, or disseminated relating to programs administered by a school district board of education or an entity under contract with a school district designed to eliminate disparities and advance equities in educational achievement for youth by coordinating services available to participants, regardless of the youth's involvement with other government services.

(C) "Information technology center" means an information technology center established under section 3301.075 of the Revised Code.

(D) "School-issued device" means hardware, software, devices, and accounts that a school district, acting independently or with a technology provider, provides to an individual student for dedicated student use.

(E) "Student" means an individual currently enrolled in a school district in any of grades kindergarten through twelve.

(F) "Technology provider" means a person who contracts with a school district to provide a school-issued device for student use and creates, receives, or maintains education records pursuant or incidental to its contract with the district.

Except as used in division (G) of section 3319.326 of the Revised Code, "technology provider" does not include a county board of developmental disabilities, educational service center, information technology center, assessment provider, curriculum provider, or city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district that enters into a service contract with a school district that includes issuing school-issued devices to students.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM

Section 3319.326 | Technology provider student data and educational records use.

• Effective: December 9, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

A technology provider shall comply with Chapter 1347. of the Revised Code with regard to the collection, use, and protection of data as if it were a school district.

(A) Education records created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a technology provider pursuant or incidental to a contract with a school district are solely the property of the school district.

(B) If education records maintained by the technology provider are subject to a breach of the security of the data, as described in section 1347.12 of the Revised Code, the technology provider shall, following discovery of the breach, disclose to the school district all information necessary to fulfill the requirements of that section.

(C) Unless renewal of the contract is reasonably anticipated, within ninety days of the expiration of the contract, a technology provider shall destroy or return to the appropriate school district all education records created, received, or maintained pursuant or incidental to the contract.

(D) A technology provider shall not sell, share, or disseminate education records, except as provided by this section or as part of a valid delegation or assignment of its contract with a school district.

(E) A technology provider shall not use education records for any commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, marketing or advertising to a student or parent. A commercial purpose does not include providing the specific services contracted for by a school district. Nothing in this division prohibits the technology provider from using aggregate information removed of any personally identifiable information for improving, maintaining, developing, supporting, or diagnosing the provider's site, service, or operation.

(F) A contract between a technology provider and a school district shall ensure appropriate security safeguards for education records and include both of the following:

(1) A restriction on unauthorized access by the technology provider's employees or contractors;

(2) A requirement that the technology provider's employees or contractors may be authorized to access education records only as necessary to fulfill the official duties of the employee or contractor.

(G) Not later than the first day of August of each school year, each school district shall provide parents and students direct and timely notice, by mail, electronic mail, or other direct form of communication, of any curriculum, testing, or assessment technology provider contract affecting a student's education records. The notice shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify each curriculum, testing, or assessment technology provider with access to education records;

(2) Identify the education records affected by the curriculum, testing, or assessment technology provider contract;

(3) Include information about the contract inspection and provide contact information for a school department to which a parent or student may direct questions or concerns regarding any program or activity that allows a curriculum, testing, or assessment technology provider access to a student's education records.

Each school district shall provide parents and students an opportunity to inspect a complete copy of any contract with a technology provider.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM

Section 3319.327 | Monitoring of school-issued devices.

• Effective: December 9, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 432 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as described in division (B) of this section, a school district or technology provider shall not electronically access or monitor any of the following:

(1) Location-tracking features of a school-issued device;

(2) Audio or visual receiving, transmitting, or recording feature of a school-issued device;

(3) Student interactions with a school-issued device, including, but not limited to, keystrokes and web-browsing activity.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply in the following circumstances:

(1) The activity is limited to a noncommercial educational purpose for instruction, technical support, or exam-proctoring by school district employees, student teachers, staff contracted by a district, a vendor, or the department of education and workforce.

(2) The activity is permitted under a judicial warrant or subpoena unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law.

(3) The school district or technology provider is notified or becomes aware that the device is missing or stolen.

(4) The activity is necessary to prevent or respond to a threat to life or safety, and the access is limited to that purpose.

(5) The activity is necessary to comply with federal or state law.

(6) The activity is necessary to participate in federal or state funding programs.

(C)(1) In any year that a school district or technology provider elects to generally monitor a school-issued device for any of the circumstances described in division (B) of this section, the school district shall provide written notice of that monitoring to the parents of its enrolled students.

(2) In the event that one of the circumstances described in division (B)(2) or (3) of this section is triggered and the school district initiates responsive action, the school district shall, within seventy-two hours of the access, notify the student's parent and provide a written description of the triggering circumstance, including which features of the device were accessed and a description of the threat, if any. This notice is not required at any time when the notice itself would pose a threat to life or safety.

(3) In the event that one of the circumstances described in division (B)(4) of this section is triggered and the school district initiates action in response to division (B)(4) of this section or pursuant to section 2151.421, 3313.66, 3313.666, or 3313.669 of the Revised Code, the school district shall, within seventy-two hours of the access, notify the student's parent and provide a written description of the triggering circumstance, including which features of the device were accessed and a description of the threat, if any. This notice is not required at any time when the notice itself would pose a threat to life or safety.

Unless otherwise provided by law, no person shall release, or permit access to, educational support services data concerning any student attending a public school for any purpose.

Educational support services data shall be made available to the opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency established in section 3304.15 of the Revised Code in furtherance of that agency's duties and supports to individuals with disabilities as described in Chapter 3304. of the Revised Code.

(D) A contract entered into between a school district and a county board of developmental disabilities, educational service center, joint vocational school district, another school district, or an information technology center for services, including the general monitoring or access of school-issued devices, shall indicate which entity is responsible for providing notice under this section.

Last updated January 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM

Section 3319.33 | Annual report of statistics - civil proceedings information.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

On or before the first day of August in each year, the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall report to the department of education and workforce the school statistics of its district. Such report shall be made on forms furnished by the department and shall contain such information as the department requires. The report shall also set forth with respect to each civil proceeding in which the board of education is a defendant and each civil proceeding in which the board of education is a party and is not a defendant and in which one of the other parties is a board of education in this state or an officer, board, or official of this state:

(A) The nature of the proceeding;

(B) The capacity in which the board is a party to the proceeding;

(C) The total expenses incurred by the board with respect to the proceeding;

(D) The total expenses incurred by the board with respect to the proceeding during the reporting period.

Divisions (A) to (D) of this section do not apply to any proceeding for which no expenses have been incurred during the reporting period.

The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district may prepare and publish annually a report of the condition and administration of the schools under its supervision which shall include therein an exhibit of the financial affairs of the district and the information required in divisions (A) to (D) of this section. Such annual report shall be for a full year.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:15 PM

Section 3319.35 | Failure of superintendent or treasurer to make reports.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

If the superintendent or treasurer of any school district or educational service center fails to prepare any required report, that superintendent shall be liable in the sum of three hundred dollars, to be recovered by a civil action. In the case of reports required to be submitted to the superintendent, such action shall be instituted in the name of the governing board of the service center upon the complaint of the service center superintendent and the amount collected shall be paid into the service center's general fund. In the case of reports to be submitted to the department of education and workforce, the action shall be instituted in the name of the state on complaint of the board and the amount collected shall be paid into the general revenue fund.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:15 PM

Section 3319.36 | Requirements for payment of teacher for services.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 491 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) No treasurer of a board of education or educational service center shall draw a check for the payment of a teacher for services until both of the following conditions are satisfied :

(1) The treasurer receives a written statement from the district or service center superintendent, or superintendent's designee, that the teacher has filed with the superintendent or designee such reports as are required by the state board of education, the school district board of education, or the district or service center superintendent ;

(2) Except in the case of a teacher who is engaged pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code, the treasurer receives a written statement from the district or service center superintendent or the superintendent's designee that the teacher has filed with the superintendent or designee a legal educator license, or true copy of it, to teach the subjects or grades taught, with the dates of its validity. The state board of education shall prescribe the record and administration for such filing of educator licenses in educational service centers.

Prior to filing the written statements prescribed by divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section, each teacher shall file the required reports and license with the district or service center superintendent or superintendent's designee.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the treasurer may pay any of the following:

(1) Any teacher for services rendered during the first two months of the teacher's initial employment with the school district or educational service center, provided such teacher is the holder of a bachelor's degree or higher and has filed with the state board of education an application for the issuance of an educator license described in division (A)(1) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code. The requirement for a bachelor's degree shall not apply to career-technical education teachers licensed under sections 3319.226 and 3319.229 of the Revised Code.

(2) Any substitute teacher for services rendered while conditionally employed under section 3319.101 of the Revised Code.

(3) Any employee for services rendered under division (F) of section 3319.088 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon notice to the treasurer given by the state board of education or any superintendent having jurisdiction that reports required of a teacher have not been made, the treasurer shall withhold the salary of the teacher until the required reports are completed and furnished.

(D) No treasurer of a board of education or educational service center shall be liable for a loss of public funds for any payments to a teacher that are made by the treasurer in compliance with this section, unless the loss results from the treasurer's negligence or other wrongful act.

(E) No superintendent of a school district or educational service center or the superintendent's designee shall be liable for a loss of public funds for any payments to a teacher that are made by the district or service center treasurer in compliance with this section, unless the loss results from the superintendent's negligence or other wrongful act.

Section 3319.361 | Rules for issuance of supplemental teaching license.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, the state board of education shall establish rules for the issuance of a supplemental teaching license. This license shall be issued at the request of the superintendent of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district, educational service center, or the governing authority of a STEM school, chartered nonpublic school, or community school to an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Holds a current professional or permanent Ohio teaching certificate or resident educator license, professional educator license, senior professional educator license, or lead professional educator license, as issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.26 of the Revised Code;

(2) Is of good moral character;

(3) Is employed in a supplemental licensure area or teaching field, as defined by the state board;

(4) Completes an examination prescribed by the state board in the licensure area;

(5) Completes, while employed under the supplemental teaching license and subsequent renewals thereof, additional coursework, if applicable, and testing requirements for full licensure in the supplemental area as a condition of holding and teaching under a supplemental teaching license.

(B) The employing school district, service center, or school shall assign a mentor to the individual holding a supplemental teaching license. The assigned mentor shall be an experienced teacher who currently holds a license in the same, or a related, content area as the supplemental license.

(C) Before the state board will issue an individual a supplemental teaching license in another area, the supplemental licensee must complete the supplemental licensure program, or its equivalent, and be issued a standard teaching license in the area of the currently held supplemental license.

(D) An individual may advance from a supplemental teaching license to a standard teaching license upon:

(1) Verification from the employing superintendent or governing authority that the individual holding the supplemental teaching license has taught successfully in the licensure area for a minimum of two years; and

(2) Completing requirements as applicable to the licensure area or teaching field as established by the state board.

(E) A licensee who has filed an application under this section may work in the supplemental licensure area for up to sixty school days while completing the requirements in division (A)(4) of this section. If the requirements are not completed within sixty days, the application shall be declined.

(F) The state board shall issue a supplemental teaching license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an educator providing supplemental instruction in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:11 AM

Section 3319.37 | Appointment of persons to make reports for treasurer or executive head - compensation.

• Effective: September 29, 1995
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 117 - 121st General Assembly

Upon the neglect or failure of a treasurer or executive head of the schools of any district within the educational service center to make the required reports, by the time specified, the superintendent of the service center must appoint some suitable person to make such reports, who shall receive a reasonable compensation therefor to be paid from the service center's general fund. The amount of such compensation shall be withheld by the county auditor from the funds due such district at the time of the next tax settlement and be credited to the service center's general fund.

Section 3319.39 | Criminal records check.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2)(b) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the appointing or hiring officer of the board of education of a school district, the governing board of an educational service center, or of a chartered nonpublic school shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check with respect to any applicant who has applied to the school district, educational service center, or school for employment in any position. The appointing or hiring officer shall request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check, unless all of the following apply to the applicant:

(a) The applicant is applying to be an instructor of adult education.

(b) The duties of the position for which the applicant is applying do not involve routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child or, if the duties do involve such interaction or responsibility, during any period of time in which the applicant, if hired, has such interaction or responsibility, another employee of the school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school will be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, will be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or have visual contact with the child.

(c) The applicant presents proof that the applicant has been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date upon which the criminal records check is requested or provides evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check.

(2) A person required by division (A)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall provide to each applicant a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, provide to each applicant a standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, obtain the completed form and impression sheet from each applicant, and forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation at the time the person requests a criminal records check pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) An applicant who receives pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a copy of an impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section and who is requested to complete the form and provide a set of fingerprint impressions shall complete the form or provide all the information necessary to complete the form and shall provide the impression sheet with the impressions of the applicant's fingerprints. If an applicant, upon request, fails to provide the information necessary to complete the form or fails to provide impressions of the applicant's fingerprints, the board of education of a school district, governing board of an educational service center, or governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall not employ that applicant for any position.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, an applicant who meets the conditions prescribed in divisions (A)(1)(a) and (b) of this section and who, within the two-year period prior to the date of application, was the subject of a criminal records check under this section prior to being hired for short-term employment with the school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school to which application is being made shall not be required to undergo a criminal records check prior to the applicant's rehiring by that district, service center, or school.

(B)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the state board of education in accordance with division (E) of this section and as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, no board of education of a school district, no governing board of an educational service center, and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a person if the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, another state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses or violations described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) A board, governing board of an educational service center, or a governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school may employ an applicant conditionally until the criminal records check required by this section is completed and the board or governing authority receives the results of the criminal records check. If the results of the criminal records check indicate that, pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the applicant does not qualify for employment, the board or governing authority shall release the applicant from employment.

(3) No board and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a teacher who previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) Each board and each governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted in accordance with that section upon the request pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section of the appointing or hiring officer of the board or governing authority.

(2) A board and the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school may charge an applicant a fee for the costs it incurs in obtaining a criminal records check under this section. A fee charged under this division shall not exceed the amount of fees the board or governing authority pays under division (C)(1) of this section. If a fee is charged under this division, the board or governing authority shall notify the applicant at the time of the applicant's initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the board or governing authority will not consider the applicant for employment.

(D) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request under division (A)(1) of this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the applicant who is the subject of the criminal records check or the applicant's representative, the board or governing authority requesting the criminal records check or its representative, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with the denial of employment to the applicant.

(E) The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section, including rules specifying circumstances under which the board or governing authority may hire a person who has been convicted of an offense listed in division (B)(1) or (3) of this section but who meets standards in regard to rehabilitation set by the state board. Any rules adopted by the state board under this division regarding the employment of a person holding a certificate, license, or permit described in this chapter or in division (B) of section 3301.071 or in section 3301.074 of the Revised Code shall comply with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

The state board shall amend rule 3301-83-23 of the Ohio Administrative Code that took effect August 27, 2009, and that specifies the offenses that disqualify a person for employment as a school bus or school van driver and establishes rehabilitation standards for school bus and school van drivers.

(F) Any person required by division (A)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall inform each person, at the time of the person's initial application for employment, of the requirement to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted and satisfactorily completed in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code if the person comes under final consideration for appointment or employment as a precondition to employment for the school district, educational service center, or school for that position.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for appointment or employment in a position with a board of education, governing board of an educational service center, or a chartered nonpublic school, except that "applicant" does not include a person already employed by a board or chartered nonpublic school who is under consideration for a different position with such board or school.

(2) "Teacher" means a person holding an educator license or permit issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.301 of the Revised Code and teachers in a chartered nonpublic school.

(3) "Criminal records check" has the same meaning as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(H) If the board of education of a local school district adopts a resolution requesting the assistance of the educational service center in which the local district has territory in conducting criminal records checks of substitute teachers and substitutes for other district employees under this section, the appointing or hiring officer of such educational service center shall serve for purposes of this section as the appointing or hiring officer of the local board in the case of hiring substitute teachers and other substitute employees for the local district.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:19 PM

Section 3319.391 | Applicants and new hires subject to criminal records check provisions.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 168 - 135th General Assembly

This section applies to any person hired by a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school and any contractor or person hired by a contractor engaged in providing services that may involve routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child to a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school in any position that does not require a "license" issued by the state board of education, as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, or a registration issued by the state board of education under Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code, and is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation. This section does not apply to any person who volunteers at a school building within a district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school, including a parent volunteer in a student's classroom.

(A)(1) For each person to whom this section applies who is hired on or after November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check in accordance with section 3319.39 of the Revised Code and shall request a subsequent criminal records check by the fifth day of September every fifth year thereafter.

(2) For each person to whom this section applies who is hired prior to November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check by a date prescribed by the state board and shall request a subsequent criminal records check by the fifth day of September every fifth year thereafter.

(3) If, on October 3, 2023, the most recent criminal records check requested for a person under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section was completed more than one year prior to that date or does not include information gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the employer shall request a new criminal records check that includes information gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code by a date prescribed by the state board and shall request a subsequent criminal records check by the fifth day of September every fifth year thereafter.

(B)(1) Each request for a criminal records check under this section shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, except that if both of the following conditions apply to the person subject to the records check, the employer shall request the superintendent only to obtain any criminal records that the federal bureau of investigation has on the person:

(a) The employer previously requested the superintendent to determine whether the bureau of criminal identification and investigation has any information, gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, on the person in conjunction with a criminal records check requested under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code or under this section.

(b) The person presents proof that the person has been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date upon which the person becomes subject to a criminal records check under this section.

(2) Upon receipt of a request under division (B)(1) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation 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. However, as specified in division (B)(2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, if the employer requests the superintendent only to obtain any criminal records that the federal bureau of investigation has on the person for whom the request is made, the superintendent shall not conduct the review prescribed by division (B)(1) of that section.

(C) Notwithstanding division (D) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall make the initial criminal records check of a person requested by an employer under division (A) of this section on or after October 3, 2023, available to the state board. The state board shall use the information received to enroll the person in the retained applicant fingerprint database, established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code, in the same manner as any teacher licensed under sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code. If the state board is unable to enroll the person in the retained applicant fingerprint database because the person has not satisfied the requirements for enrollment, the state board shall notify the employer that the person has not satisfied the requirements for enrollment. However, the bureau shall not be required to make available to the state board the criminal records check of any person who is already enrolled in the retained applicant fingerprint database on the date the person's employer requests a records check of the person under division (A) of this section.

If the state board receives notification of the arrest, guilty plea, or conviction of a person who is subject to this section, the state board shall promptly notify the employing school district, chartered nonpublic school, or educational service center in accordance with division (B) of section 3319.316 of the Revised Code.

(D) Any person who is the subject of a criminal records check under this section and has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code shall not be hired or shall be released from employment, as applicable, unless the person meets the rehabilitation standards adopted by the state board under division (E) of that section.

Last updated August 15, 2024 at 4:59 PM

Section 3319.392 | Criminal records check of private contract employee.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Designated official" means the superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in the case of a school district or educational service center and the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, in the case of a chartered nonpublic school.

(2) "Essential school services" means services provided by a private company under contract with a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school that the district or service center superintendent or the chief administrator of the chartered nonpublic school has determined are necessary for the operation of the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school and that would need to be provided by employees of the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic 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 school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school to provide essential school services and who will work in the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic 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 school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school shall permit a person to whom this section applies to work in the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic 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 district, service center, or chartered nonpublic 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 district, service center, or chartered nonpublic 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 school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic 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.

Section 3319.393 | Educator profile database consultation.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Each school district and chartered nonpublic school shall include the following notice in boldface type in each employment application: "ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT IS GUILTY OF FALSIFICATION UNDER SECTION 2921.13 OF THE REVISED CODE, WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE."

(B)(1) Each district and chartered nonpublic school shall consult the "educator profile" database maintained on the web site of the state board of education prior to making any hiring decision.

(2) After consulting the "educator profile" database, a district or chartered nonpublic school may further discern the employment, disciplinary, or criminal record of an applicant for employment in either or both of the following ways:

(a) Consulting the state board of education's office of professional conduct in accordance with section 3319.319 of the Revised Code to determine whether the individual has been the subject of either:

(i) Any notice to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, 3328.19, or 5126.253 of the Revised Code;

(ii) Any disciplinary actions conducted by the state board.

(b) Consulting any prior education-related employers of the individual.

(3) A district or chartered nonpublic school may require additional background checks other than the criminal records checks authorized under sections 109.574 to 109.577 of the Revised Code or those required under section 3319.39 or 3319.391 of the Revised Code for any applicant for employment or potential volunteer.

(C) A district or chartered nonpublic school may conditionally employ an individual pending the receipt of information sought in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section. Should that information indicate that the individual has engaged in conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession or has committed an offense that prevents, limits, or otherwise affects the applicant's employment with the district or school, the district or chartered nonpublic school may release the individual from employment.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:35 PM

Section 3319.40 | Suspension of employee pending criminal action.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(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 school district or chartered nonpublic school 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 superintendent of the district or the chief administrative officer of the chartered nonpublic school 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 a person whose duties are assigned by the district treasurer under division (B) of section 3313.31 of the Revised Code, the treasurer shall suspend the person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child. 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 superintendent or treasurer of the district, the district board shall suspend the superintendent or treasurer from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child. 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 administrative officer of the chartered nonpublic school, the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school shall suspend the chief administrative officer 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 superintendent, treasurer, board of education, chief administrative officer, or governing authority that imposed the suspension promptly shall report the person's suspension to the state board of education. The report shall include the offense for which the person was arrested, summoned, or indicted.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:37 PM

Section 3319.41 | Corporal punishment policy.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) No person employed or engaged as a teacher, principal, administrator, nonlicensed school employee, or bus driver in a public school may inflict or cause to be inflicted corporal punishment as a means of discipline upon a pupil attending such school.

(B) A person employed or otherwise engaged as a teacher, principal, or administrator by a nonpublic school, except as otherwise provided by the governing authority of the nonpublic school, may inflict or cause to be inflicted reasonable corporal punishment upon a pupil attending the school to which the person is assigned whenever such punishment is reasonably necessary in order to preserve discipline while the student is subject to school authority.

(C) Persons employed or engaged as teachers, principals, or administrators in a school, whether public or private, and nonlicensed school employees and school bus drivers may, within the scope of their employment, use and apply such amount of force and restraint as is reasonable and necessary to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to others, to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects upon the person or within the control of the pupil, for the purpose of self-defense, or for the protection of persons or property.

Section 3319.42 | Interstate agreement on qualification of educational personnel.

• Effective: November 25, 1969
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 275 - 108th General Assembly

The interstate agreement on qualification of educational personnel is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all states legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:

THE INTERSTATE AGREEMENT ON

QUALIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL

Article I. Purpose, findings, and policy.

1. The States party to this Agreement, desiring by common action to improve their respective school systems by utilizing the teacher or other professional educational person wherever educated, declare that it is the policy of each of them, on the basis of cooperation with one another, to take advantage of the preparation and experience of such persons wherever gained, thereby serving the best interests of society, of education, and of the teaching profession. It is the purpose of this Agreement to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation as will facilitate the movement of teachers and other professional educational personnel among the states party to it, and to authorize specific interstate educational personnel contracts to achieve that end.

2. The party states find that included in the large movement of population among all sections of the nation are many qualified educational personnel who move for family and other personal reasons but who are hindered in using their professional skill and experience in their new locations. Variations from state to state in requirements for qualifying educational personnel discourage such personnel from taking the steps necessary to qualify in other states. As a consequence, a significant number of professionally prepared and experienced educators is lost to our school systems. Facilitating the employment of qualified educational personnel, without reference to their states of origin, can increase the available educational resources. Participation in this compact can increase the availability of educational manpower.

Article II. Definitions.

As used in this Agreement and contracts made pursuant to it, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

1. "Educational personnel" means persons who must meet requirements pursuant to state law as a condition of employment in educational programs.

2. "Designated state official" means the education official of a state selected by that state to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of his state, contracts pursuant to this Agreement.

3. "Accept," or any variant thereof, means to recognize and give effect to one or more determinations of another state relating to the qualifications of educational personnel in lieu of making or requiring a like determination that would otherwise be required by or pursuant to the laws of a receiving state.

4. "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States; the District of Columbia; or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

5. "Originating State" means a State (and the subdivision thereof, if any) whose determination that certain educational personnel are qualified to be employed for specific duties in schools is acceptable in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III.

6. "Receiving State" means a State (and the subdivisions thereof) which accept educational personnel in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III.

Article III. Interstate Educational

Personnel Contracts.

1. The designated state official of a party State may make one or more contracts on behalf of his State with one or more other party States providing for the acceptance of educational personnel. Any such contract for the period of its duration shall be applicable to and binding on the states whose designated state officials enter into it, and the subdivisions of those states, with the same force and effect as if incorporated in this agreement. A designated state official may enter into a contract pursuant to this article only with states in which he finds that there are programs of education, certification standards or other acceptable qualifications that assure preparation or qualification of educational personnel on a basis sufficiently comparable, even though not identical to that prevailing in his own State.

2. Any such contract shall provide for:

(A) Its duration.

(B) The criteria to be applied by an originating State in qualifying educational personnel for acceptance by a receiving state.

(C) Such waivers, substitutions, and conditional acceptances as shall aid the practical effectuation of the contract without sacrifice of basic educational standards.

(D) Any other necessary matters.

3. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall be for a term longer than five years but any such contract may be renewed for like or lesser periods.

4. Any contract dealing with acceptance of educational personnel on the basis of their having completed an educational program shall specify the earliest date or dates on which originating state approval of the program or programs involved can have occurred. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall require acceptance by a receiving State of any persons qualified because of successful completion of a program prior to January 1, 1954.

5. The certification or other acceptance of a person who has been accepted pursuant to the terms of a contract shall not be revoked or otherwise impaired because the contract has expired or been terminated. However, any certificate or other qualifying document may be revoked or suspended on any ground which would be sufficient for revocation or suspension of a certificate or other qualifying document initially granted or approved in the receiving State.

6. A contract committee composed of the designated state officials of the contracting States or their representatives shall keep the contract under continuous review, study means of improving its administration, and report no less frequently than once a year to the heads of the appropriate education agencies of the contracting States.

Article IV. Approved and Accepted Programs.

1. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to repeal or otherwise modify any law or regulation of a party State relating to the approval of programs of educational preparation having effect solely on the qualification of educational personnel within that state.

2. To the extent that contracts made pursuant to this Agreement deal with the educational requirements for the proper qualification of educational personnel, acceptance of a program of educational preparation shall be in accordance with such procedures and requirements as may be provided in the applicable contract.

Article V. Interstate Cooperation.

The party States agree that:

1. They will, so far as practicable, prefer the making of multi-lateral contracts pursuant to Article III of this Agreement.

2. They will facilitate and strengthen cooperation in interstate certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification and for this purpose shall cooperate with agencies, organizations, and associations interested in certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification.

Article VI. Agreement Evaluation.

The designated state officials of any party States may meet from time to time as a group to evaluate progress under the agreement, and to formulate recommendations for changes.

Article VII. Other Arrangements.

Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or inhibit other arrangements or practices of any party state or states to facilitate the interchange of educational personnel.

Article VIII. Effect and Withdrawal.

1. This Agreement shall become effective when enacted into law by two states. Thereafter it shall become effective as to any State upon its enactment of this Agreement.

2. Any party State may withdraw from this Agreement by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party States.

3. No withdrawal shall relieve the withdrawing State of any obligation imposed upon it by a contract to which it is a party. The duration of contracts and the methods and conditions of withdrawal therefrom shall be those specified in their terms.

Article IX. Construction and Severability.

This agreement shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this Agreement is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any State or of the United States, or the application thereof to any Government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this agreement and the applicability thereof to any Government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this agreement shall be held contrary to the constitution of any State participating therein, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the State affected as to all severable matters.

Last updated November 3, 2021 at 3:31 PM

Section 3319.43 | Designated state official shall be superintendent of public instruction.

• Effective: November 25, 1969
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 275 - 108th General Assembly

The "designated state official" defined pursuant to article II of section 3319.42 of the Revised Code shall be the superintendent of public instruction. He shall enter into contracts pursuant to article III of section 3319.42 of the Revised Code only with the approval of the specific text thereof by the state board of education.

Section 3319.44 | Copies of contracts to be kept on file.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this state pursuant to sections 3319.42 and 3319.43 of the Revised Code shall be kept on file in the offices of the department of education and workforce and of the secretary of state. The department of education and workforce shall publish all such contracts in convenient form.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:38 PM

Section 3319.45 | Principal to report certain act or violations by pupil to superintendent and law enforcement officer.

• Effective: July 31, 1992
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 154 - 119th General Assembly

If a principal of a public school in a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district, acting in his official or professional capacity, has knowledge of or has observed a pupil committing a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether or not the pupil was sixteen years of age or older at the time of the commission of the act or violation, and the violation was committed on property owned and controlled by, or at any activity held under the auspices of, the board of education of the school district, both of the following apply:

(A) The principal, within one school day after obtaining his knowledge of or observing the act or violation, shall report the violation to the superintendent of the school district in which the school is located or to the designee of the superintendent.

(B) The principal, within a reasonable period of time after obtaining his knowledge of or observing the act or violation, may report the act or violation to a law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which the violation occurred or, if the pupil is a juvenile, report the violation to either a law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which the act occurred or in the jurisdiction in which the pupil resides.

Section 3319.46 | Policy and rules regarding positive behavior intervention supports and the use of physical restraint or seclusion on students; duties of board.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The department of education and workforce shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish both of the following:

(a) A policy and standards for the implementation of positive behavior intervention and supports framework;

(b) A policy and standards for the use of physical restraint or seclusion on students.

(2) The department shall amend or update rule 3301-35-15 of the Administrative Code to reflect the requirements of this section.

(B)(1) Each school district board of education shall do all of the following:

(a) Implement a positive behavior intervention and supports framework on a system-wide basis that complies with this section;

(b) Comply with any policy and standards adopted, amended, or updated by the department under this section;

(c) Submit any reports required by the department or the general assembly with respect to the implementation of a positive behavior intervention and supports framework or suspension and expulsion of students in any of grades pre-kindergarten through three.

(2) Each school district's positive behavior intervention and supports framework may focus on the following:

(a) Comprehensive, school-wide data systems that enable monitoring of academic progress, behavioral incidents, attendance, and other critical indicators across classrooms;

(b) School-wide investment in evidence-based curricula and effective instructional strategies, matched to students' needs, and data to support teachers' academic instruction;

(c) An expectation by school administrators that classroom practices be linked to and aligned with the school-wide system;

(d) Improving staff climate and culture regarding the role of discipline in the classroom, established through the use of positive and proactive communication and staff recognition.

(C) For purposes of this section, "positive behavior intervention and supports framework" or "positive behavior intervention and supports" means a multi-tiered, school-wide, behavioral framework developed and implemented for the purpose of improving academic and social outcomes and increasing learning for all students.

(D) The department shall oversee each school district's and school's compliance with this section.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 2:39 PM

Section 3319.47 | Sexual harassment counseling.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

The school districts, public schools, and chartered nonpublic schools of this state may provide counseling to any victim of sexual harassment or sexually related conduct.

Last updated September 13, 2021 at 9:53 AM

Section 3319.51 | Fees - state board of education licensure fund.

• Effective: June 30, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "operating expenses" includes the cost of administering requirements related to the issuance and renewal of licenses, certificates, or permits described in this chapter and sections 3301.071 and 3301.074 of the Revised Code and any other cost incurred by the state board of education to perform a duty prescribed by law.

(B) The state board of education shall annually establish the amount of the fees required to be paid for any license, certificate, or permit issued under this chapter or division (B) of section 3301.071 or section 3301.074 of the Revised Code. Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the amount of these fees shall be such that they, along with any appropriation made by the general assembly, will be sufficient to cover the annual estimated operating expenses of the state board.

(C) The state board shall not require any fee to be paid under division (B) of this section for a license, certificate, or permit issued for the purpose of teaching in a junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) program approved by the congress of the United States under title 10 of the United States Code.

(D) The operating expenses of the state board shall be paid primarily from, and all license, certificate, or permit fees received by the state board shall be deposited in, the state treasury to the credit of the occupational licensing and regulatory fund established in section 4743.05 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM

Section 3319.52 | Notification of guilty plea or conviction of license holder.

• Effective: September 12, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 127th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.

(2) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(3) "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.

(4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) If there is any judicial finding of guilt or any conviction or a judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction against a license holder, or if a license holder agrees to participate in a pre-trial diversion program, for any of the offenses listed in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the prosecutor in the case, on forms that the state board of education shall prescribe and furnish, promptly shall notify the board and, if known, any school district or chartered nonpublic school employing the license holder of the license holder's name and residence address, and the fact that the license holder pleaded guilty to, was convicted of, has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to a diversion program for the offense.

Last updated January 13, 2023 at 1:02 PM

Section 3319.60 | Educator standards board.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

There is hereby established the educator standards board. The board shall develop and recommend to the state board of education standards for entering and continuing in the educator professions and standards for educator professional development. The board membership shall reflect the diversity of the state in terms of gender, race, ethnic background, and geographic distribution.

(A) The board shall consist of the following members:

(1) The following nineteen members appointed by the state board of education:

(a) Ten persons employed as teachers in a school district. Three persons appointed under this division shall be employed as teachers in a secondary school, two persons shall be employed as teachers in a middle school, three persons shall be employed as teachers in an elementary school, one person shall be employed as a teacher in a pre-kindergarten classroom, and one person shall be a teacher who serves on a local professional development committee pursuant to section 3319.22 of the Revised Code. At least one person appointed under this division shall hold a teaching certificate or license issued by the national board for professional teaching standards. The Ohio education association shall submit a list of fourteen nominees for these appointments and the state board may appoint up to seven members to the educator standards board from that list. The Ohio federation of teachers shall submit a list of six nominees for these appointments and the state board may appoint up to three members to the educator standards board from that list. If there is an insufficient number of nominees from both lists to satisfy the membership requirements of this division, the state board shall request additional nominees who satisfy those requirements.

(b) One person employed as a teacher in a chartered, nonpublic school. Stakeholder groups selected by the state board shall submit a list of two nominees for this appointment.

(c) Five persons employed as school administrators in a school district. Of those five persons, one person shall be employed as a secondary school principal, one person shall be employed as a middle school principal, one person shall be employed as an elementary school principal, one person shall be employed as a school district treasurer or business manager, and one person shall be employed as a school district superintendent. The buckeye association of school administrators shall submit a list of two nominees for the school district superintendent, the Ohio association of school business officials shall submit a list of two nominees for the school district treasurer or business manager, the Ohio association of elementary school administrators shall submit a list of two nominees for the elementary school principal, and the Ohio association of secondary school administrators shall submit a list of two nominees for the middle school principal and a list of two nominees for the secondary school principal.

(d) One person who is a member of a school district board of education. The Ohio school boards association shall submit a list of two nominees for this appointment.

(e) One person who is a parent of a student currently enrolled in a school operated by a school district. The Ohio parent teacher association shall submit a list of two nominees for this appointment.

(f) One person who represents community schools established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code.

(2) The chancellor of higher education shall appoint three persons employed by institutions of higher education that offer educator preparation programs. One person shall be employed by an institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code; one person shall be employed by a state university, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, or a university branch; and one person shall be employed by a state community college, community college, or technical college. Of the two persons appointed from an institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code and from a state university or university branch:

(a) One shall be a representative of the Ohio association of private colleges for teacher education, or its successor organization.

(b) One shall be a representative of the state university education deans of Ohio, or its successor organization.

The chancellor shall appoint a representative from each of the organizations specified in divisions (A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section not later than sixty days after April 6, 2023. Each representative shall serve a two-year term beginning July 1, 2023.

(3) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two persons who are active in or retired from the education profession.

(4) The president of the senate shall appoint two persons who are active in or retired from the education profession.

(5) The superintendent of public instruction, the chancellor of higher education, or their designees, and the chairpersons and the ranking minority members of the education committees of the senate and house of representatives shall serve as nonvoting, ex officio members.

(B) Terms of office shall be for two years. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. At the first meeting, appointed members shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as prescribed for appointments under division (A) of this section. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of such term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The terms of office of members are renewable.

(C) Members shall receive no compensation for their services.

(D) The board shall establish guidelines for its operation. These guidelines shall permit the creation of standing subcommittees when necessary. The board shall determine the membership of any subcommittee it creates. The board may select persons who are not members of the board to participate in the deliberations of any subcommittee as representatives of stakeholder groups, but no such person shall vote on any issue before the subcommittee.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 2:14 PM

Section 3319.61 | Duties of board.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The educator standards board, in consultation with the chancellor of higher education, shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop state standards for teachers and principals that reflect what teachers and principals are expected to know and be able to do at all stages of their careers. These standards shall be aligned with the statewide academic content standards for students adopted pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, be primarily based on educator performance instead of years of experience or certain courses completed, and rely on evidence-based factors. These standards shall also be aligned with the operating standards adopted under division (D)(3) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code.

(a) The standards for teachers shall reflect the following additional criteria:

(i) Alignment with the interstate new teacher assessment and support consortium standards;

(ii) Differentiation among novice, experienced, and advanced teachers;

(iii) Reliance on competencies that can be measured;

(iv) Reliance on content knowledge, teaching skills, discipline-specific teaching methods, and requirements for professional development;

(v) Alignment with a career-long system of professional development and evaluation that ensures teachers receive the support and training needed to achieve the teaching standards as well as reliable feedback about how well they meet the standards;

(vi) The standards under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, including standards on collaborative learning environments and interdisciplinary, project-based, real-world learning and differentiated instruction;

(vii) The Ohio leadership framework.

(b) The standards for principals shall be aligned with the interstate school leaders licensing consortium standards.

(2) Develop standards for school district superintendents that reflect what superintendents are expected to know and be able to do at all stages of their careers. The standards shall reflect knowledge of systems theory and effective management principles and be aligned with the buckeye association of school administrators standards and the operating standards developed under division (D)(3) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code.

(3) Develop standards for school district treasurers and business managers that reflect what treasurers and business managers are expected to know and be able to do at all stages of their careers. The standards shall reflect knowledge of systems theory and effective management principles and be aligned with the association of school business officials international standards and the operating standards developed under division (D)(3) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code.

(4) Develop standards for the renewal of licenses under sections 3301.074 and 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(5) Develop standards for educator professional development;

(6) Investigate and make recommendations for the creation, expansion, and implementation of school building and school district leadership academies;

(7) Develop standards for school counselors that reflect what school counselors are expected to know and be able to do at all stages of their careers. The standards shall reflect knowledge of academic, personal, and social counseling for students and effective principles to implement an effective school counseling program. The standards also shall reflect Ohio-specific knowledge of career counseling for students and education options that provide flexibility for earning credit, such as earning units of high school credit using the methods adopted by the department of education and workforce under division (J) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code and earning college credit through the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code and the career-technical education credit transfer criteria, policies, and procedures established under section 3333.162 of the Revised Code. The standards shall align with the American school counselor association's professional standards and the operating standards developed under division (D)(3) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code.

The director of education and workforce, superintendent of public instruction, the chancellor of higher education, or the education standards board itself may request that the educator standards board update, review, or reconsider any standards developed under this section.

(B) The educator standards board shall incorporate indicators of cultural competency into the standards developed under division (A) of this section. For this purpose, the educator standards board shall develop a definition of cultural competency based upon content and experiences that enable educators to know, understand, and appreciate the students, families, and communities that they serve and skills for addressing cultural diversity in ways that respond equitably and appropriately to the cultural needs of individual students.

(C) In developing the standards under division (A) of this section, the educator standards board shall consider the impact of the standards on closing the achievement gap between students of different subgroups.

(D) In developing the standards under division (A) of this section, the educator standards board shall ensure both of the following:

(1) That teachers have sufficient knowledge to provide appropriate instruction for students identified as gifted pursuant to Chapter 3324. of the Revised Code and to assist in the identification of such students, and have sufficient knowledge that will enable teachers to provide learning opportunities for all children to succeed;

(2) That principals, superintendents, school treasurers, and school business managers have sufficient knowledge to provide principled, collaborative, foresighted, and data-based leadership that will provide learning opportunities for all children to succeed.

(E) The standards for educator professional development developed under division (A)(5) of this section shall include the following:

(1) Standards for the inclusion of local professional development committees established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code in the planning and design of professional development;

(2) Standards that address the crucial link between academic achievement and mental health issues.

(F) The educator standards board shall also perform the following functions:

(1) Monitor compliance with the standards developed under division (A) of this section and make recommendations to the state board of education for appropriate corrective action if such standards are not met;

(2) Research, develop, and recommend policies on the professions of teaching and school administration;

(3) Recommend policies to close the achievement gap between students of different subgroups;

(4) Define a "master teacher" in a manner that can be used uniformly by all school districts;

(5) Adopt criteria that a candidate for a lead professional educator license under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code who does not hold a valid certificate issued by the national board for professional teaching standards must meet to be considered a lead teacher for purposes of division (B)(4)(d) of that section. It is the intent of the general assembly that the educator standards board shall adopt multiple, equal-weighted criteria to use in determining whether a person is a lead teacher. The criteria shall be in addition to the other standards and qualifications prescribed in division (B)(4) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code. The criteria may include, but shall not be limited to, completion of educational levels beyond a master's degree or other professional development courses or demonstration of a leadership role in the teacher's school building or district. The board shall determine the number of criteria that a teacher shall satisfy to be recognized as a lead teacher, which shall not be the total number of criteria adopted by the board.

(6) Develop model teacher and principal evaluation instruments and processes. The models shall be based on the standards developed under division (A) of this section.

(7) Develop a method of measuring the academic improvement made by individual students during a one-year period and make recommendations for incorporating the measurement as one of multiple evaluation criteria into each of the following:

(a) Eligibility for a professional educator license, senior professional educator license, lead professional educator license, or principal license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(b) The Ohio teacher residency program established under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code;

(c) The model teacher and principal evaluation instruments and processes developed under division (F)(6) of this section.

Last updated August 3, 2023 at 3:32 PM

Section 3319.611 | Subcommittee on standards for superintendents of the education standards board.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

The subcommittee on standards for superintendents of the education standards board is hereby established. The subcommittee shall consist of the following members:

(A) The school district superintendent appointed to the educator standards board under section 3319.60 of the Revised Code, who shall act as chairperson of the subcommittee;

(B) Three additional school district superintendents appointed by the state board of education, for terms of two years. The buckeye association of school administrators shall submit a list of six nominees for appointments under this section.

(C) Three additional members of the educator standards board, appointed by the chairperson of the educator standards board;

(D) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education, or their designees, who shall serve as nonvoting, ex officio members of the subcommittee.

Members of the subcommittee shall receive no compensation for their services. The members appointed under divisions (B) and (C) of this section may be reappointed.

The subcommittee shall assist the educator standards board in developing the standards for superintendents and with any additional matters the educator standards board directs the subcommittee to examine.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 2:15 PM

Section 3319.612 | Subcommittee on standards for school treasurers and business managers of the educator standards board.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

The subcommittee on standards for school treasurers and business managers of the educator standards board is hereby established. The subcommittee shall consist of the following members:

(A) The school district treasurer or business manager appointed to the educator standards board under section 3319.60 of the Revised Code, who shall act as chairperson of the subcommittee;

(B) Three additional school district treasurers or business managers appointed by the state board of education for terms of two years. The Ohio association of school business officials shall submit a list of six nominees for appointments under this section.

(C) Three additional members of the educator standards board, appointed by the chairperson of the educator standards board;

(D) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education, or their designees, who shall serve as nonvoting, ex officio members of the subcommittee.

Members of the subcommittee shall receive no compensation for their services. The members appointed under divisions (B) and (C) of this section may be reappointed.

The subcommittee shall assist the educator standards board in developing the standards for school treasurers and business managers and with any additional matters the educator standards board directs the subcommittee to examine.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 2:16 PM

Section 3319.614 | Policies prohibiting affirmations of specific beliefs.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 214 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Within ninety days after the effective date of this section, the board of education of each school district shall adopt a policy that states all of the following:

(1) The school district shall not solicit or require an employee or applicant for employment or academic admission to affirmatively ascribe to, or opine about, specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements, or ideology.

(2) The school district shall not solicit or require a student to affirmatively ascribe to specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements, or ideology.

(3) The school district shall not use statements of commitment to specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements, or ideology as part of the evaluation criteria for employees or applicants for employment, or employees that are seeking career progression or benefits.

(4) The school district shall not use statements of commitment to specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements or ideology as part of the academic evaluation of students.

(B) Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or restrict any of the following:

(1) A school district's authority to require a student or employee to comply with federal or state law, including anti-discrimination laws, or to take action against a student or employee for violation of federal or state law;

(2) An educator's academic freedom;

(3) An educator's ability to research or write publications about specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements, ideology, or social action;

(4) A school district's authority to consider an applicant for employment's scholarship, teaching, or subject matter expertise in the applicant's given academic field;

(5) A school district's authority to offer an established character education program.

(C) Each school district shall make publicly available all policies, district guidance, and training materials used for students, educators, and staff on all matters regarding specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles concerning political movements, or ideology.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require school districts to make protected legal communications or guidance publicly available.

Last updated September 5, 2024 at 2:31 PM

Section 3319.63 | Granting professional leave for educator standards board service.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

The board of education of a school district that employs any person who is appointed to serve as a member of the educator standards board under division (A)(1)(a) or (c) of section 3319.60, as a member of the subcommittee on standards for superintendents under division (B) or (C) of section 3319.611, or as a member of the subcommittee on standards for school treasurers and business managers under division (B) or (C) of section 3319.612 of the Revised Code shall grant that person paid professional leave for the purpose of attending meetings and conducting official business of the educator standards board and the subcommittees.

Section 3319.65 | Credential review board.

• Effective: June 9, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 125th General Assembly

The state board of education shall establish a credential review board. The credential review board shall carry out any functions assigned to it by the state board with respect to assessing individuals pursuing alternative routes to educator licensure and out of state educators seeking licensure in Ohio. The credential review board may also carry out any other duties the state board considers appropriate.

Section 3319.67 | Teacher of the year recognition program.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) The state board of education may establish an annual teacher of the year recognition program for outstanding teachers.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of section 2921.43 of the Revised Code, a person or entity may make a voluntary contribution to the recognition program described in division (A) of this section.

(C) Notwithstanding division (A) of section 2921.43 of the Revised Code, a teacher who is recognized as a teacher of the year by the recognition program described in division (A) of this section may accept gifts and privileges as part of the recognition program.

Section 3319.80 | Engagement of dyslexia specialist to train teachers.

• Effective: December 21, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 157 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The governing board of any educational service center may engage the services of a dyslexia specialist to provide training for teachers of grades kindergarten to four on the indicators of dyslexia and the types of instruction that children with dyslexia need to learn, read, write, and spell. If a service center provides this training, it shall make the training available to local school districts within the service center's territory and to other school districts, community schools, and STEM schools that have contracted for the training from the service center under section 3313.843, 3313.844, 3313.845, or 3326.45 of the Revised Code.

If a governing board of any educational service center does not provide the training, a group of local school districts within the service center's territory may engage the services of a dyslexia specialist to provide training for teachers independently.

A school district or school may require the training authorized under this section for its teachers as part of the district's or school's regular in-service training programs.

(B) As used in this section:

(1) "Dyslexia" means a specific learning disorder that is neurological in origin and that is characterized by unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities not consistent with the person's intelligence, motivation, and sensory capabilities, which difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language.

(2) "Dyslexia specialist" means a person who is trained and certified in a multisensory structured language program that meets the level II specialist criteria set by the international dyslexia association's knowledge and practice standards or standards from any other nationally recognized organization that specializes in issues surrounding dyslexia, or any subsequently adopted standards.

Section 3319.90 | Single-sex facilities and accommodations.

• Effective: February 25, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 104 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Biological sex" means the biological indication of male and female, including sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth, without regard to an individual's psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender. An individual may use the individual's official birth record, as defined in section 3705.01 of the Revised Code, to prove biological sex if the birth record was issued at or near the time of the individual's birth.

(2) "Family facility" means a family restroom or shower room that does not have more than one toilet or shower.

(3) "Multi-occupancy facility" means a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that is accessible to multiple individuals at the same time. "Multi-occupancy facility" does not include a family facility.

(4) "School" includes the following:

(a) A school district or school district building;

(b) A community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;

(c) A science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code;

(d) A chartered nonpublic school;

(e) An educational service center.

(B)(1) A school shall designate each student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that is accessible by multiple students at the same time, whether located in a school building or located in a facility used by the school for a school-sponsored activity, for the exclusive use by students of the male biological sex only or by students of the female biological sex only.

(2) No school shall permit a member of the female biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the male biological sex. No school shall permit a member of the male biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the female biological sex.

(3) No school shall construct, establish, or maintain a multi-occupancy facility that is designated as nongendered, multigendered, or open to all genders.

Nothing in division (B)(3) of this section shall be construed to prohibit a school from constructing, establishing, or maintaining a family facility.

(C) No school shall permit a member of the female biological sex to share overnight accommodations with a member of the male biological sex. No school shall permit a member of the male biological sex to share overnight accommodations with a member of the female biological sex.

(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a school from establishing a policy providing accommodation such as single-occupancy facilities or controlled use of faculty facilities at the request of a student due to special circumstances.

(E) The prohibitions described in divisions (B) and (C) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A child under the age of ten who is being assisted by a parent, guardian, or family member, as well as the parent, guardian, or family member who is assisting the child;

(2) A person with a disability who is being assisted by another person, as well as the person providing assistance to the person with a disability;

(3) A school employee whose job duties require the employee to enter a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that is designated for a biological sex that is different than the employee's biological sex;

(4) A person who enters a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that is designated for a biological sex that is different than the person's biological sex because the person reasonably believes the person is responding to a legitimate emergency.

Last updated February 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM

Section 3319.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of section 3319.151 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(B) Whoever violates division (H)(1) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(C) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3319.313 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(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 3319.313 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 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.

(D) Whoever violates division (B) or (D) of section 3319.317 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Last updated October 4, 2021 at 10:06 AM