Section 3302.07 | Application proposing innovative education pilot program.
(A) The board of education of any school district, the governing board of any educational service center, the governing authority of any community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, the governing authority of any STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or the administrative authority of any chartered nonpublic school may submit to the department of education and workforce an application proposing an innovative education pilot program the implementation of which requires exemptions from specific statutory provisions or rules. If a district or service center board employs teachers under a collective bargaining agreement adopted pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, any application submitted under this division shall include the written consent of the teachers' employee representative designated under division (B) of section 4117.04 of the Revised Code. The exemptions requested in the application shall be limited to any requirement of Title XXXIII of the Revised Code or of any rule of the department adopted pursuant to that title except that the application may not propose an exemption from any requirement of or rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 3307. or 3309., section 3302.41 or 3302.42, sections 3319.07 to 3319.21, section 3313.6028, 3319.2310, or Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code. Furthermore, an exemption from any operating standard adopted under division (B)(2) or (D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code shall be granted only pursuant to a waiver granted by the director of education and workforce under division (N) of that section.
(B) The department shall accept any application submitted in accordance with division (A) of this section. The director shall approve or disapprove the application in accordance with standards for approval, which shall be adopted by the department.
(C) The director shall exempt each district, service center, community school, or STEM school board or chartered nonpublic school administrative authority with an application approved under division (B) of this section for a specified period from the statutory provisions or rules specified in the approved application. The period of exemption shall not exceed the period during which the pilot program proposed in the application is being implemented and a reasonable period to allow for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program.
(D) The department shall promote innovative educational programs designed to increase student achievement and engagement, improve student wellness, and prepare students for the workforce and post-secondary education. The department shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide technical assistance and support to districts and schools in designing and implementing innovative ideas for education;
(2) Publicize model projects of educational innovation, including projects that use artificial intelligence in instruction;
(3) Promote the availability of waivers from education laws and rules under this section to implement innovative educational programs.
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 August 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]
- October 9, 2026 – Amended by Senate Bill 19 (GA 136), House Bill 455 (GA 136) [ View October 9, 2026 Version ]