Section 3333.393 | Grow your own teacher program.
(A) As used in this section and in section 3333.394 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Academic year" shall be as defined by the chancellor of higher education.
(2) "Parent" means the parent, guardian, or custodian of a qualified student as described by this section.
(3) "Qualified service" means teaching at a qualifying school.
(4) "Qualifying school" means a school district building identified as "high need" by the chancellor and meets both of the following conditions:
(a) The school building has difficulty attracting and retaining classroom teachers who hold a valid educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;
(b) The school is operated by the same school district from which the recipient of a scholarship graduated from high school or was employed.
(5) "Qualifying employee" means an individual employed at a qualifying school and who either holds an educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license issued under section 3319.088 or a substitute license under section 3319.226 of the Revised Code.
(B) The grow your own teacher college scholarship program is hereby established. Under the program, the chancellor of higher education, in conjunction with the department of education and workforce, shall award scholarships to the following:
(1) Low-income high school seniors who commit to teaching in a qualifying school for a minimum of four years upon graduation from a teacher training program at a state institution of higher education or an Ohio nonprofit institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code.
(2) Qualifying employees who commit to teaching in a qualifying school for a minimum of four years upon graduation from a teacher training program at a state institution of higher education or an Ohio nonprofit institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code.
Each scholarship shall be awarded for up to four academic years and shall not exceed $7,500 for each academic year.
(C) The department and the chancellor shall develop an application process for awarding scholarships under the program. The department and the chancellor also shall appoint a highly qualified and diverse application committee to assist in the selection of scholarship recipients.
(D)(1) Scholarships shall be awarded to students under division (B)(1) of this section who meet both of the following conditions:
(a) Received a high school diploma or honors diploma under section 3313.61 of the Revised Code;
(b) Commit to completing the four-year teaching obligation within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program.
(2) Scholarships shall be awarded to qualifying employees under division (B)(2) of this section who commit to completing the four-year teaching obligation within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program. Qualifying employees shall be permitted to complete coursework associated with a teacher training program on evenings or weekends as necessary while maintaining employment at a qualifying school.
(E) A teacher training program, in consultation with the department of education and workforce, may grant credit to a qualifying employee who has commensurate work experience at a qualifying school under this section for completion of a teacher training program.
(F) The chancellor shall require that all applicants to the grow your own teacher program file a statement of service status in compliance with section 3345.32 of the Revised Code, if applicable, and that all applicants have not been convicted of, plead guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for any violation listed in section 3333.38 of the Revised Code.
(G) Recipients shall complete the four-year teaching commitment within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program. Failure to fulfill the commitment shall convert the scholarship into a loan to be repaid under section 3333.394 of the Revised Code.
Last updated August 31, 2023 at 3:54 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- October 3, 2023 – Enacted by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]