Regards Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative

sb328_02_PS

As Passed by the Senate

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
Sub. S. B. No. 328

2025-2026

Senator Koehler

Cosponsors: Senators Blackshear,
Brenner, Reineke, Timken, Ingram, Cirino, Johnson, Landis, Lang,
O'Brien, Patton, Reynolds, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer

To
amend sections 3313.603, 3313.6020, 3313.617, 3314.03, 3317.014,
3326.11, and 3328.24; to enact sections 3301.0733, 3301.14, 3301.141,
3301.142, 3313.6034, and 3313.6115; and to repeal section 3313.607 of
the Revised Code
regarding
the Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative, a middle
school career exploration course requirement, and student career and
academic plans.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections 3313.603, 3313.6020, 3313.617, 3314.03
,
3317.014
,
3326.11, and 3328.24 be amended and sections 3301.0733, 3301.14,
3301.141, 3301.142, 3313.6034, and 3313.6115 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
3301.0733.
(A)
The department of education and workforce shall do all of the
following:

(1)
Not later than March 15, 2027, develop professional skills standards
aligned to the essential workplace skills needed by employers in this
state;

(2)
Not later than March 15, 2027, in consultation with career education
and workforce development stakeholders, establish a statewide career
coaching framework. The framework, at a minimum, shall include all of
the following:

(a)
Indicators of quality career coaching sessions, including length,
timing, and frequency recommendations;

(b)
Career-coaching session objectives, including assessment
interpretation, career pathway exposure, reflections on experiential
learning, and plan development;

(c)
Qualifications and training for individuals that provide career
coaching, including the role of a valid Ohio school counselor license
and other educators licensed under Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code.

(3)
Provide guidance to districts and schools on how to use the
framework, including how the framework may apply to and enhance a
district's or school's existing career coaching program, and how to
work with business advisory councils and career-technical planning
districts to implement the framework and comply with section
3313.6034 of the Revised Code;

(4)
Identify professional development resources to support the
requirement under section 3313.6034 of the Revised Code, such as
online learning modules, for career exploration instruction and
quality career coaching aligned to the framework, from which school
districts and schools may select when preparing educators and
coaches.

(B)
In addition to the responsibilities described in division (A) of this
section, the department shall facilitate compliance with section
3313.6034 of the Revised Code by doing all of the following:

(1)
Issuing guidance on high-quality career exploration instruction and
activities, delivery models using courses and multi-year approaches,
including which current or new courses may be used to satisfy the
requirement, free tools and resources schools may use for career
exploration instruction, and potential funding sources such as career
awareness and exploration funds;

(2)
Updating the professional development provided for the middle school
career-technical education license validation to align with the
career exploration instruction requirements;

(3)
Publicly reporting how each school is providing career exploration
instruction to students, including the number of students served in
grades six, seven, and eight. The department shall report which
schools are enrolling students in a course that meets the
requirements, which schools are enrolling students in a
career-technical education course that also meets the career
exploration instruction requirement, which schools are providing
career exploration through an approved plan, and which schools are
out of compliance with the requirements prescribed in section
3313.6034 of the Revised Code.

(4)
Developing and releasing a template for the career exploration plan
that school districts and schools may submit to describe how the
district or school will provide career exploration instruction
required under division (A) of section 3313.6034 of the Revised Code;

(5)
Reviewing, approving, and posting career exploration plans;

(6)
Auditing up to five per cent of schools annually to monitor
compliance and enforcing compliance through intervention and support
measures when necessary. Audits may be conducted by the department or
another qualified entity as determined by the department, including
regional entities with expertise in career education.

Sec.
3301.14.
(A)
The department of education and workforce shall establish the
education and workforce return on investment initiative to make
education and workforce data more useful, applicable, and beneficial
to Ohio citizens. The initiative shall work to secure linkages of
cross-agency data and build system capacity to support research that
gives insight to the education and workforce pipeline to students,
families, educators, workforce leaders, employers, policymakers,
researchers, and other stakeholders. The initiative shall provide
collaborative policy leadership on education and workforce data and
publicly share tools, dashboards, and research insights while
protecting data privacy and system security.

(B)(1)
The leadership team of the education and workforce return on
investment initiative shall consist of the following:

(a)
The director of education and workforce;

(b)
The director of children and youth;

(c)
The chancellor of higher education;

(d)
The director of job and family services;

(e)
The director of development;

(f)
The director of the governor's office of workforce transformation.

(2)
The governor may designate additional cabinet directors, data and
technology experts, researchers, or stakeholder representatives to
the leadership team. All members of the leadership team serve at the
pleasure of the governor and do not have terms.

(3)
The leadership team shall select one of its members to convene the
initiative's meetings and to provide logistical support to the
initiative in collaboration with partner organizations, as deemed
necessary.

(4)
Each member of the leadership team shall attend meetings of the
initiative. When a director is not able to attend a meeting, the
director may appoint a temporary designee to serve in the director's
place. The temporary designee shall be a senior leader from that
director's department who has decision-making authority over the
agency's data and policy functions, such as a deputy director or
chief of staff.

(C)
The leadership team may invite other cabinet directors, agency staff,
data and technology experts, researchers, or stakeholder
representatives to participate in the initiative in working groups or
advisory boards. No members of the initiative shall have access to
personally identifiable information only by virtue of being members
of the initiative.

(D)
Not later than two hundred seventy days after the effective date of
this section, the members of the initiative shall develop a vision,
mission, and strategic plan that shall be reviewed at least once
every five years.

(E)
The members of the initiative shall adhere to all relevant state and
federal privacy and data security laws including section 3319.321 of
the Revised Code and the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act of 1974," 20 U.S.C. 1232g.

Sec.
3301.141.
(A)(1)
The leadership team of the education and workforce return on
investment initiative established under section 3301.14 of the
Revised Code shall identify and secure the means to implement its
activities and objectives established under section 3301.142 of the
Revised Code. The leadership team shall identify the entity or
entities that will support the initiative and implement those
activities and objectives, which may include state agency staff,
universities, or other external entities.

(2)
The leadership team may recommend the creation of a single,
independent entity to implement activities and objectives of the
initiative. The recommendation shall specify a governance structure
for the entity so that it is not governed by one state agency.
However, the entity may be housed within an agency and use shared
services. If an independent entity is created under this division,
the leadership team of the initiative shall do all of the following:

(a)
Identify the entity's roles and responsibilities;

(b)
Secure funding and support for the entity;

(c)
Appoint and oversee the leader of the entity;

(d)
Designate a cross-agency governance structure to oversee the
operations and regulatory compliance of the entity.

(B)(1)
The initiative shall meet at least quarterly in a public setting. The
member designated to convene the initiative's meetings shall do both
of the following:

(a)
Publish notice of each meeting's date, time, and location at least
one week in advance;

(b)
Post meeting materials and, if possible, recordings to a dedicated
web site for the initiative following each meeting.

(2)
The members of the initiative shall not publicly review personally
identifiable information during meetings or post personally
identifiable information as part of the meeting materials. The
leadership team may invite stakeholders and researchers to present
and offer feedback during initiative meetings.

(C)
Leadership team members shall engage the stakeholders their agencies
represent in the work of the initiative. Each leadership team member
must do all of the following at least once per year:

(1)
Hold a public meeting, which may be part of an existing stakeholder
meeting, with a broad range of agency stakeholders to share all of
the following:

(a)
The strategic plan and research framework for the initiative,
including recent accomplishments and planned work;

(b)
The agency's role and priorities related to the initiative's
strategic plan and research framework;

(c)
The progress the agency and overall initiative are making toward
implementing the strategic plan and research framework, including new
research, reports, and data tools developed within the initiative;

(2)
Solicit formal feedback from a broad range of stakeholders on all of
the following in one or several public or private meetings:

(a)
The information and outcomes stakeholders want to know more about,
including potential research questions related to longitudinal data,
student outcomes, and return on investment;

(b)
The research, reports, and data tools that would help stakeholders in
their work;

(c)
The challenges stakeholders experience trying to access and use
longitudinal and outcomes data.

(3)
Compile a summary of the stakeholder feedback into a written brief
and present it during a meeting of the initiative.

(D)
The initiative annually shall submit a report to the governor,
speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the
senate that includes all of the following:

(1)
The initiative's mission, vision, and progress implementing its
strategic plan and its plans for the next year;

(2)
The research framework created under section 3301.142 of the Revised
Code and progress implementing the framework;

(3)
A digest of the tools, dashboards, reports, and research produced
using cross-agency education and workforce data, noting the extent to
which each responds to the stakeholder input collected by the
leadership team;

(4)
Metrics on the access and use of education and workforce data
overseen by the leadership team of the initiative, including the
number of access requests fulfilled, not fulfilled, reasons the
requests were not fulfilled, and average time for access requests to
be resolved;

(5)
Any recommendations for improving the governance, administration, or
system security of the data systems that support the initiative's
mission and research framework the initiative's leadership team
chooses to include.

(E)
The leadership team or designated members of the leadership team
shall present the report prescribed in division (D) of this section
and any additional information to the governor's executive workforce
board established under section 6301.04 of the Revised Code at least
once a year.

Sec.
3301.142.
The
education and workforce return on investment initiative established
under section 3301.14 of the Revised Code shall work to achieve the
following objectives:

(A)
Create a research framework that reflects the broad, cross-agency
policy areas that are priorities for policy leaders and state
agencies related to education and workforce. The research framework
shall guide where research is needed and help prioritize state
research and data access requests. The members of the initiative
shall do all of the following for the research framework:

(1)
Integrate stakeholder feedback collected by the initiative's
leadership team;

(2)
Ensure that the necessary data connections exist to implement the
research framework;

(3)
Align with other research frameworks and agendas, including the
higher education public policy research consortium established under
section 3333.952 of the Revised Code;

(4)
Discuss the progress implementing the research framework at each
meeting;

(5)
Update the framework every two years with stakeholder input.

(B)
Develop and recommend agencies adopt a data access and use policy for
cross-agency data requests that streamlines data access for
stakeholders. The policy shall be guided by and adhere to all
relevant state and federal privacy and data security laws including
section 3319.321 of the Revised Code and the "Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," 20 U.S.C. 1232g. All members of
the initiative's leadership team shall adopt the data access and use
policy.

(C)
Identify and implement strategies to make data collection and
reporting more efficient for local and regional education and
workforce entities so as to reduce duplication of efforts and make
reporting easier for local schools and other institutions.

(D)
Take actions to increase the capacity of the state to securely
process cross-agency data access and research requests with the goal
of reducing the time and cost required to fulfill such requests.

(E)
Support other critical education and workforce initiatives adopted by
the state that rely on cross-agency data and, when possible, support
local and regional education and workforce initiatives.

(F)
Coordinate the creation of tools, dashboards, reports, and research
that use existing cross-agency education and workforce data.
Beginning on December 1, 2027, and annually thereafter on a date
determined by the report's lead agency, this shall include all of the
following reports:

(1)
A high school graduate report for each school district and other
public school, as defined in section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code,
that includes postsecondary enrollment and workforce outcomes of
recent graduates, including how well the performance measures found
in the college, career, workforce, and military readiness component
prescribed in division (D)(3)(f) of section 3302.03 of the Revised
Code predict success after graduation;

(2)
A talent gap report that compares the job openings and annual wages
for in-demand sectors with the number of graduates from related
programs each year on a statewide and regional basis;

(3)
An industry-recognized credential outcomes report that includes
workforce outcomes for common industry-recognized credentials earned
in the state, which shall include at least the credentials on the
state's approved list;

(4)
A higher education graduate report that documents the employment,
wage, and retention outcomes of graduates for each institution of
higher education in this state;

(5)
A workforce program outcomes report that documents completion rates,
as well as the employment, wage, and retention outcomes after exit,
of participants in workforce training programs in this state that are
included on the workforce inventory of education and training or its
successor and on any analogous training provider lists managed by
local workforce development areas.

(G)
Share and promote the tools, dashboards, reports, and research
created by the members of the initiative using cross-agency education
and workforce data. Additionally, the members of the initiative may
share and promote similarly aligned resources created by other
entities, including state agencies, with the permission of the
originating entity.

(H)
Discuss and direct the implementation of enhancements to education
and workforce data systems, technologies, data security, and privacy.

Sec.
3313.603.
(A)
As used in this section:

(1)
"One unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of
course instruction, except that for a laboratory course, "one
unit" means a minimum of one hundred fifty hours of course
instruction.

(2)
"One-half unit" means a minimum of sixty hours of course
instruction, except that for physical education courses, "one-half
unit" means a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of course
instruction.

(B)
Beginning September 15, 2001, except as required in division (C) of
this section and division (C) of section 3313.614 of the Revised
Code, the requirements for graduation from every high school shall
include twenty units earned in grades nine through twelve and shall
be distributed as follows:

(1)
English language arts, four units;

(2)
Health, one-half unit;

(3)
Mathematics, three units;

(4)
Physical education, one-half unit;

(5)
Science, two units until September 15, 2003, and three units
thereafter, which at all times shall include both of the following:

(a)
Biological sciences, one unit;

(b)
Physical sciences, one unit.

(6)
History and government, one unit, which shall comply with division
(M) of this section and shall include both of the following:

(a)
American history, one-half unit;

(b)
American government, one-half unit.

(7)
Social studies, two units.

Beginning
with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after
July 1, 2017, the two units of instruction prescribed by division
(B)(7) of this section shall include at least one-half unit of
instruction in the study of world history and civilizations.

(8)
Elective units, seven units until September 15, 2003, and six units
thereafter.

Each
student's electives shall include at least one unit, or two half
units, chosen from among the areas of business/technology, fine arts,
and/or foreign language.

(C)
Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on
or after July 1, 2010, except as provided in divisions (D) to (F) of
this section, the requirements for graduation from every public and
chartered nonpublic high school shall include twenty units that are
designed to prepare students for the workforce and college. The units
shall be distributed as follows:

(1)
English language arts, four units;

(2)
Health, one-half unit, which shall include instruction in nutrition
and the benefits of nutritious foods and physical activity for
overall health;

(3)
Mathematics, four units, which shall include one unit of algebra II
or the equivalent of algebra II, or one unit of advanced computer
science as described in the standards adopted pursuant to division
(A)(4) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code. However, students who
enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2015, and
who are pursuing a career-technical instructional track shall not be
required to take algebra II or advanced computer science, and instead
may complete a career-based pathway mathematics course approved by
the department of education and workforce as an alternative.

For
students who choose to take advanced computer science in lieu of
algebra II under division (C)(3) of this section, the school shall
communicate to those students that some institutions of higher
education may require algebra II for the purpose of college
admission. Also, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of each
student who chooses to take advanced computer science in lieu of
algebra II shall sign and submit to the school a document containing
a statement acknowledging that not taking algebra II may have an
adverse effect on college admission decisions.

A
student may fulfill one unit of mathematics under division (C)(3) of
this section by completing one-half unit of financial literacy
instruction to satisfy the requirement prescribed under division
(C)(9) of this section and one-half unit of a mathematics course. The
one-half unit course in mathematics shall not be in algebra II, or
its equivalent, or a course for which the department requires an
end-of-course examination under section 3301.0712 of the Revised
Code.

Students
who choose to take one unit of advanced computer science in lieu of
algebra II, as described in division (C)(3) of this section, shall
not be permitted to complete one-half unit of financial literacy
instruction to satisfy the mathematics unit requirements of that
division. Instead, those students shall be required to complete the
one-half unit of financial literacy instruction under division (C)(8)
of this section.

(4)
Physical education, one-half unit;

(5)
Science, three units with inquiry-based laboratory experience that
engages students in asking valid scientific questions and gathering
and analyzing information, which shall include the following, or
their equivalent:

(a)
Physical sciences, one unit;

(b)
Life sciences, one unit;

(c)
Advanced study in one or more of the following sciences, one unit:

(i)
Chemistry, physics, or other physical science;

(ii)
Advanced biology or other life science;

(iii)
Astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space science;

(iv)
Computer science.

No
student shall substitute a computer science course for a life
sciences or biology course under division (C)(5) of this section.

(6)
History and government, one unit, which shall comply with division
(M) of this section and shall include both of the following:

(a)
American history, one-half unit;

(b)
American government, one-half unit.

(7)
Social studies, two units.

Beginning
with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after
July 1, 2017, the two units of instruction prescribed by division
(C)(7) of this section shall include at least one-half unit of
instruction in the study of world history and civilizations.

(8)
Five units consisting of one or any combination of foreign language,
fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer
sciences, technology which may include computer science, agricultural
education, a junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) program
approved by the congress of the United States under title 10 of the
United States Code, or English language arts, mathematics, science,
or social studies courses not otherwise required under division (C)
of this section.

One-half
unit of instruction under division (C)(8) of this section may be
instruction in financial literacy to satisfy the requirement under
division (C)(9) of this section.

(9)(a)
Except as provided in division (C)(9)(b) of this section, for
students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1,
2022, financial literacy, one-half unit. Each student shall elect to
complete the one-half unit of instruction in financial literacy
either in lieu of one-half unit of instruction in mathematics under
division (C)(3) of this section or an elective under division (C)(8)
of this section. A student may fulfill the financial literacy
instruction requirement under division (C)(9) of this section through
the successful completion of an advanced placement course in
microeconomics or macroeconomics.

(b)
A student attending a nonpublic school accredited through the
independent schools association of the central states or any other
chartered nonpublic school shall not be required to complete the
one-half unit of financial literacy instruction prescribed in
division (C)(9)(a) of this section, unless that student is attending
the school under a state scholarship program as defined in section
3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

The
study and instruction of financial literacy required under division
(C)(9) of this section shall align with the academic content
standards for financial literacy and entrepreneurship adopted under
division (A)(2) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code. The
instruction provided under an advanced placement course in
microeconomics or macroeconomics shall be considered to be aligned
with those academic content standards. In developing the curriculum
for the study and instruction of financial literacy, schools may use
available public-private partnerships and resources and materials
that exist in business, industry, and through the centers for
economics education at institutions of higher education.

Ohioans
must be prepared to apply increased knowledge and skills in the
workplace and to adapt their knowledge and skills quickly to meet the
rapidly changing conditions of the twenty-first century. National
studies indicate that all high school graduates need the same
academic foundation, regardless of the opportunities they pursue
after graduation. The goal of Ohio's system of elementary and
secondary education is to prepare all students for and seamlessly
connect all students to success in life beyond high school
graduation, regardless of whether the next step is entering the
workforce, beginning an apprenticeship, engaging in post-secondary
training, serving in the military, or pursuing a college degree.

The
requirements for graduation prescribed in division (C) of this
section are the standard expectation for all students entering ninth
grade for the first time at a public or chartered nonpublic high
school on or after July 1, 2010. A student may satisfy this
expectation through a variety of methods, including, but not limited
to, integrated, applied, career-technical, and traditional
coursework.

Stronger
coordination between high schools and institutions of higher
education is necessary to prepare students for more challenging
academic endeavors and to lessen the need for academic remediation in
college, thereby reducing the costs of higher education for Ohio's
students, families, and the state. The department and the chancellor
of higher education shall develop policies to ensure that only in
rare instances will students who complete the requirements for
graduation prescribed in division (C) of this section require
academic remediation after high school.

School
districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic schools shall
integrate technology into learning experiences across the curriculum
in order to maximize efficiency, enhance learning, and prepare
students for success in the technology-driven twenty-first century.
Districts and schools shall use distance and web-based course
delivery as a method of providing or augmenting all instruction
required under this division, including laboratory experience in
science. Districts and schools shall utilize technology access and
electronic learning opportunities provided by the broadcast
educational media commission, chancellor, the Ohio learning network,
education technology centers, public television stations, and other
public and private providers.

(D)
Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a student who
enters ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010, and before July 1, 2016,
may qualify for graduation from a public or chartered nonpublic high
school even though the student has not completed the requirements for
graduation prescribed in division (C) of this section if all of the
following conditions are satisfied:

(1)
During the student's third year of attending high school, as
determined by the school, the student and the student's parent,
guardian, or custodian sign and file with the school a written
statement asserting the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's consent
to the student's graduating without completing the requirements for
graduation prescribed in division (C) of this section and
acknowledging that one consequence of not completing those
requirements is ineligibility to enroll in most state universities in
Ohio without further coursework.

(2)
The student and parent, guardian, or custodian fulfill any procedural
requirements the school stipulates to ensure the student's and
parent's, guardian's, or custodian's informed consent and to
facilitate orderly filing of statements under division (D)(1) of this
section. Annually, each district or school shall notify the
department of the number of students who choose to qualify for
graduation under division (D) of this section and the number of
students who
complete
the student's success
create
a graduation and career
plan
and graduate from high school.

(3)
The student and the student's parent, guardian, or custodian and a
representative of the student's high school jointly develop a
student
success
graduation
and career
plan
for the student in the manner described in
division
(C)(1) of
section

3313.6020

3313.617

of
the Revised Code that specifies the
student
matriculating to a two-year degree program, acquiring a business and
industry-recognized credential, or entering an
apprenticeship
student's
plans for after high school
.

(4)
The student's high school provides counseling and support for the
student related to the plan developed under division (D)(3) of this
section during the remainder of the student's high school experience.

(5)(a)
Except as provided in division (D)(5)(b) of this section, the student
successfully completes, at a minimum, the curriculum prescribed in
division (B) of this section.

(b)
Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on
or after July 1, 2014, a student shall be required to complete
successfully, at the minimum, the curriculum prescribed in division
(B) of this section, except as follows:

(i)
Mathematics, four units, one unit which shall be one of the
following:

(I)
Probability and statistics;

(II)
Computer science;

(III)
Applied mathematics or quantitative reasoning;

(IV)
Any other course approved by the department using standards
established by the superintendent not later than October 1, 2014.

(ii)
Elective units, five units;

(iii)
Science, three units as prescribed by division (B) of this section
which shall include inquiry-based laboratory experience that engages
students in asking valid scientific questions and gathering and
analyzing information.

(E)
Each school district and chartered nonpublic school retains the
authority to require an even more challenging minimum curriculum for
high school graduation than specified in division (B) or (C) of this
section. A school district board of education, through the adoption
of a resolution, or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic
school may stipulate any of the following:

(1)
A minimum high school curriculum that requires more than twenty units
of academic credit to graduate;

(2)
An exception to the district's or school's minimum high school
curriculum that is comparable to the exception provided in division
(D) of this section but with additional requirements, which may
include a requirement that the student successfully complete more
than the minimum curriculum prescribed in division (B) of this
section;

(3)
That no exception comparable to that provided in division (D) of this
section is available.

If
a school district or chartered nonpublic school requires a foreign
language as an additional graduation requirement under division (E)
of this section, a student may apply one unit of instruction in
computer coding to satisfy one unit of foreign language. If a student
applies more than one computer coding course to satisfy the foreign
language requirement, the courses shall be sequential and
progressively more difficult.

(F)
A student enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program,
which program has received a waiver from the department, may qualify
for graduation from high school by successfully completing a
competency-based instructional program administered by the dropout
prevention and recovery program in lieu of completing the
requirements for graduation prescribed in division (C) of this
section. The department shall grant a waiver to a dropout prevention
and recovery program, within sixty days after the program applies for
the waiver, if the program meets all of the following conditions:

(1)
The program serves only students not younger than sixteen years of
age and not older than twenty-one years of age.

(2)
The program enrolls students who, at the time of their initial
enrollment, either, or both, are at least one grade level behind
their cohort age groups or experience crises that significantly
interfere with their academic progress such that they are prevented
from continuing their traditional programs.

(3)
The program requires students to attain at least the applicable score
designated for each of the assessments prescribed under division
(B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code or, to the extent
prescribed by rule of the department under division (D)(5) of section
3301.0712 of the Revised Code, division (B)(2) of that section.

(4)
The program develops a
student
success
graduation
and career
plan
for the student in the manner described in
division
(C)(1) of
section

3313.6020

3313.617

of
the Revised Code that specifies the student's
matriculating
to a two-year degree program, acquiring a business and
industry-recognized credential, or entering an apprenticeship
plans
for after high school
.

(5)
The program provides counseling and support for the student related
to the plan developed under division (F)(4) of this section during
the remainder of the student's high school experience.

(6)
The program requires the student and the student's parent, guardian,
or custodian to sign and file, in accordance with procedural
requirements stipulated by the program, a written statement asserting
the parent's, guardian's, or custodian's consent to the student's
graduating without completing the requirements for graduation
prescribed in division (C) of this section and acknowledging that one
consequence of not completing those requirements is ineligibility to
enroll in most state universities in Ohio without further coursework.

(7)
Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted to the
department an instructional plan that demonstrates how the academic
content standards adopted by the department under section 3301.079 of
the Revised Code will be taught and assessed.

(8)
Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted to the
department a policy on career advising that satisfies the
requirements of section 3313.6020 of the Revised Code, with an
emphasis on how every student will receive career advising.

(9)
Prior to receiving the waiver, the program has submitted to the
department a written agreement outlining the future cooperation
between the program and any combination of local job training,
postsecondary education, nonprofit, and health and social service
organizations to provide services for students in the program and
their families.

Divisions
(F)(8) and (9) of this section apply only to waivers granted on or
after July 1, 2015.

If
the department does not act either to grant the waiver or to reject
the program application for the waiver within sixty days as required
under this section, the waiver shall be considered to be granted.

(G)
Every high school may permit students below the ninth grade to take
advanced work. If a high school so permits, it shall award high
school credit for successful completion of the advanced work and
shall count such advanced work toward the graduation requirements of
division (B) or (C) of this section if the advanced work was both:

(1)
Taught by a person who possesses a license or certificate issued
under section 3301.071, 3319.22, or 3319.222 of the Revised Code that
is valid for teaching high school;

(2)
Designated by the board of education of the city, local, or exempted
village school district, the board of the cooperative education
school district, or the governing authority of the chartered
nonpublic school as meeting the high school curriculum requirements.

Each
high school shall record on the student's high school transcript all
high school credit awarded under division (G) of this section. In
addition, if the student completed a seventh- or eighth-grade fine
arts course described in division (K) of this section and the course
qualified for high school credit under that division, the high school
shall record that course on the student's high school transcript.

(H)
The department shall make its individual academic career plan
available through its Ohio career information system web site for
districts and schools to use as a tool for communicating with and
providing guidance to students and families in selecting high school
courses.

(I)
A school district or chartered nonpublic school may integrate
academic content in a subject area for which the department has
adopted standards under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code into a
course in a different subject area, including a career-technical
education course, in accordance with guidance for integrated
coursework developed by the department. Upon successful completion of
an integrated course, a student may receive credit for both subject
areas that were integrated into the course. Units earned for subject
area content delivered through integrated academic and
career-technical instruction are eligible to meet the graduation
requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section.

For
purposes of meeting graduation requirements, if an end-of-course
examination has been prescribed under section 3301.0712 of the
Revised Code for the subject area delivered through integrated
instruction, the school district or school may administer the related
subject area examinations upon the student's completion of the
integrated course.

Nothing
in division (I) of this section shall be construed to excuse any
school district, chartered nonpublic school, or student from any
requirement in the Revised Code related to curriculum, assessments,
or the awarding of a high school diploma.

(J)(1)
The department, in consultation with the chancellor, shall adopt a
statewide plan implementing methods for students to earn units of
high school credit based on a demonstration of subject area
competency, instead of or in combination with completing hours of
classroom instruction. The plan shall include a standard method for
recording demonstrated proficiency on high school transcripts. Each
school district and community school shall comply with the
department's plan adopted under this division and award units of high
school credit in accordance with the plan. The department may adopt
existing methods for earning high school credit based on a
demonstration of subject area competency as necessary prior to the
2009-2010 school year.

(2)
The department shall update the statewide plan adopted pursuant to
division (J)(1) of this section to also include methods for students
enrolled in seventh and eighth grade to meet curriculum requirements
based on a demonstration of subject area competency, instead of or in
combination with completing hours of classroom instruction. Beginning
with the 2017-2018 school year, each school district and community
school also shall comply with the updated plan adopted pursuant to
this division and permit students enrolled in seventh and eighth
grade to meet curriculum requirements based on subject area
competency in accordance with the plan.

(3)
The department shall develop a framework for school districts and
community schools to use in granting units of high school credit to
students who demonstrate subject area competency through work-based
learning experiences, internships, or cooperative education.
Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, each district and community
school shall comply with the framework. Each district and community
school also shall review any policy it has adopted regarding the
demonstration of subject area competency to identify ways to
incorporate work-based learning experiences, internships, and
cooperative education into the policy in order to increase student
engagement and opportunities to earn units of high school credit.

(K)
This division does not apply to students who qualify for graduation
from high school under division (D) or (F) of this section, or to
students pursuing a career-technical instructional track as
determined by the school district board of education or the chartered
nonpublic school's governing authority. Nevertheless, the general
assembly encourages such students to consider enrolling in a fine
arts course as an elective.

Beginning
with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after
July 1, 2010, each student enrolled in a public or chartered
nonpublic high school shall complete two semesters or the equivalent
of fine arts to graduate from high school. The coursework may be
completed in any of grades seven to twelve. Each student who
completes a fine arts course in grade seven or eight may elect to
count that course toward the five units of electives required for
graduation under division (C)(8) of this section, if the course
satisfied the requirements of division (G) of this section. In that
case, the high school shall award the student high school credit for
the course and count the course toward the five units required under
division (C)(8) of this section. If the course in grade seven or
eight did not satisfy the requirements of division (G) of this
section, the high school shall not award the student high school
credit for the course but shall count the course toward the two
semesters or the equivalent of fine arts required by this division.

(L)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the board
of education of each school district and the governing authority of
each chartered nonpublic school may adopt a policy to excuse from the
high school physical education requirement each student who, during
high school, has participated in interscholastic athletics, marching
band, show choir, or cheerleading for at least two full seasons or in
the junior reserve officer training corps for at least two full
school years. If the board or authority adopts such a policy, the
board or authority shall not require the student to complete any
physical education course as a condition to graduate. However, the
student shall be required to complete one-half unit, consisting of at
least sixty hours of instruction, in another course of study. In the
case of a student who has participated in the junior reserve officer
training corps for at least two full school years, credit received
for that participation may be used to satisfy the requirement to
complete one-half unit in another course of study.

(M)
It is important that high school students learn and understand United
States history and the governments of both the United States and the
state of Ohio. Therefore, beginning with students who enter ninth
grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2012, the study of
American history and American government required by divisions (B)(6)
and (C)(6) of this section shall include the study of all of the
following documents:

(1)
The Declaration of Independence;

(2)
The Northwest Ordinance;

(3)
The Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the Bill of
Rights;

(4)
The Ohio Constitution.

The
study of each of the documents prescribed in divisions (M)(1) to (4)
of this section shall include study of that document in its original
context.

The
study of American history and government required by divisions (B)(6)
and (C)(6) of this section shall include the historical evidence of
the role of documents such as the Federalist Papers and the
Anti-Federalist Papers to firmly establish the historical background
leading to the establishment of the provisions of the Constitution
and Bill of Rights.

(N)
A student may apply one unit of instruction in computer science to
satisfy one unit of mathematics or one unit of science under division
(C) of this section as the student chooses, regardless of the field
of certification of the teacher who teaches the course, so long as
that teacher meets the licensure requirements prescribed by section
3319.236 of the Revised Code and, prior to teaching the course,
completes a professional development program determined to be
appropriate by the district board.

If
a student applies more than one computer science course to satisfy
curriculum requirements under that division, the courses shall be
sequential and progressively more difficult or cover different
subject areas within computer science.

(O)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the board
of education of each school district and the governing authority of
each chartered nonpublic school may adopt a policy to excuse from the
financial literacy instruction requirement under division (C)(9) of
this section each student who, during high school, participates in a
financial literacy program offered through a student branch, as
defined in section 1733.04 of the Revised Code, or by a bank, as
defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code. The policy shall
require the financial literacy program to meet or exceed the academic
content standards and model curriculum for financial literacy and
entrepreneurship instruction adopted under section 3301.079 of the
Revised Code. The policy shall require a student to participate in
the program for the equivalent of at least one-half unit of
instruction to qualify for an exemption under this division.

Not
later than July 1, 2026, the department shall develop and post on its
web site a model policy and guidelines for districts and schools to
use in developing a policy under this division.

Sec.
3313.6020.
(A)(1)
Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the board of education of
each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school
district shall adopt a policy on career advising that complies with
this section. Thereafter, the policy shall be updated at least once
every two years.

(2)
The board shall make the policy publicly available to students,
parents, guardians, or custodians, local post-secondary institutions,
and residents of the district. The district shall post the policy in
a prominent location on its web site, if it has one.

(B)
The policy on career advising shall specify how the district will do
all of the following:

(1)
Provide students with grade-level examples that link their schoolwork
to one or more career fields. A district may use career connections
developed under division (B)(2) of section 3301.079 of the Revised
Code for this purpose.

(2)
Create a plan

in consultation with the district's career technical planning
district and business advisory council

to
provide career advising to students in grades six through twelve;

(3)
Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, provide additional
interventions and career advising for students who are identified as
at risk of dropping out of school in accordance with
division
(C) of this
section

3313.617 of the Revised Code
;

(4)
Train its employees on how to advise students on career pathways,
including training on advising students using online tools;

(5)
Develop multiple, clear academic pathways through high school that
students may choose in order to earn a high school diploma;

(6)
Identify and publicize courses that can award students both
traditional academic and career-technical credit;

(7)
Document the career advising provided to each student for review by
the student, the student's parent, guardian, or custodian, and future
schools that the student may attend. A district shall not otherwise
release this information without the written consent of the student's
parent, guardian, or custodian, if the student is less than eighteen
years old, or the written consent of the student, if the student is
at least eighteen years old.

(8)
Prepare students for their transition from high school to their
post-secondary destinations, including any special interventions that
are necessary for students in need of remediation in mathematics or
English language arts;

(9)
Include information regarding career fields that require an
industry-recognized credential, certificate, associate's degree,
bachelor's degree, graduate degree, or professional degree;

(10)
Provide students with information about ways a student may offset the
costs of a post-secondary education, including programs such as all
of the following:

(a)
The reserve officer training corps;

(b)
The college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of
the Revised Code;

(c)
The Ohio guaranteed transfer pathways initiative established under
section 3333.168 of the Revised Code;

(d)
Joint academic programming or dual enrollment opportunities required
under section 3333.168 of the Revised Code.

The
chancellor of higher education shall develop informational materials
that illustrate cost saving estimates for each of the options listed
under division (B)(10) of this section. The chancellor shall develop
a list of individual college courses that are transferable under
section 3333.16 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1)

Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, each district shall identify
students who are at risk of dropping out of school using a method
that is both research-based and locally-based and that is developed
with input from the district's classroom teachers and guidance
counselors. If a student is identified as at risk of dropping out of
school, the district shall develop a student success plan that
addresses the student's academic pathway to a successful graduation
and the role of career-technical education, competency-based
education, and experiential learning, as appropriate, in that
pathway.

(2)
Prior to developing a student success plan for a student, the
district shall invite the student's parent, guardian, or custodian to
assist in developing the plan. If the student's parent, guardian, or
custodian does not participate in the development of the plan, the
district shall provide to the parent, guardian, or custodian a copy
of the student's success plan and a statement of the importance of a
high school diploma and the academic pathways available to the
student in order to successfully graduate.

(3)
Following the development of a student success plan for a student,
the district shall provide career advising to the student that is
aligned with the plan and, beginning in the 2015-2016 school year,
the district's plan to provide career advising created under division
(B)(2) of this section.

(D)(1)

The department of education and workforce shall develop and post on
its web site model policies on career advising

and model student success plans
.

(2)
The department shall create an online clearinghouse of research
related to proven practices for policies on career advising
and
student success plans
that
districts may access when fulfilling the requirements of this
section.

(3)
The department shall develop and make available informational
materials for students in grades seven and eight about career
opportunities available to them, including in-demand jobs as defined
in section 3333.94 of the Revised Code, and how a career-technical
education may help them satisfy graduation conditions under section
3313.618 of the Revised Code.

(4)
The department, in consultation with the governor's office of
workforce transformation, shall develop career pathways resources for
students. Each school district annually shall distribute the resource
in a manner determined by the department to each student in grades
six through twelve.

Sec.
3313.6034.
(A)
Beginning with the students who enter the sixth grade for the first
time in the 2027-2028 school year, each school district shall provide
at least sixty hours of instruction in the study of career
exploration to students at any point during grades six through eight.
School districts shall provide instruction in the study of career
exploration by doing either of the following:

(1)
Offering a career exploration course at some point during grades six
through eight for all students. The course shall address all the
essential components of career exploration instruction prescribed in
division (B) of this section. If a school provides its students with
a career-technical education course in seventh or eighth grade, as
required by section 3313.90 of Revised Code, and the course satisfies
the instructional criteria described in division (B) of this section,
the same course may fulfill both requirements for the district.

(2)
Submitting a career exploration plan to the department of education
and workforce for approval. The plan shall do both of the following:

(a)
Be developed in collaboration with the district's partners, including
the district's career-technical planning district and business
advisory council;

(b)
Document how the school will address the essential components of
career exploration instruction prescribed in division (B) of this
section in a series of experiences for all students in a cohort in a
single year or across grades six through eight.

A
plan approved by the department under this section shall be valid for
a minimum of two years but not longer than five years and may be
renewed in a form and manner determined by the department. The
department may work with the career pathway support networks
designated by the department to approve plans.

(B)
The career exploration instruction provided to each student shall
include each of the following essential components:

(1)
Career field exploration, including an overview of the sixteen career
clusters identified by the department for the state;

(2)
Experiential learning opportunities, such as research projects, guest
speakers and job shadowing;

(3)
Life budgeting and financial planning exercises;

(4)
Interest and aptitude assessments;

(5)
Professional skills development that aligns with the state's
professional skills standards created under section 3301.0733 of the
Revised Code;

(6)
At least one quality career coaching session per student that aligns
with the career coaching framework created under section 3301.0733 of
the Revised Code and documents learning in the student's career and
academic plan;

(7)
Career and academic planning, including the development of each
student's career and academic plan, as prescribed by section
3313.6115 of the Revised Code, or a preliminary plan if the
instruction is completed before eighth grade.

(C)
School districts may assign district personnel, including counselors,
career coaches, or teachers, to provide all or part of the career
exploration instruction and planning required for students. School
districts also may partner with outside organizations to provide all
or part of the career exploration instruction required for students.

Sec.
3313.617.
Not
later than June 30, 2020, each

Each
board
of education of a school district and governing authority of a
chartered nonpublic school shall adopt a policy regarding students
who are at risk of not qualifying for a high school diploma. The
policy shall require the district or school to do all of the
following:

(A)
Develop criteria for identifying at-risk students
,
which shall include a student's lack of adequate progress in meeting
the terms of a graduation plan developed or updated under division
(E) of this section
.
The criteria
also

may
include
other

factors
,

such as if a student has issues regarding excessive absences or
misconduct.

(B)
Develop procedures
for
identifying at-risk students. The procedures shall include a method
for determining if a student is not making adequate progress in
meeting the terms of a graduation plan developed or updated under
division (E) of this section. The procedures
that

shall
allow for a student to be identified as at risk in each of grades
nine through twelve. The procedures also may include the
identification of students in other grades.

(C)
Develop a notification process in which the district or school shall
notify an at-risk student's parent, guardian, or custodian in each
year in which the student has been identified as at risk. The
notification process shall at least include providing a written
notification to the at-risk student's parent, guardian, or custodian,
which shall include all of the following:

(1)
A statement that the student is at risk of not qualifying for a high
school diploma;

(2)
A description of the district's or school's curriculum requirements,
or the student's individualized education program, and, as
appropriate, the graduation conditions prescribed under section
3313.618 or 3313.619 of the Revised Code;

(3)
A description of any additional instructional or support services
available to the at-risk student through the district or school.

(D)
Assist at-risk students with additional instructional or support
services to help the students qualify for a high school diploma. The
instructional and support services may include any of the following:

(1)
Mentoring programs;

(2)
Tutoring programs;

(3)
High school credit through demonstrations of subject area competency
under division (J) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code;

(4)
Adjusted curriculum options;

(5)
Career-technical programs;

(6)
Mental health services;

(7)
Physical health care services;

(8)
Family engagement and support services.

(E)(1)
Develop a graduation
and
career
plan
for each student enrolled in grades nine through twelve in the
district or school

who is at risk of not qualifying for a high school diploma
.
The graduation
and
career
plan
shall address the student's academic pathway to meet the curriculum
requirements specified by the district or school and satisfy the
graduation conditions, as appropriate, under section 3313.618 or
3313.619 of the Revised Code.
The
plan also shall identify post-graduation career goals and align the
students's high school experience to those goals.

(2)
The graduation
and
career
plan
shall be developed jointly by the student and a representative of the
district or school
and
or
a representative of an organization the district or school partners
with for career planning and advising supports. The plan shall be

updated
by
the student and the representative involved in the development of the
plan
each
school year in which the student is enrolled in the district or
school, until the student qualifies for a high school diploma. The
district or school shall invite a student's parent, guardian, or
custodian to assist in developing and updating the graduation
and
career
plan.

(3)

A
district or school shall include a student's lack of progress in
meeting the terms of a graduation plan developed or updated under
this division as both a criterion for identifying at-risk students
under division (A) of this section and a procedure for identifying
at-risk students under division (B) of this section.

(4)
A graduation
If
a student identified at risk by this section has a career and
academic
plan
developed under
this

section

shall
supplement a
3313.6115
of the Revised Code, the
school

district's
policy on career advising adopted under section 3313.6020 of the
Revised Code
district
shall develop a graduation planning addendum to the career and
academic plan instead of a separate graduation and career plan. The
graduation planning addendum shall meet the requirements of division
(E) of this section, except that references to the graduation and
career plan apply to the graduation planning addendum
.

(5)
(4)

A school district may use the individualized education program
developed for a student pursuant to section 3323.08 of the Revised
Code in lieu of developing a graduation

and career

plan
or
graduation planning addendum
under
this division, if the individualized education program contains
academic goals substantively similar to a
graduation
and career plan or a
graduation

plan
planning
addendum
.

Sec.
3313.6115.
(A)
Beginning with students who enter sixth grade for the first time in
the 2027-2028 school year, each school district shall require each
sixth grade student to complete a career and academic plan by the end
of the student's eighth grade year. The plan shall be evaluated
annually to monitor progress and make adjustments as necessary. A
student's career and academic plan shall include all of the
following:

(1)
A list of the student's strengths, interests, and aptitudes;

(2)
An explanation of planned and completed career exploration activities
aligned to the student's career pathway, including career coaching;

(3)
Career and academic goals, financial and life goals, and action
plans, including how students will identify and update these goals as
they move through high school and beyond;

(4)
A description of the pathway the student will take to meet the
requirements for high school graduation prescribed under section
3313.618 of the Revised Code and the post-graduation career goals
outlined in that pathway. The plan shall also include how the student
will consider pathway experiences such as career-technical education
programming, the college credit plus program established under
Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code, the accelerated college and career
pathways program established under section 3345.89 of the Revised
Code, or other similar state or local programs. Future updates to the
student's plan shall address these options in more detail.

(5)
A description or record of any work-based and other career-based
learning opportunities the student plans to participate in to inform
their career and academic plan. The learning opportunities shall be,
to the greatest extent possible, integrated into a student's academic
instruction.

(6)
A plan for the development of a student's professional skills and how
the student will practice those skills through both in- and
out-of-school experiences.

A
career and academic plan for a student entering twelfth grade for the
first time in a school year shall require that student to develop a
professional resume based on the plan not later than the first day of
January of that school year.

(B)(1)
A school district shall involve parents and guardians in the
development of career and academic plans, and the parent or guardian
shall provide a written signature in approval of the final plan. If a
parent or guardian is unable to participate or provide written
approval, the district shall designate a career coach to provide the
student additional career coaching aligned to the quality career
coaching framework under section 3301.0733 of the Revised Code.

(2)
Parents and guardians shall receive at least one update annually on
the progress their student makes implementing the career and academic
plan, which shall include a copy of the plan itself and the contact
information for a person who can answer questions about the plan.

(3)
The career and academic plans shall be accessible to parents and
guardians throughout the year and be transferable between schools to
follow the student, including from middle school to high school and
between school districts.

(C)
The department of education and workforce shall develop a template
and guidance for career and academic plans to support the
implementation of this section.

(D)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A) of this
section, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school district
may provide a career and academic plan to students in any grade.

Sec.
3314.03.
A
copy of every contract entered into under this section shall be filed
with the director of education and workforce. The department of
education and workforce shall make available on its web site a copy
of every approved, executed contract filed with the director under
this section.

(A)
Each contract entered into between a sponsor and the governing
authority of a community school shall specify the following:

(1)
That the school shall be established as either of the following:

(a)
A nonprofit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the
Revised Code, if established prior to April 8, 2003;

(b)
A public benefit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the
Revised Code, if established after April 8, 2003.

(2)
The education program of the school, including the school's mission
and educational philosophy, the characteristics of the students the
school is expected to attract, the ages and grades of students, and
the focus of the curriculum;

(3)
The academic goals to be achieved and the method of measurement that
will be used to determine progress toward those goals, which shall
include the statewide achievement assessments;

(4)
Performance standards, including but not limited to all applicable
report card measures set forth in section 3302.03 or 3314.017 of the
Revised Code, by which the success of the school will be evaluated by
the sponsor;

(5)
The admission standards of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and,
if applicable, section 3314.061 of the Revised Code;

(6)(a)
Dismissal procedures;

(b)
A requirement that the governing authority adopt an attendance policy
that includes a procedure for automatically withdrawing a student
from the school if the student without a legitimate excuse fails to
participate in seventy-two consecutive hours of the learning
opportunities offered to the student.

(7)
The ways by which the school will achieve racial and ethnic balance
reflective of the community it serves;

(8)
Requirements for financial audits by the auditor of state. The
contract shall require financial records of the school to be
maintained in the same manner as are financial records of school
districts, pursuant to rules of the auditor of state. Audits shall be
conducted in accordance with section 117.10 of the Revised Code.

(9)
An addendum to the contract outlining the facilities to be used that
contains at least the following information:

(a)
A detailed description of each facility used for instructional
purposes;

(b)
The annual costs associated with leasing each facility that are paid
by or on behalf of the school;

(c)
The annual mortgage principal and interest payments that are paid by
the school;

(d)
The name of the lender or landlord, identified as such, and the
lender's or landlord's relationship to the operator, if any.

(10)
Qualifications of employees, including both of the following:

(a)
A requirement that the school's classroom teachers be licensed in
accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code,
except that a community school may engage noncertificated persons to
teach up to twelve hours or forty hours per week pursuant to section
3319.301 of the Revised Code;

(b)
A prohibition against the school employing an individual described in
section 3314.104 of the Revised Code in any position.

(11)
That the school will comply with the following requirements:

(a)
The school will provide learning opportunities to a minimum of
twenty-five students for a minimum of nine hundred twenty hours per
school year.

(b)
The governing authority will purchase liability insurance, or
otherwise provide for the potential liability of the school.

(c)
The school will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
employment practices, and all other operations, and will not be
operated by a sectarian school or religious institution.

(d)
The school will comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22,
149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.19, 3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712,
3301.0715, 3301.0729, 3301.24, 3301.948, 3302.037, 3313.472,
3313.473, 3313.474, 3313.50, 3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.5318,
3313.5319, 3313.608, 3313.609, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014,
3313.6020, 3313.6024, 3313.6026, 3313.6028, 3313.6029, 3313.6031,

3313.6034,

3313.643,
3313.648, 3313.6411, 3313.6413, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662,
3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.668, 3313.669, 3313.6610, 3313.67, 3313.671,
3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.718, 3313.719,
3313.7112, 3313.7117, 3313.721, 3313.753, 3313.80, 3313.814,
3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.819, 3313.8110, 3313.86, 3313.89,
3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078, 3319.0812, 3319.238, 3319.318,
3319.321, 3319.324, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393, 3319.41, 3319.46,
3319.90, 3319.614, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03, 3320.04, 3321.01,
3321.041, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19,
3322.20, 3322.24, 3323.251, 3327.10, 4111.17, 4113.52, 5502.262,
5502.703, and 5705.391 and Chapters 117., 1347., 2744., 3365., 3742.,
4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167. of the Revised Code as if it were a
school district and will comply with section 3301.0714 of the Revised
Code in the manner specified in section 3314.17 of the Revised Code.

(e)
The school shall comply with Chapter 102. and section 2921.42 of the
Revised Code.

(f)
The school will comply with sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.614,
3313.617, 3313.618,
and

3313.6114
,
and 3313.6115

of the Revised Code, except that for students who enter ninth grade
for the first time before July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections
3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must
successfully complete the curriculum in any high school prior to
receiving a high school diploma may be met by completing the
curriculum adopted by the governing authority of the community school
rather than the curriculum specified in Title XXXIII of the Revised
Code or any rules of the department. Beginning with students who
enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, the
requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that
a person must successfully complete the curriculum of a high school
prior to receiving a high school diploma shall be met by completing
the requirements prescribed in section 3313.6027 and division (C) of
section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, unless the person qualifies
under division (D) or (F) of that section. Each school shall comply
with the plan for awarding high school credit based on demonstration
of subject area competency, and beginning with the 2017-2018 school
year, with the updated plan that permits students enrolled in seventh
and eighth grade to meet curriculum requirements based on subject
area competency adopted by the department under divisions (J)(1) and
(2) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code. Beginning with the
2018-2019 school year, the school shall comply with the framework for
granting units of high school credit to students who demonstrate
subject area competency through work-based learning experiences,
internships, or cooperative education developed by the department
under division (J)(3) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

(g)
The school governing authority will submit within four months after
the end of each school year a report of its activities and progress
in meeting the goals and standards of divisions (A)(3) and (4) of
this section and its financial status to the sponsor and the parents
of all students enrolled in the school.

(h)
The school, unless it is an internet- or computer-based community
school, will comply with section 3313.801 of the Revised Code as if
it were a school district.

(i)
If the school is the recipient of moneys from a grant awarded under
the federal race to the top program, Division (A), Title XIV,
Sections 14005 and 14006 of the "American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009," Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115, the
school will pay teachers based upon performance in accordance with
section 3317.141 and will comply with section 3319.111 of the Revised
Code as if it were a school district.

(j)
If the school operates a preschool program that is licensed by the
department under sections 3301.52 to 3301.59 of the Revised Code, the
school shall comply with sections 3301.50 to 3301.59 of the Revised
Code and the minimum standards for preschool programs prescribed in
rules adopted by the department of children and youth under section
3301.53 of the Revised Code.

(k)
The school will comply with sections 3313.6021 and 3313.6023 of the
Revised Code as if it were a school district unless it is either of
the following:

(i)
An internet- or computer-based community school;

(ii)
A community school in which a majority of the enrolled students are
children with disabilities as described in division (B)(2) of section
3314.35 of the Revised Code.

(l)
The school will comply with section 3321.191 of the Revised Code,
unless it is an internet- or computer-based community school that is
subject to section 3314.261 of the Revised Code.

(m)
The school will comply with section 3313.7118 of the Revised Code if
it serves elementary school students.

(12)
Arrangements for providing health and other benefits to employees;

(13)
The length of the contract, which shall begin at the beginning of an
academic year. No contract shall exceed five years unless such
contract has been renewed pursuant to division (D) of this section.

(14)
The governing authority of the school, which shall be responsible for
carrying out the provisions of the contract;

(15)
A financial plan detailing an estimated school budget for each year
of the period of the contract and specifying the total estimated per
pupil expenditure amount for each such year.

(16)
Requirements and procedures regarding the disposition of employees of
the school in the event the contract is terminated or not renewed
pursuant to section 3314.07 of the Revised Code;

(17)
Whether the school is to be created by converting all or part of an
existing public school or educational service center building or is
to be a new start-up school, and if it is a converted public school
or service center building, both of the following:

(a)
Specification of any duties or responsibilities of an employer that
the board of education or service center governing board that
operated the school or building before conversion is delegating to
the governing authority of the community school with respect to all
or any specified group of employees provided the delegation is not
prohibited by a collective bargaining agreement applicable to such
employees;

(b)
Alternative arrangements for current public school students who
choose not to attend the converted school and for teachers who choose
not to teach in the school or building after conversion.

(18)
Provisions establishing procedures for resolving disputes or
differences of opinion between the sponsor and the governing
authority of the community school;

(19)
A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt a policy
regarding the admission of students who reside outside the district
in which the school is located. That policy shall comply with the
admissions procedures specified in sections 3314.06 and 3314.061 of
the Revised Code and, at the sole discretion of the authority, shall
do one of the following:

(a)
Prohibit the enrollment of students who reside outside the district
in which the school is located;

(b)
Permit the enrollment of students who reside in districts adjacent to
the district in which the school is located;

(c)
Permit the enrollment of students who reside in any other district in
the state.

(20)
A provision recognizing the authority of the department to take over
the sponsorship of the school in accordance with the provisions of
division (C) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code;

(21)
A provision recognizing the sponsor's authority to assume the
operation of a school under the conditions specified in division (B)
of section 3314.073 of the Revised Code;

(22)
A provision recognizing both of the following:

(a)
The authority of public health and safety officials to inspect the
facilities of the school and to order the facilities closed if those
officials find that the facilities are not in compliance with health
and safety laws and regulations;

(b)
The authority of the department as the community school oversight
body to suspend the operation of the school under section 3314.072 of
the Revised Code if the department has evidence of conditions or
violations of law at the school that pose an imminent danger to the
health and safety of the school's students and employees and the
sponsor refuses to take such action.

(23)
A description of the learning opportunities that will be offered to
students including both classroom-based and non-classroom-based
learning opportunities that is in compliance with criteria for
student participation established by the department under division
(H)(2) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code;

(24)
The school will comply with sections 3302.04 and 3302.041 of the
Revised Code, except that any action required to be taken by a school
district pursuant to those sections shall be taken by the sponsor of
the school.

(25)
Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the school will open for
operation not later than the thirtieth day of September each school
year, unless the mission of the school as specified under division
(A)(2) of this section is solely to serve dropouts. In its initial
year of operation, if the school fails to open by the thirtieth day
of September, or within one year after the adoption of the contract
pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code if
the mission of the school is solely to serve dropouts, the contract
shall be void.

(26)
Whether the school's governing authority is planning to seek
designation for the school as a STEM school equivalent under section
3326.032 of the Revised Code;

(27)
That the school's attendance and participation policies will be
available for public inspection;

(28)
That the school's attendance and participation records shall be made
available to the department, auditor of state, and school's sponsor
to the extent permitted under and in accordance with the "Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," 88 Stat. 571, 20
U.S.C. 1232g, as amended, and any regulations promulgated under that
act, and section 3319.321 of the Revised Code;

(29)
If a school operates using the blended learning model, as defined in
section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, all of the following
information:

(a)
An indication of what blended learning model or models will be used;

(b)
A description of how student instructional needs will be determined
and documented;

(c)
The method to be used for determining competency, granting credit,
and promoting students to a higher grade level;

(d)
The school's attendance requirements, including how the school will
document participation in learning opportunities;

(e)
A statement describing how student progress will be monitored;

(f)
A statement describing how private student data will be protected;

(g)
A description of the professional development activities that will be
offered to teachers.

(30)
A provision requiring that all moneys the school's operator loans to
the school, including facilities loans or cash flow assistance, must
be accounted for, documented, and bear interest at a fair market
rate;

(31)
A provision requiring that, if the governing authority contracts with
an attorney, accountant, or entity specializing in audits, the
attorney, accountant, or entity shall be independent from the
operator with which the school has contracted.

(32)
A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt an enrollment
and attendance policy that requires a student's parent to notify the
community school in which the student is enrolled when there is a
change in the location of the parent's or student's primary
residence.

(33)
A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt a student
residence and address verification policy for students enrolling in
or attending the school.

(34)
A provision establishing the process by which the governing authority
of the school will be selected in the future.

(35)
A description of the management and administration of the school.

(36)
A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt policies and
procedures to establish internal financial controls for the school.

(B)
A contract entered into under section 3314.02 of the Revised Code
between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school
may provide for the community school governing authority to make
payments to the sponsor, which is hereby authorized to receive such
payments as set forth in the contract between the governing authority
and the sponsor. The total amount of such payments for monitoring,
oversight, and technical assistance of the school shall not exceed
three per cent of the total amount of payments for operating expenses
that the school receives from the state.

(C)
The contract shall specify the duties of the sponsor which shall be
in accordance with the written agreement entered into with the
department under division (B) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code
and shall include the following:

(1)
Monitor the community school's compliance with all laws applicable to
the school and with the terms of the contract;

(2)
Monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal performance and the
organization and operation of the community school on at least an
annual basis;

(3)
Provide technical assistance to the community school in complying
with laws applicable to the school and terms of the contract;

(4)
Take steps to intervene in the school's operation to correct problems
in the school's overall performance, declare the school to be on
probationary status pursuant to section 3314.073 of the Revised Code,
suspend the operation of the school pursuant to section 3314.072 of
the Revised Code, or terminate the contract of the school pursuant to
section 3314.07 of the Revised Code as determined necessary by the
sponsor;

(5)
Have in place a plan of action to be undertaken in the event the
community school experiences financial difficulties or closes prior
to the end of a school year.

(D)
Upon the expiration of a contract entered into under this section,
the sponsor of a community school may, with the approval of the
governing authority of the school, renew that contract for a period
of time determined by the sponsor, but not ending earlier than the
end of any school year, if the sponsor finds that the school's
compliance with applicable laws and terms of the contract and the
school's progress in meeting the academic goals prescribed in the
contract have been satisfactory. Any contract that is renewed under
this division remains subject to the provisions of sections 3314.07,
3314.072, and 3314.073 of the Revised Code.

(E)
If a community school fails to open for operation within one year
after the contract entered into under this section is adopted
pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code or
permanently closes prior to the expiration of the contract, the
contract shall be void and the school shall not enter into a contract
with any other sponsor. A school shall not be considered permanently
closed because the operations of the school have been suspended
pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
3317.014.
(A)
The multiples for the following categories of career-technical
education programs approved by the department of education and
workforce under section 3317.161 of the Revised Code shall be as
follows:

(1)
A multiple of 0.6230 for students enrolled in career-technical
education workforce development programs in agricultural and
environmental systems, construction technologies, engineering and
science technologies, finance, health science, information
technology, and manufacturing technologies, each of which shall be
defined by the department in consultation with the governor's office
of workforce transformation;

(2)
A multiple of 0.5905 for students enrolled in workforce development
programs in business and administration, hospitality and tourism,
human services, law and public safety, transportation systems, and
arts and communications, each of which shall be defined by the
department in consultation with the governor's office of workforce
transformation;

(3)
A multiple of 0.2154 for students enrolled in career-based
intervention programs, which shall be defined by the department in
consultation with the governor's office of workforce transformation;

(4)
A multiple of 0.1830 for students enrolled in workforce development
programs in education and training, marketing, workforce development
academics, public administration, and career development, each of
which shall be defined by the department in consultation with the
governor's office of workforce transformation;

(5)
A multiple of 0.1570 for students enrolled in family and consumer
science programs, which shall be defined by the department in
consultation with the governor's office of workforce transformation.

(B)
The multiple for career-technical education associated services, as
defined by the department, shall be 0.0294.

(C)
The department shall calculate career-technical education funds for
each funding unit that is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district or the community and STEM school unit as
follows:

(1)
For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the sum of the following:

(a)
The funding unit's category one career-technical education ADM X the
multiple specified in division (A)(1) of this section X the statewide
average career-technical base cost per pupil for that fiscal year X
if the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district, the district's state share percentage;

(b)
The funding unit's category two career-technical education ADM X the
multiple specified in division (A)(2) of this section X the statewide
average career-technical base cost per pupil for that fiscal year X
if the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district, the district's state share percentage;

(c)
The funding unit's category three career-technical education ADM X
the multiple specified in division (A)(3) of this section X the
statewide average career-technical base cost per pupil for that
fiscal year X if the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village,
or joint vocational school district, the district's state share
percentage;

(d)
The funding unit's category four career-technical education ADM X the
multiple specified in division (A)(4) of this section X the statewide
average career-technical base cost per pupil for that fiscal year X
if the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district, the district's state share percentage;

(e)
The funding unit's category five career-technical education ADM X the
multiple specified in division (A)(5) of this section X the statewide
average career-technical base cost per pupil for that fiscal year X
if the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district, the district's state share percentage.

(2)
For fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of the
following:

(a)
An amount calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly
times the funding unit's category one career-technical education ADM;

(b)
An amount calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly
times the funding unit's category two career-technical education ADM;

(c)
An amount calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly
times the funding unit's category three career-technical education
ADM;

(d)
An amount calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly
times the funding unit's category four career-technical education
ADM;

(e)
An amount calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly
times the funding unit's category five career-technical education
ADM.

(3)
Payment of funds calculated under division (C) of this section is
subject to approval under section 3317.161 of the Revised Code.

(D)
Subject to division (I) of section 3317.023 of the Revised Code, the
department shall calculate career-technical associated services funds
for each funding unit that is a city, local, exempted village, or
joint vocational school district or the community and STEM school
unit as follows:

(1)
For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the following product:

(If
the funding unit is a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district, the funding unit's state share
percentage) X the multiple for career-technical education associated
services specified under division (B) of this section X the statewide
average career-technical base cost per pupil for that fiscal year X
the sum of the funding unit's categories one through five
career-technical education ADM

(2)
For fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter, an amount
calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly times the
funding unit's categories one through five career-technical education
ADM.

(E)(1)
In accordance with division (I) of section 3317.023 of the Revised
Code, the department shall compute career awareness and exploration
funds for each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational
school district, community school established under Chapter 3314. of
the Revised Code, and STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of
the Revised Code that is part of a career technical planning
district. The department shall pay the lead district in each career
technical planning district as follows:

(a)
For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, an amount equal to the following
product:

The
sum of enrolled ADM for all districts and schools within the career
technical planning district X $3

(b)
For fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter, an amount
calculated in a manner determined by the general assembly, if the
general assembly authorizes such a payment to city, local, exempted
village, and joint vocational school districts, community schools,
and STEM schools.

(2)
The lead district of a career technical planning district shall use
career awareness and exploration funds in accordance with division
(H) of this section.

(F)(1)
In any fiscal year, a school district receiving funds calculated
under division (C) of this section shall spend those funds only for
the purposes that the department designates as approved for
career-technical education expenses. Career-technical education
expenses approved by the department shall include only expenses
connected to the delivery of career-technical programming to
career-technical students. The department shall require the school
district to report data annually so that the department may monitor
the district's compliance with the requirements regarding the manner
in which funding calculated under division (C) of this section may be
spent.

(2)
All funds received under division (C) of this section shall be spent
in the following manner:

(a)
At least seventy-five per cent of the funds shall be spent on
curriculum development, purchase, and implementation; instructional
resources and supplies; industry-based program certification; student
assessment, credentialing, and placement; curriculum specific
equipment purchases and leases; career-technical student organization
fees and expenses; home and agency linkages; work-based learning
experiences; professional development; and other costs directly
associated with career-technical education programs including
development of new programs.

(b)
Not more than twenty-five per cent of the funds shall be used for
personnel expenditures.

(G)
In any fiscal year, a school district receiving funds calculated
under division (D) of this section, or through a transfer of funds
pursuant to division (I) of section 3317.023 of the Revised Code,
shall spend those funds only for the purposes that the department
designates as approved for career-technical education associated
services expenses, which may include all of the following purposes:

(1)
Engaging and collaborating with education and workforce stakeholders
in the service area;

(2)
Developing and maintaining a comprehensive plan to increase
career-focused education activities;

(3)
Ensuring that plans are informed by quality data and using data to
expand access to career-focused activities for all students;

(4)
Planning and allocating resources for the growth, sustainability, and
enhancement of career-focused activities in the long term;

(5)
Establishing continuous improvement and program approval processes.

The
department may deny payment of funds calculated under division (D) of
this section to any district that the department determines is not
operating those services or is using funds calculated under division
(D) of this section, or through a transfer of funds pursuant to
division (I) of section 3317.023 of the Revised Code, for other
purposes.

(H)
In any fiscal year, a lead district of a career-technical planning
district receiving funds under division (E) of this section, shall
utilize those funds to deliver relevant career awareness and
exploration programs to all students within its career technical
planning district in a manner that is consistent with the
career-technical planning district's plan that is on file with the
department. The lead district that receives funds under this division
shall spend those funds only for the following purposes:

(1)
Delivery of career awareness programs to students enrolled in grades
kindergarten through twelve;

(2)
Provision of a common, consistent curriculum to students throughout
their primary and secondary education;

(3)
Assistance to teachers in providing a career development curriculum
to students;

(4)
Development of a career development plan for each student that stays
with that student for the duration of the student's primary and
secondary education;

(5)
Provision of opportunities for students to engage in activities, such
as career fairs, hands-on experiences, and job shadowing, across all
career pathways at each grade level;

(6)
Provision of mentorship opportunities through which students may
learn about careers and workforce skills
;

(7)
Development, provision, or support of career exploration instruction
under section 3313.6034 of the Revised Code
.

The
lead district that receives funds under division (E) of this section
shall report on the use of those funds to the department in a manner
prescribed by the department.

The
department may deny payment under this division to any district or
school that the department determines is using funds paid under this
division for other purposes.

Sec.
3326.11.
Each
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established
under this chapter and its governing body shall comply with sections
9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.19,
2921.42, 2921.43, 3301.0714, 3301.0715, 3301.0729, 3301.24, 3301.948,
3302.037, 3313.14, 3313.15, 3313.16, 3313.18, 3313.201, 3313.26,
3313.472, 3313.473, 3313.474, 3313.48, 3313.481, 3313.482, 3313.50,
3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.5318, 3313.5319, 3313.608, 3313.6012,
3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.6020, 3313.6021, 3313.6023, 3313.6024,
3313.6026, 3313.6028, 3313.6029, 3313.6031,
3313.6034,

3313.61,
3313.611, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.617, 3313.618, 3313.6114,

3313.6115,

3313.643,
3313.648, 3313.6411, 3313.6413, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662,
3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.668, 3313.669, 3313.6610, 3313.67, 3313.671,
3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.717, 3313.718,
3313.719, 3313.7112, 3313.7117, 3313.7118, 3313.721, 3313.753,
3313.80, 3313.801, 3313.814, 3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.819,
3313.8110, 3313.86, 3313.89, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078,
3319.0812, 3319.21, 3319.238, 3319.318, 3319.32, 3319.321, 3319.324,
3319.35, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393, 3319.41, 3319.45, 3319.46,
3319.614, 3319.90, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03, 3320.04, 3321.01,
3321.041, 3321.05, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141, 3321.17, 3321.18,
3321.19, 3321.191, 3322.20, 3322.24, 3323.251, 3327.10, 4111.17,
4113.52, 5502.262, 5502.703, and 5705.391 and Chapters 102., 117.,
1347., 2744., 3307., 3309., 3365., 3742., 4112., 4123., 4141., and
4167. of the Revised Code as if it were a school district.

Sec.
3328.24.
A
college-preparatory boarding school established under this chapter
and its board of trustees shall comply with sections 102.02,
3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712, 3301.0714, 3301.0729, 3301.948,
3302.037, 3313.474, 3313.5318, 3313.5319, 3313.6013, 3313.6021,
3313.6023, 3313.6024, 3313.6026, 3313.6029, 3313.6031,
3313.6034,

3313.617,
3313.618, 3313.6114,
3313.6115,

3313.6411,
3313.6413, 3313.668, 3313.669, 3313.6610, 3313.717, 3313.7112,
3313.7117, 3313.721, 3313.753, 3313.8110, 3313.89, 3319.073,
3319.077, 3319.078, 3319.318, 3319.324, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393,
3319.46, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03, 3320.04, 3323.251, and 5502.262,
and Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code as if the school were a school
district and the school's board of trustees were a district board of
education.

Section
2.
That
existing sections 3313.603, 3313.6020, 3313.617, 3314.03
,
3317.014
,
3326.11, and 3328.24 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section
3.
That
section 3313.607 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section
4.
The
General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of
section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized
if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the
following sections, presented in this act as composites of the
sections as amended by the acts indicated, are the resulting versions
of the sections in effect prior to the effective date of the sections
as presented in this act:

Section
3314.03 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 10 and H.B. 96 of
the 136th General Assembly.

Section
3326.11 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 10 and H.B. 96 of
the 136th General Assembly.

Section
3328.24 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 10 and H.B. 96 of
the 136th General Assembly.