As Introduced

135th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 9

2023-2024

A BILL

To amend sections 3314.03, 3319.223, 3319.26, and 3326.11 and to enact sections 3319.225, 3319.58, 3333.393, and 3333.394 of the Revised Code and to amend the version of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on December 29, 2023, to continue the changes on and after that date, to establish the Grow Your Own Teacher Program, to establish a loan repayment program for eligible teachers, to make changes to teacher licensing and professional development, and to make an appropriation.

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

Section 1. That sections 3314.03, 3319.223, 3319.26, and 3326.11 be amended and sections 3319.225, 3319.58, 3333.393, and 3333.394 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) The school will comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.19, 3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712, 3301.0715, 3301.0729, 3301.948, 3302.037, 3313.472, 3313.50, 3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.608, 3313.609, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.6015, 3313.6020, 3313.6024, 3313.6025, 3313.6026, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.6411, 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, 3313.721, 3313.80, 3313.814, 3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.86, 3313.89, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078, 3319.225, 3319.238, 3319.318, 3319.321, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393, 3319.41, 3319.46, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03, 3321.01, 3321.041, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 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 of the Revised Code, except that for students who enter ninth grade for the first time before July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum in any high school prior to receiving a high school diploma may be met by completing the curriculum adopted by the governing authority of the community school rather than the curriculum specified in Title XXXIII of the Revised Code or any rules of the state board of education. Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum of a high school prior to receiving a high school diploma shall be met by completing the 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 state board of education 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 of education 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 state board 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 (A)(4)(b) 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.

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

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

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

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

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

(17) Whether the school is to be created by converting all or part of an existing public school or educational service center building or is to be a new start-up school, and if it is a converted public school or service center building, specification of any duties or responsibilities of an employer that the board of education or service center governing board that operated the school or building before conversion is delegating to the governing authority of the community school with respect to all or any specified group of employees provided the delegation is not prohibited by a collective bargaining agreement applicable to such employees;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(22) A provision recognizing both of the following:

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

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

(23) A description of the learning opportunities that will be offered to students including both classroom-based and non-classroom-based learning opportunities that is in compliance with criteria for student participation established by the department under division (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. However, the sponsor shall not be required to take any action described in division (F) of section 3302.04 of the Revised Code.

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

(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 of education, 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;

(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.

(B) The community school shall also submit to the sponsor a comprehensive plan for the school. The plan shall specify the following:

(1) The process by which the governing authority of the school will be selected in the future;

(2) The management and administration of the school;

(3) If the community school is a currently existing public school or educational service center building, alternative arrangements for current public school students who choose not to attend the converted school and for teachers who choose not to teach in the school or building after conversion;

(4) The instructional program and educational philosophy of the school;

(5) Internal financial controls.

When submitting the plan under this division, the school shall also submit copies of all policies and procedures regarding internal financial controls adopted by the governing authority of the school.

(C) A contract entered into under section 3314.02 of the Revised Code between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school may provide for the community school governing authority to make payments to the sponsor, which is hereby authorized to receive such payments as set forth in the contract between the governing authority and the sponsor. The total amount of such payments for 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.

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

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

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

(3) Report on an annual basis the results of the evaluation conducted under division (D)(2) of this section to the department of education and to the parents of students enrolled in the community school;

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

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

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

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

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

Sec. 3319.223. (A) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education jointly shall establish the Ohio teacher residency program, which shall be a two-year, entry-level program for classroom teachers. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the teacher residency program shall include at least the following components:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2) Take a performance-based assessment.

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

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

Sec. 3319.225. Beginning with the first school year that begins on or after the effective date of this section, the board of education of each school district shall provide one day of professional development leave each school year, to observe a veteran classroom teacher, for each teacher employed by the district who is licensed under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code and who is not a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator, as defined in section 3319.02 of the Revised Code.

Each local professional development committee established under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code shall consider a teacher's observation of a veteran teacher as part of the continuing education required for license renewal under that section.

Sec. 3319.26. (A) The state board of education shall adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining an alternative resident educator license for teaching in grades kindergarten to twelve, or the equivalent, in a designated subject area or in the area of intervention specialist, as defined by rule of the state board. The rules shall also include the reasons for which an alternative resident educator license may be renewed under division (D) of this section.

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

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

(1) Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree;

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

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

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

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

(1) Participate in the Ohio teacher residency program under section 3319.223 of the Revised Code;

(2) Show satisfactory progress in taking and successfully completing one of the following:

(a) At least twelve additional semester hours, or the equivalent, of college coursework in the principles and practices of teaching in such topics as student development and learning, pupil assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology;

(b) Professional development provided by a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the chancellor under division (C)(2) of this section.

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

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

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

(2) The additional college coursework or professional development described in division (E)(2) of this section;

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

(4) The Ohio teacher residency program;

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

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

Sec. 3319.58. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Eligible teacher" means an individual who satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The individual is an Ohio resident.

(b) The individual holds a valid educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code to provide instruction in grades seven through twelve.

(d) The individual received a bachelor's degree awarded by any public or private institution of higher education in this state.

(e) The individual has outstanding student loans for the degree described in division (A)(1)(d) of this section.

(f) The individual has made timely payments in accordance with the terms of the individual's repayment schedule for the outstanding student loans described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section.

(2) "Qualifying school" means a school building operated by a school district, a community school established under Chapter 3314., a STEM school established under Chapter 3326., or a college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code to which the department of education and the chancellor of higher education jointly determine that both of the following applies:

(a) The school building has persistently low performance ratings on its state report card under section 3302.03 or 3314.017 of the Revised Code.

(b) The school building has difficulty attracting and retaining classroom teachers who provide instruction in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and hold a valid educator license issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code to provide instruction in grades seven through twelve.

(B) The department of education and the chancellor of higher education jointly shall establish and administer a teacher loan repayment program. Under the program, the department shall pay the amount specified in division (C) of this section to repay outstanding student loans described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section on behalf of the eligible teacher, if the teacher applies to receive an award under the program upon being employed by a qualifying school and subsequently is employed by that school in a position providing instruction for five consecutive school years in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to students enrolled in any of grades seven through twelve. An eligible teacher shall receive only one award under the program. The department shall make a payment directly to the eligible teacher's lender.

(C) The amount for each award under the program shall be the lesser of forty thousand dollars or the total amount of the outstanding student loans described in division (A)(1)(e) of the section for an eligible teacher who meets the requirement prescribed in division (B) of this section.

(D) The department and the chancellor jointly shall adopt rules to administer the program.

(E) The teacher loan repayment fund is hereby created in the state treasury, to consist of such amounts designated for the purposes of the fund by the general assembly. The fund shall be used to make awards under the program established under this section.

(F) The program established under this section shall cease to accept new applications under division (B) of this section on the date that is five calendar years after the effective date of this section. The program also shall cease to operate on the date that is ten calendar years after the effective date of this section.

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, 3301.948, 3302.037, 3313.14, 3313.15, 3313.16, 3313.18, 3313.201, 3313.26, 3313.472, 3313.48, 3313.481, 3313.482, 3313.50, 3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.608, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.6015, 3313.6020, 3313.6021, 3313.6024, 3313.6025, 3313.6026, 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.617, 3313.618, 3313.6114, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.6411, 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, 3313.721, 3313.80, 3313.801, 3313.814, 3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.86, 3313.89, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078, 3319.21, 3319.225, 3319.238, 3319.318, 3319.32, 3319.321, 3319.35, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393, 3319.41, 3319.45, 3319.46, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03, 3321.01, 3321.041, 3321.05, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3321.191, 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. 3333.393. (A) As used in this section and in section 3333.394 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Academic year" shall be as defined by the chancellor of higher education.

(2) "Parent" means the parent, guardian, or custodian of a qualified student as described by this section.

(3) "Qualified service" means teaching at a qualifying school.

(4) "Qualifying school" means a school district building identified as "high need" by the chancellor and meets both of the following conditions:

(a) At least fifty per cent of students enrolled in the school are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch, as defined in section 3333.80 of the Revised Code;

(b) The school is operated by the same school district from which the recipient of a scholarship graduated from high school or was employed.

(5) "Qualifying employee" means an individual employed at a school where at least fifty per cent of students enrolled in the school are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch, as defined in section 3333.80 of the Revised Code and who holds an educational aide permit or educational paraprofessional license issued under section 3319.088 or a substitute license under section 3319.226 of the Revised Code.

(B) The grow your own teacher college scholarship program is hereby established. Under the program, the chancellor of higher education, in conjunction with the department of education, shall award scholarships to the following:

(1) Low-income high school seniors who commit to teaching in a qualifying school for a minimum of four years upon graduation from a teacher training program at a state institution of higher education or an Ohio nonprofit institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code.

(2) Qualifying employees who commit to teaching in a qualifying school for a minimum of four years upon graduation from a teacher training program at a state institution of higher education or an Ohio nonprofit institution of higher education that has a certificate of authorization under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code.

Each scholarship shall be awarded for up to four academic years and shall not exceed $7,500 for each academic year.

(C) The department and the chancellor shall develop an application process for awarding scholarships under the program. The department and the chancellor also shall appoint a highly qualified and diverse application committee to assist in the selection of scholarship recipients.

(D)(1) Scholarships shall be awarded to students under division (B)(1) of this section who meet all of the following conditions:

(a) Received a high school diploma or honors diploma under section 3313.61 of the Revised Code;

(b) Were eligible for a free or reduced price lunch for all four years of high school;

(c) Commit to completing the four-year teaching obligation within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program.

(2) Scholarships shall be awarded to qualifying employees under division (B)(2) of this section who commit to completing the four-year teaching obligation within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program.

(E) The chancellor shall require that all applicants to the grow your own teacher program file a statement of service status in compliance with section 3345.32 of the Revised Code, if applicable, and that all applicants have not been convicted of, plead guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for any violation listed in section 3333.38 of the Revised Code.

(F) Recipients shall complete the four-year teaching commitment within not more than six years after graduating from the teacher training program. Failure to fulfill the commitment shall convert the scholarship into a loan to be repaid under section 3333.394 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3333.394. (A) Each recipient who accepts a scholarship under the grow your own teacher program under section 3333.393 of the Revised Code, or the recipient's parent if the recipient is younger than eighteen years of age, shall sign a promissory note payable to the state in the event the recipient does not satisfy the service requirement under division (F) of section 3333.393 of the Revised Code or the scholarship is terminated. The amount payable under the note shall be the amount of total scholarships accepted by the recipient under the program plus ten per cent interest accrued annually beginning on the first day of September after graduating from the teacher training program or immediately after termination of the scholarship. The period of repayment under the note shall be determined by the chancellor of higher education. The note shall stipulate that the obligation to make payments under the note is canceled following completion of four years of qualified service by the recipient in accordance with division (F) of section 3333.393 of the Revised Code, or if the recipient dies, becomes totally and permanently disabled, or is unable to complete the required qualified service as a result of a reduction in force at the recipient's school of employment before the obligation under the note has been satisfied.

(B) Repayment of the principal amount of the scholarship and interest accrued shall be deferred while the recipient is enrolled in an approved teaching program, while the recipient is seeking employment to fulfill the service obligation, for a period not to exceed six months, or while the recipient is engaged in qualified service.

(C) During the six-year period following the recipient's graduation from an approved teaching program, the chancellor shall deduct twenty-five per cent of the outstanding balance that may be converted to a loan for each year the recipient teaches at a qualifying school.

(D) The department and the chancellor may terminate the scholarship, in which case the scholarship shall be converted to a loan to be repaid under division (A) of this section.

(E) The scholarship shall be deemed terminated upon the recipient's withdrawal from school or the recipient's failure to meet the standards of the scholarship as determined by the department and the chancellor and shall be converted to a loan to be repaid under division (A) of this section.

(F) The chancellor and the attorney general shall collect payments on the converted loan in accordance with section 131.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 3314.03, 3319.223, 3319.26, and 3326.11 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3. That the version of section 3319.26 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect December 29, 2023, be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3319.26. (A) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining an alternative resident educator license for teaching in grades kindergarten to twelve, or the equivalent, in a designated subject area or in the area of intervention specialist, as defined by rule of the state board. The rules shall also include the reasons for which an alternative resident educator license may be renewed under division (D) of this section.

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