Ohio

Chapter 3314: Community Schools

"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."

We did not find mention of whether management companies can be for-profit.

3314.03(A)(1)(a&b): Specifications of contract between sponsor and governing authority - specifications of comprehensive plan.

"Subject to section 3314.016 of the Revised Code, an entity that sponsors community schools may enter into preliminary agreements and sponsor up to one hundred schools, provided each school and the contract for sponsorship meets the requirements of this chapter."

However, while a sponsor is limited to 100 schools, there is no limit on the number of sponsors. Ohio laws allows for more sponsors to be created and therefore there is not a cap on the number of schools.

3314.015: Oversight of sponsors.
3314.029: Ohio school sponsorship program.

"Except as provided in section 3314.091 of the Revised Code, the board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district shall provide transportation to and from school for its district's native students in accordance with section 3327.01 of the Revised Code."

3314.09 Transportation of native students provided by board of each school district.

Community schools can hire non-certified persons to teach for up to 12 hours per week.

3314.03(A)(10): Specifications of contract between sponsor and governing authority - specifications of comprehensive plan.

"'Internet- or computer-based community school' means a community school established under this chapter in which the enrolled students work primarily from their residences on assignments in nonclassroom-based learning opportunities provided via an internet- or other computer-based instructional method that does not rely on regular classroom instruction or via comprehensive instructional methods that include internet-based, other computer-based, and non computer-based learning opportunities unless a student receives career-technical education under section 3314.086 of the Revised Code."

3314.02 Proposal for converting public school to community school.

"Each internet- or computer-based community school shall keep an accurate record of each individual student's participation in learning opportunities each day. The record shall be kept in such a manner that the information contained within it easily can be submitted to the department of education, upon request by the department or the auditor of state."

3314.27 Maximum daily hours by computer-based school student.

"Each internet- or computer-based community school shall retain an affiliation with at least one full-time teacher of record licensed in accordance with division (A)(10) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code."

A policy expert stated that internet- or computer-based community schools must follow the same rules that apply to regular charter schools.

3314.21(B)(2) Internet- or computer-based schools.

Ohio statutes allow for 5 voucher programs:

(1) Educational Choice Scholarship Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 3310.01 through § 3310.17

(2) Income-Based Scholarship Program: Ohio Rev. Code § 3310.032

(3) Autism Scholarship Program: Ohio Rev. Code § 3310.41 through § 3310.43

(4) Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program: Ohio Rev. Code § 3310.51 through § 3310.64

(5) Cleveland Scholarship Program: Ohio Rev. Code § 3313.974 through § 3313.979

No educational expense tax credits or deductions found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

For Educational Choice Scholarship and Income-Based Scholarship Program:

"'Chartered nonpublic school' means a nonpublic school that holds a valid charter issued by the state board of education under section 3301.16 of the Revised Code and meets the standards established for such schools in rules adopted by the state board."

While we did not find explicit mention that students can use vouchers to attend religious schools, a policy expert stated that students can use vouchers to attend religious schools. The Ohio Department of Education "Scholarship Dashboard" includes many religious schools, indicating that households can use vouchers at religious schools.

RC 3310.01(A) Definitions.

(1) Educational Choice Scholarship: 60,000 students

(2) Income-Based Scholarship Program: "The number of scholarships awarded under this section shall not exceed the number that can be funded with appropriations made by the general assembly for this purpose."

(4) Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program: "The number of scholarships awarded under the program in any fiscal year shall not exceed five per cent of the total number of students residing in the state identified as children with disabilities during the previous fiscal year."

(1) RC 3310.02(A)(2)
(2) RC 3310.032(B)
(4) RC 3310.52(B)

(1) Educational Choice Scholarship and (2) Income-Based Scholarship Program:

"...each chartered nonpublic school that... enrolls students awarded scholarships under sections 3310.01 to 3310.17 of the Revised Code annually shall administer the assessments prescribed by section 3301.0710 , 3301.0712, or 3313.619 of the Revised Code, as applicable, to each scholarship student enrolled in the school in accordance with section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code."

(4) Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program:

"In order to maintain eligibility for a scholarship, a student shall take each assessment prescribed by section 3301.0710, 3301.0712, or 3313.619 of the Revised Code, as applicable, in accordance with section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, unless the student is excused from taking that assessment under federal law or the student's individualized education program or the student is enrolled in a chartered nonpublic school that meets the conditions specified in division (K)(2) or (L)(4) of section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code."

(1) & (2) RC 3310.14(A): Chartered nonpublic schools with enrolled students to administer tests.
(4) RC 3310.522 Maintaining eligibility.

We did not find mention of this in Ohio statutes. A policy expert stated that private schools cannot be removed from voucher programs based on performance; however, they must meet all of the requirements to be a "chartered nonpublic school."

Ohio Dept. of Education: Charter Nonpublic School Information

(1) Educational Choice Scholarship and (2) Income-Based Scholarship Program:

"Any eligible student who is enrolled in a chartered nonpublic school and for whom a scholarship under the educational choice scholarship pilot program has been awarded shall be entitled to transportation to and from the chartered nonpublic school by the student's resident district in the manner prescribed in section 3327.01 of the Revised Code."

(3) Autism Scholarship Program:

"A child attending a special education program with a scholarship under this section shall continue to be entitled to transportation to and from that program in the manner prescribed by law."

(4) Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program:

"A qualified special education child attending a special education program at an alternative public provider or a registered private provider with a scholarship shall be entitled to transportation to and from that program in the manner prescribed by law."

(1) & (2) RC 3310.04 Transportation of eligible students
(3) RC 3310.41(B) Autism scholarship program
(4) RC 3310.60 Student transportation

For community schools: "Enrollment is limited to students who reside in the district in which the school is located or is open to residents of other districts, as provided in the policy adopted pursuant to the contract."

Other schools:
"The board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district shall adopt a resolution establishing for the school district one of the following policies:
(a) A policy that entirely prohibits the enrollment of students from adjacent districts or other districts, other than students for whom tuition is paid in accordance with section 3317.08 of the Revised Code;

(b) A policy that permits enrollment of students from all adjacent districts in accordance with policy statements contained in the resolution;

(c) A policy that permits enrollment of students from all other districts in accordance with policy statements contained in the resolution."

3314.06(C): Admission procedures.
3313.98(B)(1)(a-c): Procedures for enrolling students from adjacent districts or other districts.

"Upon request of a parent,...a city, exempted village, or local school board enrolling an adjacent or other district student shall provide transportation for the student within the boundaries of the board's district..."

3313.981(H): Reporting numbers of adjacent district and other district joint vocational students.