The bill, introduced by Senator Cutrona, seeks to amend various sections of the Revised Code concerning school district financing and governance. It proposes the repeal of existing sections related to academic distress commissions, replacing them with a requirement for student support teams in low-performing schools. The amendments allow school districts to incur net indebtedness without voter approval under specific conditions, such as emergencies or energy conservation, and introduce a new section enabling districts to become special needs districts, allowing them to issue securities beyond typical limits if they can demonstrate inadequate funding for necessary improvements. Key deletions include the removal of requirements for districts under academic distress commissions to seek approval for incurring indebtedness, reflecting a shift towards supportive interventions aimed at improving student outcomes.

Additionally, the bill enhances community engagement by mandating public information hearings for school boards and outlining the process for transitioning to community learning centers. It modifies eligibility criteria for the educational choice scholarship pilot program, allowing students from underperforming schools to receive scholarships while ensuring continuity for previous recipients. The bill also clarifies funding distribution rules, stating that the director of education and workforce cannot distribute funds to districts not maintaining grades K-12, with exceptions for joint vocational and cooperative education districts. Furthermore, it introduces new language regarding the status of certain reconstituted or closed districts, modifies definitions related to municipal school districts, and streamlines the legal framework governing educational institutions by repealing several existing sections.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 133.06, 3302.036, 3302.042, 3302.16, 3302.17, 3310.03, 3311.29, 3314.102, 3302.10, 3302.103, 3302.11, 3302.111, 3302.12, H.B