The bill, introduced by Senator Cutrona, seeks to amend various sections of the Revised Code concerning school district governance and financing, particularly focusing on the dissolution of academic distress commissions and the establishment of student support teams for low-performing schools. Key amendments include the repeal of sections related to academic distress commissions and the introduction of new provisions for student support teams, which will assess student needs and develop improvement strategies. The bill also streamlines the process for school districts to incur indebtedness, allowing them to manage finances more effectively and emphasizing supportive interventions over punitive measures.

Additionally, the legislation modifies eligibility criteria for the educational choice scholarship pilot program, enabling students from underperforming schools to receive scholarships while allowing previous recipients to continue until graduation. It mandates public information hearings for community engagement in transitioning to community learning centers and outlines the governance of cooperative education school districts, including restrictions on fund distribution. The bill also clarifies the status of certain school districts and modifies definitions related to municipal school districts, ultimately aiming to enhance financial autonomy and support for struggling schools while ensuring community involvement in educational reforms.

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