The bill amends sections 3310.15 and 3310.16 of the Revised Code and enacts a new section, 3301.165, to enhance reporting requirements for chartered nonpublic schools participating in the EdChoice scholarship program. It establishes definitions for terms such as "adjusted gross income," "federal poverty guidelines," "community school," "scholarship student," and "STEM school." The Department of Education and Workforce is tasked with creating a system to compare the performance data of scholarship students in chartered nonpublic schools with similar students in local school districts and other educational institutions. Additionally, the department will annually publish data on the number of scholarship recipients, disaggregated by income levels, and provide detailed enrollment statistics for each chartered nonpublic school.

The bill also modifies the process for accepting and awarding scholarships, including a requirement for applicants to disclose their previous school enrollment or home education status. It mandates that the department of education and workforce, along with other state agencies, enter into data-sharing agreements to verify eligibility for scholarships. Furthermore, it specifies that no local school district will have access to scholarship applications, ensuring confidentiality. The existing sections 3310.15 and 3310.16 are repealed, streamlining the scholarship administration process and enhancing transparency in reporting student performance and enrollment data.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3310.15, 3310.16