(A) The contract between the community school and the sponsor shall specify the facilities to be used for the community school and the method of acquisition. Except as provided in divisions (B)(3) and (4) of this section, no community school shall be established in more than one school district under the same contract.

(B) Division (B) of this section shall not apply to internet- or computer-based community schools.

(1) A community school may be located in multiple facilities under the same contract only if the limitations on availability of space prohibit serving all the grade levels specified in the contract in a single facility or division (B)(2), (3), or (4) of this section applies to the school. The school shall not offer the same grade level classrooms in more than one facility.

(2) A community school may be located in multiple facilities under the same contract and, notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, may assign students in the same grade level to multiple facilities, as long as all of the following apply:

(a) The governing authority has entered into and maintains a contract with an operator of the type described in division (A)(8)(b) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code.

(b) The contract with that operator qualified the school to be established pursuant to division (A) of former section 3314.016 of the Revised Code.

(c) The school's rating under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code does not fall below a combination of any of the following for two or more consecutive years:

(i) A rating of "in need of continuous improvement" under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, as that section existed prior to March 22, 2013;

(ii) For the 2012-2013 , 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016 school years, a rating of "C" for both the performance index score under division (A)(1)(b) or (B)(1)(b) and the value-added dimension under division (A)(1)(e) or (B)(1)(e) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code; or if the building serves only grades ten through twelve, the building received a grade of "C" for the performance index score under division (A)(1)(b) or (B)(1)(b) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code;

(iii) For the 2016-2017 school year and for any school year thereafter, an overall grade of "C" under division (C)(3) of section 3302.03 of the Revised Code or an overall performance designation of "meets standards" under division (E)(3)(e) of section 3314.017 of the Revised Code.

(3) A new start-up community school may be established in two school districts under the same contract if all of the following apply:

(a) At least one of the school districts in which the school is established is a challenged school district;

(b) The school operates not more than one facility in each school district and, in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section, the school does not offer the same grade level classrooms in both facilities; and

(c) Transportation between the two facilities does not require more than thirty minutes of direct travel time as measured by school bus.

In the case of a community school to which division (B)(3) of this section applies, if only one of the school districts in which the school is established is a challenged school district, that district shall be considered the school's primary location and the district in which the school is located for the purposes of division (A)(19) of section 3314.03 and divisions (C) and (H) of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and for all other purposes of this chapter. If both of the school districts in which the school is established are challenged school districts, the school's governing authority shall designate one of those districts to be considered the school's primary location and the district in which the school is located for the purposes of those divisions and all other purposes of this chapter and shall notify the department of education of that designation.

(4) A community school may be located in multiple facilities under the same contract and, notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, may assign students in the same grade level to multiple facilities, as long as both of the following apply:

(a) The facilities are all located in the same county.

(b) Either of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) The community school is sponsored by a board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district having territory in the same county where the facilities of the community school are located;

(ii) The community school is managed by an operator.

In the case of a community school to which division (B)(4) of this section applies and that maintains facilities in more than one school district, the school's governing authority shall designate one of those districts to be considered the school's primary location and the district in which the school is located for the purposes of division (A)(19) of section 3314.03 and divisions (C) and (H) of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and for all other purposes of this chapter and shall notify the department of that designation.

(5) Any facility used for a community school shall meet all health and safety standards established by law for school buildings.

(C) In the case where a community school is proposed to be located in a facility owned by a school district or educational service center, the facility may not be used for such community school unless the district or service center board owning the facility enters into an agreement for the community school to utilize the facility. Use of the facility may be under any terms and conditions agreed to by the district or service center board and the school.

(D) Two or more separate community schools may be located in the same facility.

(E) In the case of a community school that is located in multiple facilities, beginning July 1, 2012, the department shall assign a unique identification number to the school and to each facility maintained by the school. Each number shall be used for identification purposes only. Nothing in this division shall be construed to require the department to calculate the amount of funds paid under this chapter, or to compute any data required for the report cards issued under section 3314.012 of the Revised Code, for each facility separately. The department shall make all such calculations or computations for the school as a whole.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 6/30/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.184, HB 555, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 04-08-2003; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008