(A) The STEM committee may grant a designation of STEM school equivalent to a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code or to a chartered nonpublic school. In order to be eligible for this designation, a community school or chartered nonpublic school shall submit a proposal that satisfies the requirements of this section.

The committee shall determine the criteria for proposals, establish procedures for the submission of proposals, accept and evaluate proposals, and choose which proposals warrant a community school or chartered nonpublic school to be designated as a STEM school equivalent.

(B) A proposal for designation as a STEM school equivalent shall include at least the following:

(1) Assurances that the community school or chartered nonpublic school submitting the proposal has a working partnership with both public and private entities, including higher education entities and business organizations. If the proposal is for a STEAM school equivalent, it also shall include evidence that this partnership includes arts organizations.

(2) Assurances that the school submitting the proposal will operate in compliance with this section and the provisions of the proposal as accepted by the committee;

(3) Evidence that the school submitting the proposal will offer a rigorous, diverse, integrated, and project-based curriculum to students in any of grades kindergarten through twelve, with the goal to prepare those students for college, the workforce, and citizenship, and that does all of the following:

(a) Emphasizes the role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in promoting innovation and economic progress;

(b) Incorporates scientific inquiry and technological design;

(c) Includes the arts and humanities. If the proposal is for a STEAM school equivalent, it also shall include evidence that the curriculum will integrate arts and design into the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to foster creative thinking, problem-solving, and new approaches to scientific invention.

(d) Emphasizes personalized learning and teamwork skills.

(4) Evidence that the school submitting the proposal will attract school leaders who support the curriculum principles of division (B)(3) of this section;

(5) A description of how each school's curriculum will be developed and approved in accordance with section 3326.09 of the Revised Code;

(6) Evidence that the school submitting the proposal will utilize an established capacity to capture and share knowledge for best practices and innovative professional development;

(7) Assurances that the school submitting the proposal has received commitments of sustained and verifiable fiscal and in-kind support from regional education and business entities. If the proposal is for a STEAM school equivalent, it also shall include assurances that the school has received commitments of sustained and verifiable fiscal and in-kind support from arts organizations.

(C)

(1) A community school or chartered nonpublic school that is designated as a STEM school equivalent under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, except that the school shall be subject to the requirements of this section and to the curriculum requirements of section 3326.09 of the Revised Code.

Nothing in this section, however, shall relieve a community school of the applicable requirements of Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code. Nor shall anything in this section relieve a chartered nonpublic school of any provisions of law outside of this chapter that are applicable to chartered nonpublic schools.

(2) A community school or chartered nonpublic school that is designated as a STEM school equivalent under this section shall not be eligible for operating funding under sections 3326.31 to 3326.37, 3326.39 to 3326.40, and 3326.51 of the Revised Code.

(3) A community school or chartered nonpublic school that is designated as a STEM school equivalent under this section may apply for any of the grants and additional funds described in section 3326.38 of the Revised Code for which the school is eligible.

(D) If a community school or chartered nonpublic school that is designated as a STEM school equivalent under this section intends to close or intends to no longer be designated as a STEM school equivalent, it shall notify the STEM committee of that fact.

(E) If a community school or chartered nonpublic school that is designated as a STEM school equivalent wishes to be designated as a STEAM school equivalent, it may change its existing proposal to include the items required under divisions (B)(1), (B)(3)(c), and (B)(7) of this section and submit the revised proposal to the STEM committee for approval.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2017.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 3, §1, eff. 3/16/2017.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 362, §1, eff. 9/11/2014.