As used in this section, "blended learning" has the same meaning as in section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.

(A) Any local, city, exempted village, or joint vocational school district, community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code, or chartered nonpublic school may operate all or part of a school using a blended learning model. If a school is operated using a blended learning model or is to cease operating using a blended learning model, the superintendent of the school or district or director of the school shall notify the department of education of that fact not later than the first day of July of the school year for which the change is effective. If any school district school, community school, or STEM school is already operated using a blended learning model on the effective date of this section, the superintendent of the school or district may notify the department within ninety days after the effective date of this section of that fact and request that the school be classified as a blended learning school.

(B) The state board of education shall revise any operating standards for school districts and chartered nonpublic schools adopted under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code to include standards for the operation of blended learning under this section. The blended learning operation standards shall provide for all of the following:

(1) Student-to-teacher ratios whereby no school or classroom is required to have more than one teacher for every one hundred twenty-five students in blended learning classrooms;

(2) The extent to which the school is or is not obligated to provide students with access to digital learning tools;

(3) The ability of all students, at any grade level, to earn credits or advance grade levels upon demonstrating mastery of knowledge or skills through competency-based learning models. Credits or grade level advancement shall not be based on a minimum number of days or hours in a classroom.

(4) An exemption from minimum school year or school day requirements in sections 3313.48 and 3313.481 of the Revised Code;

(5) Adequate provisions for: the licensing of teachers, administrators, and other professional personnel and their assignment according to training and qualifications; efficient and effective instructional materials and equipment, including library facilities; the proper organization, administration, and supervision of each school, including regulations for preparing all necessary records and reports and the preparation of a statement of policies and objectives for each school; buildings, grounds, and health and sanitary facilities and services; admission of pupils, and such requirements for their promotion from grade to grade as will ensure that they are capable and prepared for the level of study to which they are certified; requirements for graduation; and such other factors as the board finds necessary.

(C) An internet- or computer-based community school, as defined in section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, is not a blended learning school authorized under this section. Nor does this section affect any provisions for the operation of and payments to an internet- or computer-based community school prescribed in Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.128, SB 316, §101.01, eff. 9/24/2012.