(A) The purpose for adopting the rules in this chapter, which comprise the operating standards for Ohio school districts and elementary and secondary schools, is to assure that all students are provided a general education of high quality. The rules in this chapter establish specific expectations for school districts and schools to use in creating the best learning conditions for meeting the personalized and individualized needs of each student and achieving state and local educational goals and objectives. The operating standards focus on the most critical expectations for school districts and schools in order to foster a regulatory system that focuses on improving outputs and student outcomes.

(B) The following terms are defined as they are used in this chapter:

(1) "Assessment" means the measuring of student achievement of performance goals and objectives.

(2) "Blended learning" has the same meaning as in section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Board of education" means a board of education as described in Chapter 3313. of the Revised Code.

(4) "Classified staff" means nonteaching school personnel who are assigned to positions that do not require a certificate, license, permit or other credentialing document issued by the department of education and that are listed in accordance with section 3317.12 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Credentialed staff" means faculty or staff who hold a certificate, license, permit or other document issued by the state board of education under section 3301.071 or Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code. Credentialed staff includes, but is not limited to, teachers, principals, superintendents, treasurers, school business managers, related service personnel, administrative specialists, educational aides, and pupil activity providers.

(6) "Credit flexibility" means the method by which students may meet curriculum requirements or earn units of high school credit by demonstrating subject area competency through the completion of traditional coursework, testing out or otherwise demonstrating mastery of course content through the pursuit of an approved educational option pursuant to the plan for credit flexibility adopted by the state board of education in accordance with section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, and is available on the department of educations website.

(7) "Digital learning" has the same meaning as in section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Digital learning tools" means computers, tablets, software, applications, or other technology necessary to access a schools program of digital learning.

(9) "Educational options" means learning experiences or activities that are designed to extend, enhance, supplement, or serve as an alternative to classroom instruction and meet the personalized and individualized needs of each student. Educational options are offered in accordance with the models adopted by the state board of education, local board of education policy, and parental approval.

(10) "Educational service personnel" means individuals who hold appropriate qualifications and who possess the knowledge, skills and expertise to support the educational, instructional, health, mental health and college and career readiness needs for all students.

(a) Educational service personnel that support educational, instructional and college and career readiness programs include, but are not limited to: fine arts, music, and physical education teachers; librarian or media specialists; school counselors; and reading intervention specialists;

(b) Educational service personnel that support the learning needs of the special needs student population include, but are not limited to: gifted intervention specialists, adapted physical education teachers, audiologists, interpreters, speech-language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, and English-as-a-second-language specialist;

(c) Educational service personnel that support the health and mental health of the student population include, but are not limited to: school nurses, social workers, school psychologists, and school resource officers.

(11) "Evidence-based" has the same meaning as in division (21) of section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, at 20 U.S.C. 7801.

(12) "Harmful to juveniles" has the same meaning as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

(13) "Intervention" means alternative or supplemental instruction designed to help students meet performance objectives.

(14) "Obscene" has the same meaning as in division (F) of section 2907.01 of the Revised Code as that division has been construed by the supreme court of this state.

(15) "Parent" means:

(a) A natural or adoptive parent of a child;

(b) A guardian; or

(c) An individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent, including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative, with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the childs welfare.

(16) "Policies" means general principles governing the operation of a school and are established and adopted by the district board of education.

(17) "Procedures" means detailed rules, regulations and courses of action, specified in writing, for carrying out school district and school policies.

(18) "School," with the exception of the term "school" as used in rule 3301-35-08 of the Administrative Code, means an environment organized for learning and chartered pursuant to this chapter and section 3301.16 of the Revised Code to provide a community of students with the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge necessary to meet state and local performance objectives.

(19) "School district" means a local, exempted village, city or joint vocational school district as defined in Chapter 3311. of the Revised Code.

(20) "School year" has the same meaning as in section 3313.62 of the Revised Code.

(21) "Site evaluation" means an evaluation the department of education conducts of a school district or school to determine whether a school district or school meets the operating standards in this chapter.

(22) "Site visit" means an evaluation the department of education conducts of a chartered nonpublic school in accordance with Chapter 3301-39 of the Administrative Code.

(23) "Stakeholder" means those who directly affect or are affected by the educational success of a school district and school. Stakeholders may include, but are not limited to, colleges and universities, school district and school staff, employers, parents, students, and other individuals or groups in the community. For nonpublic schools, the governing authority of the school identifies "stakeholders."

(24) "State performance data" means the data reported to the department of education in accordance with section 3302.03 of the Revised Code that reflects the performance of the school district or school.

(25) "Teacher of record" means an educator who is responsible for a significant portion of a students instruction within a subject or a course.

Last updated May 24, 2021 at 9:08 AM