OH SB261

Establishes public college-preparatory boarding schools operated by private nonprofit corporations and overseen by boards of trustees with five members appointed by the governor.

Targets eligible at-risk students entitled to attend participating school districts who meet income requirements and at least two additional risk criteria (disciplinary issues, low test scores, disabilities, family circumstances).

Schools must provide remedial and college-preparatory curricula, extracurricular activities, health/mental health services, tutoring, and residential programming for grades 5-12 with initial enrollment capped at 80 students.

Participating school districts must provide weekly transportation and lose 85% of per-pupil operating expenditure for each enrolled student; state pays schools an initial per-pupil boarding amount of $25,000 annually adjusted for inflation.

Implements reporting requirements, background checks for contractor employees, employee protections including suspension provisions for arrested staff, and quarterly reporting of school performance data to the state board of education.