HB 221 Summary

• Establishes a new College-Preparatory Boarding School program allowing private nonprofit operators to run public boarding schools serving at-risk students in grades 6-12 with state charter authorization

• Defines eligible students as those entitled to attend school in a participating district who are below 200% federal poverty level, academically at-risk, and meet at least two additional criteria (disciplinary history, low test scores, disability status, family circumstances, etc.)

• Creates funding mechanism where the state deducts 85% of a district's operating expenditure per pupil for enrolled students and pays schools that amount plus a per-pupil boarding amount starting at $25,000 annually, adjusted for inflation

• Requires participating school districts to provide weekly transportation for students and allows other districts to voluntarily participate; limits initial school enrollment to 80 students in grade 6 only, with total capacity capped at 400 students

• Establishes College-Preparatory Boarding School Facilities Program whereby the Ohio School Facilities Commission provides assistance for acquiring classroom facilities if operators secure at least $20 million in private funding for facility development