Substitute House Bill 438 Summary

• Allows elected members of educational service center governing boards to adopt plans adding appointed members, up to one less than the number of elected members, with total board size being odd-numbered.

• Permits local school districts that previously severed and annexed territory to propose moving from one educational service center to an adjacent one through board resolution, subject to state board approval and potential referendum vote by district electors.

• Authorizes educational service centers to establish local professional development committees to review coursework of their licensed or certificated employees who are not employed in schools.

• Requires school districts and chartered nonpublic schools to establish local professional development committees to determine whether proposed coursework meets standards for educator license renewal.

• Modifies eligibility criteria for community school classroom facilities grants by allowing newly established community schools with proven high-quality academic performance models to qualify for funding, and requires the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to conduct at least three rounds of grant funding.