HB 478 Summary

• Amends the Educational Choice scholarship pilot program to revise eligibility criteria for students seeking scholarships to attend chartered nonpublic schools.

• Modifies division letters in sections 3310.02 and 3310.03 to reorganize priority order for scholarship awards based on poverty level and school performance metrics.

• Adds new section 3310.036 requiring the department of education to annually audit state report card data for district buildings and qualifying districts, prohibiting scholarship awards to students assigned to districts with uncertified data.

• Expands section 3310.032 to allow scholarships for lower-income students entering grades kindergarten through twelve beginning in 2020-2021 school year, with tiered scholarship amounts based on family income above 200% of federal poverty guidelines.

• Repeals section 3310.031 and consolidates scholarship eligibility standards across sections 3310.03, 3310.032, and 3310.035.