OH SB259

Allows school district superintendents to permit home-educated students or students from other schools to participate in interscholastic athletics if the student was subjected to harassment, intimidation, bullying, a qualifying offense (violence or sexual misconduct), or professional misconduct by school officials or other students.

Permits qualifying school chief administrators (community schools, STEM schools, chartered and nonchartered nonpublic schools) to offer the same athletic participation opportunity to students from other districts, schools, or home-educated students under the same conditions.

Requires participating students to meet the same age, grade level, nonacademic, and financial requirements as other athletes in the activity, with no additional rules or fees imposed beyond those for other participants.

Prohibits school districts, interscholastic conferences, and athletic organizations from requiring conflicting eligibility requirements or penalizing students who transfer between districts or schools to participate in athletics under this provision.

Applies existing regulations for home-educated student athletic participation and prevents school boards and athletic governing bodies from taking actions contrary to these provisions.