Professional Report

reasons, but it must publicly communicate to the residents of the district (in the manner the district determines to be appropriate) its decision not to comply. However, even if a board of education “opts out,” the state board of education can require that districts provide breakfast and lunch programs in any individual school building where at least one-third of the students are eligible for free lunches. If a school district cannot “for good cause” comply with the “one third” requirement, the state board shall grant a reasonable extension of time for compliance. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, “economic impossibility of compliance” with the requirements at the time the state board of determines that a district is subject to them.” It would appear that nothing precludes the renewal of this “waiver.” Districts may jointly provide food services to one or more districts and may form cooperatives to purchase food supplies and equipment used in food service operation. Also, breakfast programs are required in any school where at least one- half of the parents have requested the program. In this latter instance, districts are not required to subsidize the program.

3313.812

FOUNDATION FUND, NONPROFIT EDUCATION

3315.40

A board of education may establish an educational foundation fund and deposit up to 0.5 percent of the district’s general fund into this fund.

FULL-TIME STUDENT

3317.034

A student in grades 9-12 is considered to be a full-time equivalent student if the student is enrolled in at least five units of instruction per school year. A board of education must provide for the free education of the youth of school age within the district. The minimum school year requirements are included in this section.

FREE EDUCATION

3313.48

FUNDING FORMULA, SCHOOL

Chapter 3317

The foundation program is Ohio’s method of funding its schools and is described in Chapter 3317 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Please see Appendix N for a line by line explanation of the current school funding formula.

GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3313.617

A person who is at least 19 years old may take the tests of general educational development (GED) without additional administrative requirements if the person is officially withdrawn from school and has not received a high school diploma. A person who is at least 16 but less than 18 and who applies to take the GED is required to submit to the Department of Education: 1) written approval only from the person's parent or guardian or a court official (eliminating any need to obtain approval from the school district superintendent where the student was last enrolled) and 2) the person's official high school transcript, including the previous year of enrollment in a diploma granting program. While the Ohio department of education will approve or deny all applications to take the GED, ODE can approve the application only if the person has both:

(GED) TEST ELIGIBILITY

1)Been continuously enrolled in a diploma granting program for at least one semester and attained an attendance rate of