(A) If a school district board of education approves an application under division (B)(1) of section 3302.061 of the Revised Code or designates an innovation school or innovation school zone under division (D) of that section, the district board shall apply to the department of education and workforce for designation as a school district of innovation by submitting to the department the innovation plan included in the approved application or created by the district board.

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Within sixty days after receipt of the application, the department shall designate the district as a school district of innovation, unless the department determines that the submitted innovation plan is not financially feasible or will likely result in decreased academic achievement. If the department so determines, it shall provide a written explanation of the basis for its determination to the district board. If the district is not designated as a school district of innovation, the district board shall not implement the innovation plan. However, the district board may reapply for designation as a school district of innovation at any time.

(B) A district board may request the department to make a preliminary review of an innovation plan prior to the district board’s formal application for designation as a school district of innovation. In that case, the department shall review the innovation plan and, within sixty days after the request, recommend to the district board any changes or additions that the department believes will improve the plan, which may include further innovations or measures to increase the likelihood that the innovations will result in higher academic achievement. The district board may revise the innovation plan prior to making formal application for designation as a school district of innovation.