(A) Southern state community college shall establish and maintain, for a period of five years, the Ohio code-scholar pilot program to address technical workforce needs.

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(B) Not later than July 31, 2021, southern state community college shall appoint a program coordinator who shall be responsible for all of the following, as well as any other responsibilities as determined by the southern state community college board of trustees:

(1) Form a coalition and act as the liaison between southern state community college and the coalition to develop the pilot program.

The coalition shall include members from the following:

(a) The department of education and workforce;

(b) Educators in grades kindergarten through twelve;

(c) Career technical education staff;

(d) Educational service center staff;

(e) Representatives of post-secondary institutions in the areas in which the pilot program is operating;

(f) Federally and state-funded research organizations, as determined by the southern state community college board of trustees and the program coordinator;

(g) Local businesses in the areas in which the pilot program is operating, as determined by the southern state community college board of trustees and the program coordinator.

(2) In collaboration with the coalition, as described in division (B)(1) of this section, develop a curriculum for grades seven through twelve to be utilized by the pilot program that focuses on industry standards in the field of computer sciences, including coding, and is divided as follows:

(a) For grades seven and eight, a focus on career exploration, career readiness initiatives, and an introduction to coding and computer sciences;

(b) For grades nine through twelve, a focus on intermediate and advanced coding, computer sciences, and the potential for industry level credentialing.

(3) Submit an annual report to southern state community college regarding the progress and implementation of the pilot program;

(4) Determine the manner in which the pilot program shall recruit school districts and other participants for the fall of 2021 from the following counties:

(a) Southern Ohio, specifically, Fayette, Clinton, Adams, and Highland counties;

(b) Brown county;

(c) Pike county.

(5) Develop a structured timeline by which the pilot program shall operate over the five-year period, with full administration beginning in the fall of 2022;

(6) Determine the manner in which to incorporate the college credit plus program as established under Chapter 3365 of the Revised Code within the pilot program;

(7) In collaboration with the designated department, advisor, and instructor, as appointed by southern state community college, develop a system for the articulation of credits earned under the pilot program and align them into a for-credit program at southern state community college;

(8) Act as fiscal operator of the pilot program.

(C) Upon completion of the pilot program, southern state community college, in collaboration with the program coordinator, shall submit a full report and any legislative recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code, regarding the outcomes of the pilot program.