(A) The STEM committee shall authorize the establishment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics schools based on proposals submitted to the committee.

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The committee shall determine the criteria for proposals, establish procedures for the submission of proposals, accept and evaluate proposals, and choose which proposals to approve to become a STEM school. In approving proposals for STEM schools, the committee shall consider designating schools in diverse geographic regions of the state so that all students have access to a STEM school.

The committee shall seek technical assistance from the Ohio STEM learning network, or its successor, throughout the process of accepting and evaluating proposals and choosing which proposals to approve. In approving proposals for STEM schools, the committee shall consider the recommendations of the Ohio STEM learning network, or its successor.

The committee may authorize the establishment of a group of multiple STEM schools to operate from multiple facilities located in one or more school districts under the direction of a single governing body in the manner prescribed by section 3326.031 of the Revised Code. The committee shall consider the merits of each of the proposed STEM schools within a group and shall authorize each school separately. Anytime after authorizing a group of STEM schools to be under the direction of a single governing body, the committee may authorize one or more additional schools to operate as part of that group, provided a proposal for each school is submitted in accordance with this section.

The STEM committee may approve one or more STEM schools to serve only students identified as gifted under Chapter 3324 of the Revised Code.

(B) Proposals may be submitted only by a partnership of public and private entities consisting of at least all of the following:

(1) A city, exempted village, or local school district;

(2) Higher education entities;

(3) Business organizations.

A community school established under Chapter 3314 of the Revised Code, a chartered nonpublic school, or both may be part of the partnership.

(C) Each proposal shall include at least the following:

(1) A statement of which of grades kindergarten through twelve will be offered by the school;

(2) Assurances that the STEM school or group of STEM schools will be under the oversight of a governing body and a description of the members of that governing body and how they will be selected;

(3) Assurances that each STEM school will operate in compliance with this chapter and the provisions of the proposal as accepted by the committee and that the school will maintain the STEM education practices set forth in the proposal;

(4) Evidence that each school will exhibit school-wide cultural strategies reflecting innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, inquiry, and collaboration with individual accountability;

(5) Evidence that each school will offer a rigorous, diverse, integrated, and problem- or project-based curriculum to all students enrolled in the school, with the goal to prepare all students for post-high school learning experiences, the workforce, and citizenship, and that does all of the following:

(a) Emphasizes and supports the role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in promoting innovation and economic progress;

(b) Emphasizes the use of design thinking as a school-wide approach;

(c) Provides opportunities for students to engage in personalized learning;

(d) Includes the arts and humanities. If the proposal is for a STEAM school, it also shall include evidence that the curriculum will integrate arts and design into the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to foster creative thinking, problem-solving, and new approaches to scientific invention.

(6) Evidence that school leadership supports the curriculum principles of division (C)(5) of this section;

(7) A description of how each school’s curriculum was developed using the curriculum principles described in division (C)(5) of this section and approved by a team in accordance with section 3326.09 of the Revised Code;

(8) Evidence that each school will participate in regular STEM-focused professional development and share knowledge of best practices;

(9) Evidence that each school has established partnerships with institutions of higher education and businesses. If the proposal is for a STEAM school, it also shall include evidence of established partnerships with one or more arts organizations.

(10) Assurances that each school has received commitments of sustained and verifiable fiscal and in-kind support from regional education and business entities. If the proposal is for a STEAM school, it also shall include assurances that the school has received commitments of sustained and verifiable fiscal and in-kind support from arts organizations.

(11) A description of how each school’s assets will be distributed if the school closes for any reason.

(D) A STEM school that is designated under this section may submit an amended proposal to the STEM committee at any time to offer additional grade levels. Upon approval of the amended proposal by the committee, those grades may be offered by the school.

(E)(1) If a school is designated as a STEM school under this section, it shall maintain that designation for five years unless the STEM committee revokes its designation during that five-year period under division (F) of this section. At the end of that five-year period, the school shall reapply to the STEM committee in order to maintain that designation. The committee shall authorize the continuation of the school’s STEM designation if the committee finds that the school is in compliance with this chapter and the provisions of its proposal and any subsequent amendments to that proposal.

If a school chooses not to reapply for designation as a STEM school under division (E)(1) of this section, the committee shall revoke the school’s designation at the end of its five-year designation period.

(2) If a school reapplies for its designation as a STEM school under division (E)(1) of this section and the committee has reason to believe that it is not in compliance with this chapter or the provisions of its proposal and any subsequent amendments to that proposal, the committee shall require the school, in collaboration with the department of education and workforce and the Ohio STEM learning network or its successor, to develop a corrective action plan. The school shall implement the corrective action plan and demonstrate exemplary STEM pedagogy and practices within one year of the plan’s development. If the school fails to implement the corrective action plan to the satisfaction of the committee at the end of that year, the committee shall revoke the school’s designation.

(3) The department shall maintain records of the application status and designation renewal deadlines for each school that has been designated as a STEM school under this section.

(F) If the STEM committee has reason to believe that a school that is designated as a STEM school under this section is not in compliance with this chapter or the provisions of its proposal and any subsequent amendments to that proposal, it may review the school’s designation prior to the end of its five-year designation period. If the committee reviews a school’s designation under this division, it must require the school to develop a corrective action plan in the same manner as specified in division (E)(2) of this section and implement that plan and demonstrate exemplary STEM pedagogy and practices within one year of the plan’s development. If the school fails to implement the corrective action plan to the satisfaction of the committee at the end of that year, the committee shall revoke the school’s designation.

(G) If a STEM school wishes to become a STEAM school, it may change its existing proposal to include the items required under divisions (C)(5)(d), (C)(9), and (C)(10) of this section and submit the revised proposal to the STEM committee for approval.

(H) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, on and after September 30, 2021, a school operated by a joint vocational school district that was designated as a STEM school prior to that date may maintain that designation provided the school continues to comply with this chapter and all provisions of its proposal and any subsequent amendments to that proposal. However, nothing shall prohibit that school from electing to apply for a designation of STEM school equivalent or distinction as a STEM program of excellence under section 3326.032 or 3326.04 of the Revised Code, respectively.