Education (Student Financial Aid)

To enact sections 3301.96 and 3333.89 of the Revised Code to establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program, to require the Department of Education and Workforce to hire a full-time school foster care liaison, and to make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

To enact section 3317.251 of the Revised Code regarding disadvantaged pupil impact aid for scholarship students attending chartered nonpublic schools and to make an appropriation.

To amend sections 3310.034, 3310.51, and 3310.52 of the Revised Code to permit students to concurrently receive an Educational Choice scholarship or Pilot Project scholarship and either an Autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarship and to make an appropriation.

This bill establishes the Student Choice Grant Program by creating a new section (3333.27) in Ohio's Revised Code and includes funding through an appropriation. It directly affects eligible students in Ohio by providing financial assistance for educational expenses, though the abstract does not specify qualifying criteria or program administration details. The key mechanism is the creation of a state-funded grant program, but the provided context lacks specifics on eligibility, funding amounts, or distribution processes. No further details about who qualifies or how grants would operate are included in the abstract.

SB 48 amends Ohio law to require the Auditor of State to annually audit all public funds received by chartered nonpublic schools. It specifically mandates audits of funds from three sources: the educational choice scholarship program, administrative cost reimbursements, and auxiliary services reimbursements. The bill directly affects chartered nonpublic schools that receive state funds, requiring them to undergo annual financial reviews of these specific public money accounts. The law repeals the previous auditing provision and defines "public money" to include these three fund types for audit purposes. This creates a standardized annual audit process for public funds in chartered nonpublic schools.