(a) The Secretary of the Department of Education shall hire an Education Ombudsman to assist the department in the enforcement of this part, including without limitation enforcing the requirements for:

1. (1) Demonstrating proficiency;
2. (2) Providing professional development; and
3. (3) Using a permitted program of instruction.

(c) The secretary:

1. (1) Shall supervise the Education Ombudsman; and
2. (2) Shall not delegate supervision to an employee of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(d)

1. (1) The minimum qualifications for the Education Ombudsman shall include a master’s degree in education or a related field.
2. (2) An individual who served as a past public school district superintendent or serves as a current public school district superintendent is not eligible to serve as the Education Ombudsman under this section.

(e) The Education Ombudsman may communicate with:

1. (1) A public school student, with permission from a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the public school student;
2. (2) A parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to a public school student; and
3. (3) Administration, faculty, and staff employed by a public school district, including an open-enrollment public charter school.

(h)

1. (1) The Education Ombudsman shall prepare and submit an annual report to the state board concerning the work of the Education Ombudsman and any recommendations related to the focus areas of the Education Ombudsman.

2. (2) The report required under this subsection shall be submitted every two (2) years to the:

   1. (A) House Committee on Education; and
   2. (B) Senate Committee on Education.