Special Education and
Postsecondary Planning
Ohio Supports for Students with Disabilities
The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce (DEW) is continually working to improve systems and supports that increase achievement and outcomes for students with disabilities. The ODE and stakeholders have identified these three focus areas as the foundation for educating students with disabilities:
Getting to the Problem Early - Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Building Educators' and Systemwide Capacity - Professional Learning
Educating for Living a Good Life - Postsecondary Readiness and Planning
State Support Team Region 9 (SST9) consultants offer support in these focus areas to educators, families and community partners. Our services include technical assistance, coaching, networking opportunities and professional development.
Guiding Documents, Policies & Compliance
As a part of the Statewide System of Support, SST9 works closely with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce to provide assistance to schools and districts as they strive to ensure that each child has access to a high-quality education. The documents, policies, and laws shared here provide the foundation for this work.
Ohio’s Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
Building on Each Child, Our Future and modeling its partnership-based approach, the Ohio Department of Education convened stakeholders to craft a plan aimed at improving learning experiences and outcomes for students with disabilities. Beginning in January 2019 and wrapping up in December 2019, stakeholders and staff from the Department worked together to identify a set of recommendations for increasing literacy skills, improving disproportionality, promoting postsecondary success, fostering inclusive leadership and advancing high-quality instructional practices among educators who serve students with disabilities.
Each Child Means Each Child
Each Child Means Each Child is Ohio’s plan to improving learning experiences and outcomes for students with disabilities. This resources identifies a set of recommendations for increasing literacy skills, improving disproportionality, promoting postsecondary success, fostering inclusive leadership and advancing high-quality instructional practices among educators who serve students with disabilities.
The 11 District Plan
In June 2021, the Office for Exceptional Children released the 11 District Plan in response to the Doe Settlement. Though the plan outlines increased supports from the ODE for students with disabilities in 11 targeted districts, the resources and other supports developed will be available statewide. Activities include, but are not limited to, school and family training on graduation requirements and development of a Graduation Decision Framework.
Ohio Operating Standards for Educating Students with Disabilities
The Ohio Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities identify the state requirements and federal Part B Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) requirements that apply to the implementation of special education and related services to students with disabilities by school districts, county boards of developmental disabilities and other educational agencies.
Individuals with Disabilities Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth from birth through 21 years of age.
A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education
A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education is Ohio's special education procedural safeguard notice for students with disabilities and their families. This guide helps families understand their rights according to IDEA and the Ohio Operating Standards. If you have questions about the information in this guide, please contact the director of special education for your district. SST9 consultants and our Parent Coordinator are also available to provide assistance.