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Home > Media > EdConnection > March 3, 2026 > Stakeholders for students with disabilities can submit input on state special education methodology
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Stakeholders for students with disabilities can submit input on state special education methodology

3/3/2026

Public comment period open for special education methodology updates & target setting

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce invites stakeholders connected to students with disabilities to provide input on updates to Ohio’s methodology and targets for federal special education indicators.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states must report on indicators that measure compliance and results outcomes for students with disabilities. Ohio is seeking feedback by April 13 on proposed risk ratio thresholds for two federally monitored measures due to the required shift from using Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) data to Child Count data to calculate the measures:

SIGNIFICANT DISPROPORTIONALITY
IDEA section 618(d) requires states to examine whether significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity occurs in:

  • Identification of children with disabilities (including by specific impairment)
  • Placement in educational settings
  • Disciplinary actions (suspensions and expulsions)

INDICATOR 10: DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION IN SPECIFIC DISABILITY CATEGORIES
IDEA section 1416(a)(3)(C) requires states to report on disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education due to inappropriate identification. In Ohio, this is addressed through Indicator 10, which focuses on representation across specific disability categories.

After transitioning to Child Count data, Ohio has seen a significant increase in districts flagged for significant disproportionality and disproportionate representation of White students in the Speech or Language Impairment (SLI) category.

To address unintended consequences of this, the Department is proposing to adjust the current SLI risk ratio threshold of 2.5 to one of the following: 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0.

Public comments will be accepted through April 13 via the Department’s Special Education Methodology and Target Setting webpage.

Please share this opportunity widely to ensure broad stakeholder input.

Send questions to SPED.Data@education.ohio.gov.