Student Group Accountability

Ohio Revised Code 3317.40 requires schools to use funds appropriately to ensure that all students are provided an opportunity to graduate from high school prepared for a career or post-secondary education. This statute outlines that four groups of students often face unique challenges and require additional resources: English learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and gifted students. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is required to annually publish a list of schools and districts that show satisfactory achievement and progress for each of these groups based on performance measures. Schools and districts who receive state funding to serve these student groups and who fail to show satisfactory achievement and progress are required to submit an improvement plan (i.e., the One Plan).

The performance of schools and districts within this accountability measure can be found on the State Student Group Identification tab within the Identification Dashboard.

General Questions


General Questions

When are schools and districts identified?

Schools and districts are identified annually after the release of the Ohio School Report Cards.

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Who is included?

All public school and districts (traditional districts, traditional schools, community schools, STEM-designated schools, and dropout prevention and recovery community schools) that receive funding specifically designated for serving English learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and/or gifted students are included in this accountability requirement.

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What student groups are included in this accountability requirement?

The four student groups in this accountability measure include: English learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and/or gifted students. If a school or district receives funding specifically for one of these groups and serves an adequate number of students in that group, that school or district receives a determination.  If a school or district does not receive funding for one of these groups, or does not serve an adequate number of students in that group, the school or district will not receive a determination for that specific group. For all four student groups, the size requirement is 15 students.  

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How is it determined if a school or district shows satisfactory achievement and progress for a student group?

 A school or district demonstrates an ability to serve a particular group of students if the student group meets satisfactory achievement OR satisfactory progress. Below are the criteria for the specific student groups:

  • English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students: 
    • Satisfactory Achievement 
      For districts and schools that received funding for the relevant student group, the student group scored at or above the student group average Performance Index in either math or ELA. For example, all districts or schools that received funding for English learners, an average performance index for this student group is calculated. Satisfactory achievement is met if a school or district that received funding for English learners scored at or above the average performance index in either math or ELA.
    • Satisfactory Progress
      The student group earned a one-year gain growth index of -2 or greater in either math or ELA. If the student group does not have a value-added calculated, there must be an increase in the student group’s Performance Index for either math or ELA from the previous years’ Performance Index.  
  • Gifted Students:
    • Satisfactory Achievement
      The Gifted Performance Index measure was met on the report card.
    • Satisfactory Progress
      The one-year gain gifted growth index was -2 or greater in either math or ELA. If there is not a gifted growth index, there must be an increase in the student group’s Performance Index for either math or ELA from the previous years’ Performance Index. 

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What was the state average performance index for English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students in the 2023-2024 school year?

Below is the state average performance index in math and ELA for districts in 2023-2024 for each student group:

Learner Type Math English Language Arts
English Learners 64.634 70.441
Students with Disabilities 49.178 53.808
Economically Disadvantaged 66.196 75.1

Below is the state average performance index in math and ELA for schools in 2023-2024 for each student group:

Learner Type Math English Language Arts
English Learners 63.601 70.044
Students with Disabilities 48.69 53.439
Economically Disadvantaged 64.995 74.389

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What happens if a district or school does not meet satisfactory achievement and satisfactory progress for a particular student group?

If satisfactory achievement and satisfactory progress is not met, districts or schools will be noted as needing an improvement plan. 

  • English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students: 
    • Improvement Plan Status 
      Satisfactory achievement is NOT met when the student group scored below the student group state average Performance Index in both math or ELA.
      AND
    • Improvement Plan Status
      Satisfactory achievement is NOT met when the student group earned a one-year gain growth index of less than -2 in both math and ELA. If the student group does not have a value-added calculated, there must be an increase in the student group’s Performance Index for both math and ELA from the previous years’ Performance Index.  
  • Gifted Students:
    • Improvement Plan Status
      The Gifted Performance Index measure was not met on the report card.
    • Improvement Plan Status
      The one-year gain gifted growth index was -2 or less in both math and ELA. If there is not a gifted growth index, there must be an increase in the student group’s Performance Index for both math and ELA from the previous years’ Performance Index. 

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What are the required actions for a school or district that is identified for a particular student group?

As required by law, districts and schools must submit an improvement plan (i.e., the One Plan). Districts and schools who are identified for a student group will update or revise their One Plan to address that identified student group. For questions on how to update a One Plan, contact EDSTEPS@education.ohio.gov.

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Last Modified: 11/1/2024 2:33:32 PM