Ohio's Special Education Profiles

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) established a set of indicators to measure both compliance and outcomes for children with disabilities. In Ohio, the Department of Education and Workforce works collaboratively with stakeholders to set annual targets - or goals - for each of these indicators. For more information on how targets were determined, see the Annual Performance Report webpage.

Each year, districts receive a Special Education Profile that shows their progress toward meeting goals for students with disabilities. The profile is designed to help districts use data to support continuous improvement in their special education programs by focusing on procedural compliance, academic growth, and student outcomes. The profile also notifies districts and community schools of any findings of noncompliance or required actions needed to demonstrate compliance with IDEA.

2025-2026 Special Education Profile Release Process

The district profile is released to educational agencies in two phases.

  • Phase 1 - Typically released in December, this version includes only the indicators that require action. Access is limited to district staff in the following Ohio Educational System Directory (OEDS) roles:Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent Designee, Special Education Contact, Director-Special Education-General, Coordinator-Special Education-General, Supervisor-Special Education-General, and Primary Contact-Sponsor
  • Phase 2 - Released in May, this version includes all indicators and is made available to the same staff listed in Phase 1. It is followed shortly by the public release.

The public release of each district and community school’s profile is scheduled for May 2026.

District/Community School Staff: Please note that the public version of your profile does not include required actions or compliance status. To view this information, please log in to your district or community school profile through the OH|ID portal or consult the spreadsheet provided below under "Public Indicator Report."

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Education Profile Professional Learning

Special Education Essential Questions and their Indicators

* Phase 1 Indicators with required actions are typically released in December

Are young children with disabilities entering kindergarten ready to learn?

  • Indicator 6 Preschool Educational Environments
  • Indicator 7 Preschool Outcomes
  • Indicator 12 Early Childhood Transition from Part C to Part B*

Are children with disabilities achieving at high levels?

  •  Alternate Assessment Participation*
  • Indicator 3 Assessment Participation & Performance 

To what extent do students with disabilities have access to the general education environment? 

  • Indicator 4a Significant Discipline Discrepancy in Long-Term Suspension/Expulsion*
  • Indicator 4b Significant Discipline Discrepancy in Long-Term Suspension/Expulsion by Race/Ethnicity*
  • Indicator 5 School-age Educational Environments

Are youth with disabilities prepared for life, work and postsecondary education? 

Does the district implement IDEA to improve services and results for children with disabilities?

  • Indicator 8 Facilitated Parent Involvement
  • Indicator 11 Initial Evaluation Timelines*
  • Indicator 18 General Supervision (Timely Correction of Noncompliance Findings)

Are children receiving equitable services and supports?

  • Disproportionate Representation (Indicators 9 & 10)*
  • Disproportionality: Identification for Special Education*
  • Disproportionality: Placement of Students with Disabilities*
  • Disproportionality: Discipline of Students with Disabilities*

Using your data for continuous improvement

Some indicators measure procedural compliance with IDEA, while others focus on student outcomes. Understanding how these indicators relate to one another can support:
  • Systems change
  • Efficient use of funds
  • Coordinated professional development
  • Improved outcomes for students.

As you review your district's or community school's data, consider:

  • What comparisons can be made across grade levels, buildings, or disability categories?
  • Have you identified and prioritized your district's most critical issues based on the data?
  • Have you explored potential root causes for areas needing improvement?
  • Are outcomes for students with disabilities addressed in your district's continuous improvement plan?


Public Indicator Report

Indicator data is available for all schools and districts in Microsoft Excel format. The file below contains several columns for each indicator required in the APR report. The file also contains a "Data Notes" sheet featuring a brief description of each indicator. For a detailed explanation of the indicators and their measurements see District-Level Special Education Data Reported to the Public.

To request special education indicator data from previous school years, please contact the Office for Exceptional Children. 

How to Contact Your District 

Districts and community schools identify their special education contacts through the Ohio Educational Directory System.

Last Modified: 11/6/2025 10:42:41 AM