Special Education Methodology Updates and Target Setting
Public Comment open for IDEA Risk Ratio Thresholds for Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Ohio is seeking feedback on proposed SLI 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).
- 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 specific disability categories due to inappropriate identification.
Resources to Support Your Input
- Indicator 9 and 10: Disproportionate Representation in Special Education | Fact Book
- Overview of Indicators 9 and 10 and how they are measured
- Significant Disproportionality in Identification | Fact Book
- Overview of Significant Disproportionality (Identification) and how it is measured
- Significant Disproportionality and Indicator 10 SLI Risk Ratio Threshold | Slides
- Presents data, methodology, rationale behind the proposed risk ratio threshold options, and Ohio’s current SLI identification landscape
How to Provide Feedback
After reviewing the resource materials, please share your input using the survey embedded below. Public comments are accepted from March 2 through April 13, 2026.
Public Survey
Questions?
Questions can be sent to sped.data@education.ohio.gov.
Previous Stakeholder Engagement Efforts
Indicator 14 Stakeholder Engagement
Ohio recently updated Indicator 14 targets because the measurement approach changed. From November 6 through December 8, 2025, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce collected public input on proposed targets for Indicator 14: Postschool Outcomes. All districts and community schools must now annually report follow-up data for every exiting student with an IEP, replacing the previous six-year cohort model. With this shift and new baseline data, updated targets ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements and reflect stakeholder input.
What is Indicator 14?
Indicator 14 tracks what students with IEPs are doing one year after leaving high school to determine engagement in employment and/or further education or training. It includes three components:
- 14a: Enrolled in higher education within one year of leaving high school
- 14b: Enrolled in higher education or competitively employed within one year
- 14c: Enrolled in higher education or in some other postsecondary education or training program, or competitively employed or in some other employment within one year
Stakeholder input favored the following options:
| Special Education Profile Year |
2025-26 |
2026-27 |
| Data Year* |
2024-25 School Year |
2025-26 School Year |
| 14a Target |
≥9.80% |
≥10.30% |
| 14b Target |
≥28.00% |
≥28.50% |
| 14c Target |
≥49.80% |
≥50.30% |
Resources Provided During Engagement
To support meaningful participation, the Department shared these resources during the engagement period:
- Indicator 14: Postschool Outcomes | Fact Book
Overview of Indicator 14, how it is measured, and Ohio-specific data on postschool outcomes.
- Postschool Outcomes | Stakeholder Reference Document
Proposed target options and context for feedback.
- 2025-2026 Special Education Profile: Target Setting for Post-school Outcomes | Slides | Video
Walk through of data, methodology, rationale, and survey participation.
Last Modified: 3/5/2026 3:30:31 PM