Students in Residential Treatment Facilities
Within the spectrum of care for youth with complex needs, Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) aim to stabilize behaviors and symptoms without any interruption to their education. Residential treatment facilities have individualized criteria for admission. Children can be placed into an RTF by voluntary placement, court-ordered placement, and, on occasion, by the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Education Service Requirements
Residential providers deliver educational programming and services in alignment with their provider application or mission. Treatment facility providers facilitate the ongoing provision of an appropriate educational program as mandated by federal and state education laws. Ohio law requires that residential treatment facilities provide “education services that meet the minimum standards applicable to city, local, or exempted village school districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic schools.”
Residential treatment facilities can facilitate education services via the following options, each of which carries specific responsibilities:
Traditional Public School Districts
Facility responsibilities:
- Create a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or contract between the facility and the district detailing education services, transportation, data reporting, records, and billing requirements,
- Establish communication protocols between the facility and school each child will be attending,
- Establish communication protocols between the facility and each student’s district of residence (if the student's district of residence is different from the district providing the education to the child), and
- Implement parent/caregiver engagement regarding education.
District responsibilities:
- Enroll the student (as outlined in Ohio law),
- Notify the district of residence that they are educating the student (as the district of service),
- Fulfill the requirements outlined in Ohio’s law regarding the education of children with disabilities, and
- Report the student in the Education Management Information System (EMIS).
- The district’s Average Daily Membership (ADM) includes these students, and the state will fund accordingly.
- Ohio law also allows districts to either file an application in the Per Diem Module for these students or receive tuition through the Ohio District Data Exchange (ODDEX)
- If a district files an application in the Per Diem Module, access the tuition program in ODDEX and select the flag “Not Claiming Tuition” for all these students to prevent receiving both tuition and per diem (SF-14PD) payments and do not file for excess costs.
Local Educational Service Centers (ESCs)
Facility responsibilities:
- Create a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or contract between the facility and the district which details the education services, transportation, data reporting, records, and billing requirements,
- Establish communication protocols between the facility and school each child will be attending,
- Establish communication protocols between the facility and each student’s district of residence (if the student’s district of residence is different from the district of service), and
- Implement parent/caregiver engagement regarding education.
District responsibilities:
- Enroll the student (as outlined in Ohio law),
- Notify the district of residence that they are educating the student (as the district of service),
- Fulfill the requirements outlined in Ohio’s law regarding the education of children with disabilities, and
- Report the student in the Education Management Information System (EMIS).
- The district’s Average Daily Membership (ADM) includes these students, and the state will fund accordingly.
- Ohio law also allows districts to either file an application in the Per Diem Module for these students or receive tuition through the Ohio District Data Exchange (ODDEX)
- If a district files an application in the Per Diem Module, access the tuition program in ODDEX and select the flag “Not Claiming Tuition” for all these students to prevent receiving both tuition and per diem (SF-14PD) payments and do not file for excess costs.
Public Charter or Community Schools
Facility responsibilities:
- Establish communication protocols (if the student’s district of residence is different from the district providing education to the children in the facility),
- Report the name of the student’s school district of residence as required in Ohio law,
- Offer transportation services to K-8 student(s) (and high school students, if the district provides transportation for its high school students),
- Districts should follow local transportation policies where applicable. Please keep in mind that some vulnerable populations have additional eligibility parameters—consult with designated liaisons as appropriate.
- Follow all state and federal laws and regulations related to education and to the operation of a public charter or community school, and
- Meet all requirements as outlined in Ohio law regarding community schools (if the education programming, including special education services, is provided by a community school).
Chartered nonpublic schools established by the residential treatment center
Facility responsibilities:
- Establish communication protocols (if the student’s district of residence is different from the district providing education to the children in the facility),
- Report the name of the student’s school district of residence as required in Ohio law,
- Offer transportation services to K-8 student(s) (and high school students, if the district provides transportation for its high school students),
- Districts should follow local transportation policies where applicable. Please keep in mind that some vulnerable populations have additional eligibility parameters—consult with designated liaisons as appropriate.
- If an Individualized Education Program (IEP) exists, transportation is marked as related service and the public school places the student at the charter or community school, the public school would be responsible for providing the transportation services.
- If the parent places the student at the chartered nonpublic school, transportation is provided in accordance with Ohio Law.
- Follow all state laws and regulations related to education and to the operation of a chartered nonpublic school.
Operating Standards for Districts and Schools
The operating standards established by the state establish the minimum standards applicable to meet student needs and achieve state and local educational goals and objectives.
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General Education Operating Standards
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Special Education Operating Standards
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Gifted Education Operating Standards
Funding Education in Residential Treatment Facilities
State and federal funding requires oversight through a fiscal monitoring process. In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio State Auditor’s office conduct fiscal monitoring. In some situations, a student may be on an educational scholarship through the Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) or the Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship Program. For more information, contact autismscholarship@education.ohio.gov or peterson.scholarship@education.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) program is a specialized Medicaid managed care program for children and youth with complex behavioral health needs (mental health/substance use disorder) and multisystem needs. Aetna Better Health of Ohio (Aetna) is the managed care partner for the program. Children and youth with multisystem needs are often involved in multiple community systems such as juvenile justice, child protection, developmental disabilities, education, mental health and addiction, and others.
Medicaid does not cover the educational programs and services, nor does it offer onsite educational services for youths in out-of-home treatment settings. The responsibility for the provision of educational services and payment for education services depends on the nature of the student's placement.
Court placement
In cases where a student is:
- Removed from their parent or guardian custody, Ohio law requires that the court order specify the district responsible for education; typically, the district in which the parent or guardian resides is responsible for these educational costs.
- If the court names a responsible district that is not the current parent or guardian district of residence and the court order contains language authorizing the Department to make a redetermination, the district named as responsible for education cost may request that the Department make a redetermination.
- Court-placed (or placed by a public children services agency who has temporary or permanent custody of the child) in a residential facility that is not in the district of the parent residence, the district of service provides services and bills back to the parent or guardian district of residence. The district of service may be where the facility is located or a facility-operated community school or chartered nonpublic school, depending on how the facility provides education.
- Court-placed in a private facility, state law requires the state to pay a subsidy of up to $2,500 per year, per child to the court to defray the cost of the child’s education.
- Tuition is paid by school districts according to the Private Treatment Facility Project law for participating private residential treatment facilities that have a contract with the Department of Youth Services to provide services to children placed at the facility by the Department of Youth Services. The Private Treatment Facility Project law defines participating residential treatment centers as private residential treatment facilities that have contracted with the Department of Youth Services to provide services and include the following facilities: Abraxas, in Shelby, Paint Creek, in Bainbridge, and F.I.R.S.T. (Foundations for Living/Mid-Ohio ESC), in Mansfield.
- Receiving special education services, the district of residence writes the IEP, ensures implementation, and pays for the services outlined within.
Parent placement
In cases where a parent or guardian places a student in:
- A residential setting, and the child is enrolled in the public district (in which the facility is located), the resident district pays for the educational services.
- A residential setting, and the facility is operating a non-public educational service, the parent is responsible for paying for the educational service.
If a parentally-placed student has an IEP in place, several complex factors may contribute to a student’s access to equitable services, potential transportation, rights, and complaint processes. Please contact the Regional Area Coordinator's office or the Office for Exceptional Children.
Preparing for Student Transitions
Establishing transition protocols for incoming and outgoing students can minimize education disruptions. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or contract outlining how student educational records will transfer between education settings supports stability. Prompt communication between education settings is critical to ensure that students do not experience interruptions in their education, and receive schooling as required by state law.
As a best practice, facilities can notify the child’s previous school setting of the child’s change in placement immediately to ensure the timely transfer of educational records. Ohio law requires schools to transmit records within five days, with exceptions. Upon discharge, facilities should work to ensure school records are transferred and received in a timely manner to ensure school stability for the returning student.
Facilities should request records for students who attended a public school or community school directly from that institution. For records pertaining to students who attended a private school, facilities should contact the Office of Nonpublic Educational Options at 614-728-2678 or Chartered.nonpublic.schools@education.ohio.gov.
Educational Program Requirements and Considerations
Navigating the educational needs of students within Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) requires a thoughtful understanding of their unique circumstances and challenges. Understanding the nuances of educational program requirements and considerations is crucial to ensuring that students receive the support and resources necessary to thrive academically and personally within the RTF setting.
Click on the links below to learn more:
Career-Technical Education
English Learners
Foster Care
Justice-Involved Students
Nutrition Requirements
Ohio's School Options
Parent/Caregiver Requirements
Special Education
Career-Technical Education
Ohio law states that each school district must devise a plan to provide Career-Technical Education (CTE) for students in grades seven through twelve. To ensure the continuity of CTE programming for students during their stay at an RTF, facilities should support the ongoing participation of students previously enrolled in any CTE programs.
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For RTFs operating as a public charter school, the facility has the option to develop its own CTE programming or collaborate with external entities for such services.
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For RTFs operating as a chartered nonpublic school, the facility can either contract with external entities or allow students to directly enroll in CTE programs.
For further assistance, please reach out to the Department’s Office of Career-Technical Education.
English Learners
The facility must identify all English learner students, annually assess their English language proficiency, provide reasonable accommodations for educational materials and state assessments, and implement accountability systems that include long-term goals and measures of progress. For further guidance on English learners, visit English Learners in Ohio.
Foster Care
Children living in foster care can face many educational barriers, including high mobility, increased incidences of trauma, and mental, behavioral, and physical health conditions. To assist with the educational stability of these students, all Ohio school districts must designate a foster care liaison. The foster care liaison also provides support during transitions from an RTF. To locate a district’s designated foster care liaison, access the Ohio Educational Directory System (OEDS). Access the Department’s webpage about Foster Care for further guidance.
Justice-Involved Students
Some of Ohio’s students have contact with the juvenile justice system prior to admittance to an RTF. To support the educational stability of students transitioning to and from out-of-home placement due to court involvement, Ohio’s school districts designate a liaison to work with community agencies, community partners, juvenile detention centers, and local juvenile courts. To locate a district’s designated justice-involved youth liaison, visit the Ohio Educational Directory System (OEDS). For further guidance on justice-involved students, access the Department’s page about Students in the Justice System.
Nutrition Requirements
Treatment facilities, including Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs), that have established an educational program as required under federal and state law are eligible for participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Students attending an RTF that participates in the NSLP with an educational program are eligible for no cost breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snack seven days a week, until their twenty-first birthday.
For more information, visit the Department’s page about the National School Lunch Program or contact Child.Nutrition@education.ohio.gov.
Parent/Caregiver Requirements
Ohio law provides guidance for family and civic engagement. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) both outline provisions for family and civic engagement as well.
Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Ohio's Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities include requirements and responsibilities of schools and districts, including timelines, progress monitoring, and reporting. Not every child is eligible for special education services under IDEA, and having a medical or mental health diagnosis does not guarantee eligibility. Please contact the Office for Exceptional Children at ExceptionalChildren@education.ohio.gov to discuss questions or concerns related to individual cases; contact the Local Area Coordinator for support in the identification of district of residence.
Assessments
State Assessments
In accordance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Ohio law, all students enrolled in districts and schools in Ohio must undergo annual subject-specific testing at designated grade levels. Additionally, students in high school take End-of-Course (EOC) state tests in English Language Arts II, Algebra I, Geometry (or Integrated Mathematics I and II), Biology, American History, and American Government. For more information about specific testing requirements, visit the Department’s page about Ohio State Testing.
DYSLEXIA SCREENING
Dyslexia screening laws apply to students in residential treatments facilities. All traditional public school districts and community schools in Ohio must follow laws related to Dyslexia screening. This universal screening, referred to as a tier 1 dyslexia screening measure, is detailed in Ohio’s dyslexia support laws, and identifies students who may be at risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia, by assessing their current skill levels.
For more information, access the Department’s webpages about Dyslexia Screening and Dyslexia Supports.
Last Modified: 5/15/2024 10:28:06 AM