For Service Providers: Educational Roles and Responsibilities in Residential Facilities

Residential treatment facilities have an important role in providing continuity in education for some of Ohio's most high-need students. Residential facilities are responsible for coordinating the education of each child by meeting the minimum operating standards.  Coordination and collaboration between residential facilities and schools and districts is important as the facility works with students in their care. During this time period, the school district where the child’s parent resides continues to enroll the child.  

Coordination

Residential treatment facilities are responsible for coordinating the education of each child. The facility may coordinate the education using any of the following educational options which meet the minimum operating standards: 

1. The chartered nonpublic school that the facility operates (if applicable). 

2. Arrangement with the school district responsible for bearing the cost of educating the child, for the facility to educate the child on its own. 

3. Contract with an educational service center for the service center to educate the student. 

4. Contract with the school district in which the facility is located for that school district to educate the child. 

If the student is enrolled in an internet- or computer-based community school and the facility possesses the necessary hardware, software, and internet connectivity, the facility can permit continued instruction of the student by the internet- or computer-based community school. 

Counting Students for Reimbursement 

Ohio law now requires that the cost of education for an OhioRISE-placed student be calculated using the Department's calculation tool to determine the per diem rate that will be paid by the district responsible to the facility providing educational services to the child. The residential education provider will need to set up an OhioPays account.  

Establishing and Maintaining Information Retrieval Number (IRN) Classification  

1. Identify your OEDS Administrator
   • Your organization must first identify a designated OEDS Administrator. If your organization does not have an identified OEDS Administrator, or has had one in the past that is no longer affiliated, contact ResidentialEducation@education.ohio.gov.
     1. ​This individual must have an OH|ID account linked to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. 
2. Request a New Organization/IRN in OEDS
   • The OEDS Administrator can request a new IRN by visiting Ohio Educational Directory System (OEDS). They will need to navigate to the section on creating new organizations or submitting IRN requests.
   •  Alternatively, for organizations that are not yet established with an IRN, contact ResidentialEducation@education.ohio.gov to establish an IRN and an OEDS Administrator.
3. Contact the OEDS Data Custodian (If Necessary)
   • Most requests for IRNs are handled by the local OEDS Organizational Administrator.
   • If your request cannot be handled locally, you may need to contact the specific data custodian for your organization type, as outlined on the OEDS website.
4. Submit Your Request
   • The OEDS Administrator will follow the instructions on the OEDS website or use the guidance manual to submit the request for a new IRN.
5. Establish a classification by submitting a plan of compliance and the following documentation:
   • Evidence that education is being provided via one of the following manners:
     • The chartered nonpublic school that the facility operates,
     • Arrangement with the school district responsible for bearing the cost of educating the child for the facility to educate the child on its own,
     • Contract with an educational service center for the service center to educate the student, 
     • Contract with the school district in which the facility is located for that school district to educate the child.
   • Staff credentials on file 
   • Fire and environmental health inspections completed in the last 12 months with date 
   • Teacher/Staff handbook 
   • Student handbook 
   • School calendar 
   • Evidence of licensure by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, or the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities 
   • Onsite audit (while students are present) 
6. Maintaining an established classification for residential treatment education providers: 
   • Send this checklist (including evidence) by June 30 to ResidentialEducation@education.ohio.gov. 

Last Modified: 12/9/2025 8:05:12 AM

---