Ohio Schools Closing The Gap For Students With Disabilities

The Ohio Schools are redefining their SpecialThe Ohio schools developed the following
Education program and closing the gap in thestrategies for improvement:
achievement of students with disabilities. The Ohio- Redefine special education at the state level to
schools believe that achievement gaps are notshift focus away from compliance and paperwork
the same as ability gaps, and the educationto standards-based instruction for all children.
system is responsible for ensuring that high- Implement a statewide monitoring system
achievement is an attainable goal for all students.designed to assess district/educational compliance
Furthermore, the Ohio schools has put forth thatwith federal and state law applicable to students
meaningful participation of students with disabilitieswith disabilities.
in state assessment is absolutely essential if- Align the work of the Special Education Regional
every child is to be assured access to challengingResource Center (SERRC) network with the
curriculum and appropriate instruction.priorities of the Ohio schools, including No Child
In 2001, the Ohio schools made a major shift inLeft Behind, differentiating instruction, positive
approaching students with disabilities by revisingbehavior support, reading/literacy, and progress
school policy to require students with disabilities tomonitoring.
participate in state assessment. Now, content- Maximize use of federal and state funds
standards are the focus of instruction for allearmarked for children with disabilities.
students in every classroom, and a variety of- Develop and disseminate products, tools and
research-based instructional strategies are alignedservices focused on improving results for student
with the content standards. A coherent array ofwho are at risk, including students with disabilities.
interventions, supports and services are used to- Use the accountability system to leverage
ensure the success of students with disabilities.change in policy and practice at the local school
The policy now is that assessment is a reflectionlevel.
of instruction and instruction is a reflection ofThe Ohio schools are focusing attention and
assessment, creating a shared responsibility forenergy on assisting all students to achieve high
the education of students with disabilities.academic standards. They are preparing and
The Ohio schools' goals for teaching students withsupporting teachers and administrators to ensure
disabilities are standards, capacity, andthat all students are taught what they need in
accountability. They will improve access to,order to succeed. They are adapting the public
participation in, and progress in the generaleducation structure in a manner to ensure all
curriculum, based on the Ohio academic standards,students will learn the Ohio schools' academic
for students with disabilities. Encouraging others tostandards.
consider students with disabilities as generalThis means fewer but more meaningful goals for
education children first is the capacity goal -all students, effective use of student assessment
assuming they will achieve, rather than assumingdata and resources, a fundamental shift in focus
they may not achieve. The goal of accountabilityfrom what is taught to what children learn, and
is to increase the performance of children withallowing assessment to drive classroom
disabilities on state and district assessments frominstruction, which is rigorous and aligned to the
which they previously have been exempt.standards.