School and district data show consistent gaps in academic performance and graduation rates of students with disabilities compared to their nondisabled peers:
• Students with disabilities are almost three times less likely to enter kindergarten demonstrating readiness;
• Fewer than one-third of Ohio’s students with disabilities are proficient on the third grade English language arts
assessment;
• On the state English language arts assessment, 28.9% of students with disabilities scored proficient or better as compared to 64.6% for all students.
• Like national trends, Ohio’s students with disabilities are more likely to experience exclusionary discipline practices than their peers who do not have disabilities.
Ohio, and all of its 16 State Support Teams, are committed to ensuring positive and meaningful educational experiences for students with disabilities that will lead to academic and postsecondary success. In alignment with
Ohio's Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, Each Child Means Each Child, SST8 offers a variety of special education-related professional development and technical assistance services for district personnel, with particular emphasis in the areas of alternate assessment, assistive technology, autism, implementation and internal monitoring IDEA-related policies/procedures, inclusive instructional practices (including co-teaching), and postsecondary transition. Additionally, we welcome questions from parents of students with disabilities on these and related topics. Please contact the SST8 consultant(s) at the bottom right of this page for additional information.