Ohio Schools Closing the Gap for Students with Disabilities

The Ohio Schools are redefining their Specialwhich they previously have been exempt.
Education program and closing the gap in theThe Ohio schools developed the following
achievement of students with disabilities. The Ohiostrategies for improvement:o Redefine special
schools believe that achievement gaps are noteducation at the state level to shift focus away
the same as ability gaps, and the educationfrom compliance and paperwork to
system is responsible for ensuring that highstandards-based instruction for all children.o
achievement is an attainable goal for all students.Implement a statewide monitoring system
Furthermore, the Ohio schools has put forth thatdesigned to assess district/educational compliance
meaningful participation of students with disabilitieswith federal and state law applicable to students
in state assessment is absolutely essential ifwith disabilities.o Align the work of the Special
every child is to be assured access to challengingEducation Regional Resource Center (SERRC)
curriculum and appropriate instruction.network with the priorities of the Ohio schools,
In 2001, the Ohio schools made a major shift inincluding No Child Left Behind, differentiating
approaching students with disabilities by revisinginstruction, positive behavior support, reading
school policy to require students with disabilities toliteracy, and progress monitoring.o Maximize use
participate in state assessment. Now, contentof federal and state funds earmarked for children
standards are the focus of instruction for allwith disabilities.o Develop and disseminate
students in every classroom, and a variety ofproducts, tools and services focused on improving
research-based instructional strategies are alignedresults for student who are at risk, including
with the content standards. A coherent array ofstudents with disabilities.o Use the accountability
interventions, supports and services are used tosystem to leverage change in policy and practice
ensure the success of students with disabilities.at the local school level.
The policy now is that assessment is a reflectionThe Ohio schools are focusing attention and
of instruction and instruction is a reflection ofenergy on assisting all students to achieve high
assessment, creating a shared responsibility foracademic standards. They are preparing and
the education of students with disabilities.supporting teachers and administrators to ensure
The Ohio schools' goals for teaching students withthat all students are taught what they need in
disabilities are standards, capacity, andorder to succeed. They are adapting the public
accountability. They will improve access to,education structure in a manner to ensure all
participation in, and progress in the generalstudents will learn the Ohio schools' academic
curriculum, based on the Ohio academic standards,standards.
for students with disabilities. Encouraging others toThis means fewer but more meaningful goals for
consider students with disabilities as generalall students, effective use of student assessment
education children first is the capacity goal --data and resources, a fundamental shift in focus
assuming they will achieve, rather than assumingfrom what is taught to what children learn, and
they may not achieve. The goal of accountabilityallowing assessment to drive classroom
is to increase the performance of children withinstruction, which is rigorous and aligned to the
disabilities on state and district assessments fromstandards.