OHIO — The Ohio Department of Education put a pause on corrective measures after an investigation into violations of special education law.
What You Need To Know
- Dozens of districts sending students to the Warren County Educational Service Center were required to make changes
- Disability Rights Ohio called for a systemic investigation surrounding the education of students there
- ODE said some districts made the corrections, others have contested the department’s findings
Violations between school districts and the Warren County Educational Service Center included:
- Behavioral intervention supports or services not provided or fully implemented
- Individualized education programs not being submitted, updated or implemented
- Kids not receiving a free and fair public education
- Placing and accepting students at the educational service center who had special education needs, without an evaluation
Dozens of districts sending students to the Warren County Educational Service Center were required to make changes after Disability Rights Ohio called for a systemic investigation surrounding the education of students there. While ODE said some districts made the corrections, others have contested the department’s findings. Some of those corrective measures included:
- professional development
- review and correction of Individualized Education Plans
- schedule Individualized Education Plan meetings to resolve issues
- provide more than 50 hours of additional educational services
Disability Rights Ohio received complaints from two families regarding their children’s rights being violated. That’s besides professionals in the field providing proof of problems.
Kristin Hildebrant, senior attorney for Disability Rights Ohio, said kids with disabilities were not getting equal treatment by not being exposed to the same curriculum as students without disabilities.
“They were getting a minimized curriculum, and weren’t getting access to extracurricular activities and things that all children are supposed to get,” she explained. “I think what was kind of eyebrow raising to me was the scope of the problems and how many children were being affected by the problems in this facility.”
Tom Isaacs, superintendent of the Warren County Educational Service Center, said in a statement:
“Warren County ESC strongly denies the issues and after hearing our objections ODE has placed a hold on all findings and corrective action plans indefinitely.”
When asked on numerous occasions about Isaac’s statement and the pause, the education department said: “The findings still remain, but the deadlines for corrective action have been paused. Updated deadlines will be provided at a later date.”
While ODE’s findings also showed that some kids were failing classes and struggling with chronic absenteeism, Hildebrant hopes kids will be able to go back to their home school districts and learn with their peers.