Ohio's Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities is a comprehensive strategy designed to ensure that every student with a disability in Ohio receives the support and education they need to succeed. Launched in January 2019 and completed by December 2019, this plan was developed through a collaborative effort involving stakeholders and staff from the Ohio Department of Education.
The result of this effort is "Each Child Means Each Child," a plan that outlines specific recommendations, tactics, and action steps aimed at enhancing the educational experiences of Ohio's 270,000 students with disabilities. The plan is organized into three major focus areas:
- Getting to the Problem Early — Multi-Tiered System of Support: This focus area emphasizes early identification and intervention to address learning challenges before they become more significant issues.
- Building Educators' and Systemwide Capacity — Professional Learning: This area focuses on providing ongoing professional development for educators to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to support students with disabilities effectively.
- Educating for Living a Good Life — Postsecondary Readiness and Planning: This focus area aims to prepare students with disabilities for life after high school, including further education, employment, and independent living.
One of the key components of the plan is the use of data to understand the current state of education for students with disabilities in Ohio. This data-driven approach helps identify areas that need improvement and track the progress of implemented strategies.
Additionally, the plan includes stories that highlight how student outcomes can improve when these recommendations are put into practice. These real-life examples provide valuable insights and inspiration for educators and administrators.
In 2020, the Guiding Coalition was established to support the implementation of "Each Child Means Each Child." This group of experts and stakeholders advises the Department's Office for Exceptional Children and helps develop a five-year implementation plan. The Guiding Coalition also serves as champions for the plan, communicating its progress and gathering feedback from the field.
The feedback loop created by the Guiding Coalition is crucial for anticipating potential challenges and designing statewide models that can be adopted by all Ohio districts. This ensures that every child, regardless of their disability, has equitable opportunities to learn and succeed.
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