Special Education

U.S. Audit Faults Ohio Spec. Ed. Programs

April 07, 2010 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A federal audit shows that some school districts in Ohio have had serious problems in special education programs that have gone unnoticed because of a lack of state oversight, according to an article from The Columbus Dispatch.

Federal reviewers, who visited in October, found that some of the school districts they spot-checked were in violation of the law and failing to properly educate students with disabilities, the article said.

Auditors found that students even with mild disabilities in one district were relegated to their own separate classroom, rather than mainstreamed with other students. Another district allowed teachers to limit the number of students with disabilities in their classrooms.

The audit also found that Ohio doesn’t adequately track schools’ special education spending, and does not make sure that districts include eligible students with disabilities in regular education classes, the article said.

The article said the federal special education office ordered Ohio to report in 60 or 90 days, based on the infraction, on how it plans to fix the problems. Some changes already have been made, the article said.

A version of this news article first appeared in the On Special Education blog.

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
Practical Methods for Integrating Computer Science into Core Curriculum
Dive into insights on integrating computer science into core curricula with expert tips and practical strategies to empower students at every grade level.
Content provided by Learning.com

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Special Education Disability or 'Superpower'? The Push to Change Mindsets About Students With Learning Differences
Advocates are calling for a paradigm shift in how adults perceive, and educate, students with learning differences.
5 min read
Conceptual artwork, imagination dream and hope concept, Superhero boy
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock/Getty
Special Education What We Know About Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), in Charts
More districts and schools are using a tiered system of supports for students, with a focus on social-emotional learning, a survey found.
5 min read
Vector illustration of diverse children, students climbing up on a top of a stack of staggered books.
iStock/Getty
Special Education New AI-Powered Sensors Could Tell Teachers What’s Really Going on With Students
Researchers are testing wearable sensors that track movement and body language of kids with autism and other conditions.
5 min read
Boy raises his hand to answer a question in a classroom; he is sitting on the floor with other kids and the teacher is sitting in front of the class.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Special Education Explainer MTSS: What Is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports?
MTSS, or multi-tiered system of supports, is a widely used framework meant to offer students personalized education that meets their needs.
7 min read
Illustration of people climbing stacks of books. There are 3 stacks of books at different heights with people helping people climb up.
iStock/Getty