Required IEP Sections in Ohio
What sections are required in an IEP in Ohio?
Ohio law specifies the required sections of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) through both statute and administrative rule, aligning with the federal requirements of 34 CFR 300.320. ORC §3323.011 enumerates nine mandatory IEP components labeled (A) through (I), while OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1) provides the detailed operational requirements corresponding to each statutory element. Every Ohio IEP must include: (A) a statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), including how the disability affects involvement in the general education curriculum (ORC §3323.011(A); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(b)); (B) measurable annual goals addressing both academic and functional needs, with benchmarks or short-term objectives required for children taking alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards (ORC §3323.011(B); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(c)); (C) a description of how progress toward annual goals will be measured and when periodic progress reports will be provided (ORC §3323.011(C); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(d)); (D) a statement of special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, including program modifications and personnel supports (ORC §3323.011(D); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(e)); (E) an explanation of the extent to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children in regular classes (ORC §3323.011(E); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(f)); (F) individual appropriate accommodations for state and districtwide assessments, or if the IEP team determines the child shall take an alternate assessment, a statement of why and why the selected alternate assessment is appropriate (ORC §3323.011(F); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(g)-(h)); (G) the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of services and modifications (ORC §3323.011(G); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(i)); (H) transition planning beginning no later than the first IEP in effect when the child turns 16 (the federal IDEA standard; Ohio does not require an earlier age), including appropriate measurable postsecondary goals and the transition services needed to reach those goals (ORC §3323.011(H); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(2); 34 CFR 300.320(b)); and (I) a statement that the child has been informed of rights transferring at age 18, included no later than one year before the child reaches the age of majority (ORC §3323.011(I); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(3)). Ohio also requires the IEP to include a statement discussing the child's future with family preferences documented (OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(a)). The IEP must be developed within 30 days of a determination that the child needs special education (OAC §3301-51-07(H)(3)(a)), and parents must receive a copy within 30 calendar days after the IEP meeting (OAC §3301-51-07(G)(6)).
What Ohio Requires
The IEP must contain all nine components specified in ORC §3323.011(A)-(I), corresponding to the detailed requirements in OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(a)-(i) and (E)(2)-(3).
Ohio requires a statement discussing the child's future with family and child preferences documented as an essential part of the planning process (OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(a)).
The IEP must include present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), measurable annual goals, progress measurement methods, special education and related services, extent of non-participation with nondisabled peers, assessment accommodations, service details, transition planning (beginning no later than the first IEP in effect when the child turns 16, per federal IDEA; Ohio does not require an earlier age), and rights transfer notification (ORC §3323.011; OAC §3301-51-07(E)(2); 34 CFR 300.320(b)).
Benchmarks or short-term objectives are required only for children who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (ORC §3323.011(B); OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(c)).
Services and supplementary aids must be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable (OAC §3301-51-07(E)(1)(e); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
The IEP must not contain information beyond what is explicitly required by statute, and the team should not include information under one component that is already contained under another (ORC §3323.011).
Key Timelines
The initial IEP must be developed within whichever is shortest: 30 days of a determination that the child needs special education, 90 days of parental consent for evaluation, or 120 days of the evaluation referral (OAC §3301-51-07(H)(2)-(3)).
The IEP development meeting must occur within 30 days of a determination that the child needs special education and related services (OAC §3301-51-07(H)(3)(a)).
Parents must receive a copy of the IEP within 30 calendar days after the IEP meeting (OAC §3301-51-07(G)(6)).
The IEP team must review and revise the IEP at least annually to determine whether annual goals are being achieved (OAC §3301-51-07(I)(2); 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
The IEP must be in effect at the beginning of each school year (34 CFR 300.323(a)).