IEP Service Delivery in Ohio
How are IEP services delivered in Ohio?
Ohio imposes specific operational requirements for IEP service delivery that go beyond the federal IDEA baseline. The IEP must specify the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of each special education and related service (ORC 3323.011(G); OAC 3301-51-07(E)(1)(i)). Ohio uses the Evaluation Team Report (ETR) — the state's required PR-06 form governed by OAC 3301-51-06 — as the foundational document linking evaluation findings to IEP service decisions. Related service providers must hold appropriate Ohio licensure: physical and occupational therapists under ORC Chapter 4755; speech-language pathologists per ORC 3317.15(F); and school psychologists per ORC 3317.15(F) with caseload limits codified in OAC 3301-51-09(I)(3). Intervention specialists must hold full state certification without emergency waivers (OAC 3301-51-09(H)(3)), and their service areas must be located in the section of the building housing nondisabled students of comparable age (OAC 3301-51-09(J)(4)). Ohio also limits intervention specialist caseloads by disability category: 16 students for intellectual disability and specific learning disability at elementary/middle level; 8 students for multiple disabilities (OAC 3301-51-09(I)(2)). Upon initial service delivery, the district must notify parents that the child is required to undergo a comprehensive eye exam within three months (OAC 3301-51-07, referencing ORC 3323.19).
What Ohio Requires
The IEP must specify the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of every special education and related service (ORC 3323.011(G); OAC 3301-51-07(E)(1)(i)).
The ETR (PR-06 form) is Ohio's required evaluation document; IEP service decisions must be grounded in current ETR findings, and districts must keep both documents on file (OAC 3301-51-06; OAC 3301-51-07).
Related service providers must hold Ohio-specific licensure: physical and occupational therapists under ORC Chapter 4755; speech-language pathologists and school psychologists under ORC 3317.15(F) (OAC 3301-51-09(I)(3)).
Intervention specialists must hold full state certification as special education teachers without emergency waivers (OAC 3301-51-09(H)(3)).
Ohio codifies maximum caseloads by disability: 16 students for intellectual disability or SLD (elementary/middle), 24 (high school), and 8 students for multiple disabilities (OAC 3301-51-09(I)(2)).
Intervention specialist service areas must be located in the section of the building that houses nondisabled children of comparable age (OAC 3301-51-09(J)(4)).
Upon initial service delivery, the district must notify parents that the child must receive a comprehensive eye exam within three months (OAC 3301-51-07; ORC 3323.19).
Key Timelines
Services must begin on the projected start date specified in the IEP; the IEP must be in effect at the beginning of each school year (OAC 3301-51-07(E)(1)(i); 34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Comprehensive eye exam notification must be provided to parents upon initial service delivery; exam must occur within three months (ORC 3323.19).
Service specifications (frequency, duration, location) must be reviewed and updated at least annually as part of the IEP review (OAC 3301-51-07(I)(2)).