ODE: Delivery of Services

Delivery of Services

Rule 3301-51-09 discusses service provider ratios.

The Basics

The maximum numbers: An intervention specialist may serve multiple categories of children with disabilities, and the number of children served shall not exceed 16 pre-high school students and 24 high school students. In an individual instruction period, no more than 12 pre-high school students and 16 high school students may be served.

If the specialist is serving a combination of students from high school and pre-high school, the ratio applied will come from whichever student category is in the majority.

Actual numbers in each school system may not exceed the maximums defined above, but shall also consider the unique needs of the individual students being served (see below).

Considerations: Ratios for individual service providers shall be determined considering all areas of service provided to each student (includes screening, assessment, consultation, counseling, training, and related duties in the school setting, intervention design, and educational interventions); the severity of each child’s need; time needed in planning; and additional time for diagnostic testing, classroom observation, building travel and other items.

Exceptions for the intervention specialist: No more than 6 children with autism, deaf-blindness, and/or traumatic brain injury may be served. No more than 10 children with hearing impairments, visual impairments, orthopedic impairments, and/or other health impairments may be served.

Children who are not disabled are not included in the ratios above, and may be served by the related specialist, but the specialist must consider disabled students as the top priority.

A Speech and Language Pathologist may serve 80 students with various disabilities (specific learning disabilities), cognitive disabilities, traumatic brain injuries) but only 50 students with comorbid conditions.

One Work Study Coordinator shall serve 75 students, and may serve more (75 is not the limit).

Supervision: The building principal may provide supervision to all special education service providers except school psychology aids.

The full rule may be found here: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/exceptional_children/faqs/Rule_3301-51-09_Delivery_of_Services.asp

Filed under: EDC 612-13 Assessment for Intervention & Accountability
Copyright: January, 2005 - David Profitt