The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) is a federal law that assures children and youth with disabilities a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Federal and State laws require school districts to evaluate children who have suspected disabilities. These laws affect all children ages 3-21 educated within the Pickerington Local School District boundaries.

Each year, the Pickerington Local School District receives Part-B IDEIA Special Education funds from the federal government to assist in providing services to students with disabilities. Fifteen percent of the funds are required to be spent on early intervention services to specifically address our disproportionate discipline of students with disabilities. In addition, these funds also help to provide intervention specialists, paraprofessionals, speech pathologists, academic/behavior coaches, substitute teachers, tuition for students with intensive needs, professional learning and other support services for students.

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Special-Education/Special-Education-Data-and-Funding/Special-Education-Part-B-Allocations

The purpose of Title I is to provide all children “significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.” To achieve that, states must develop accountability systems to identify and support schools with academically struggling students, and LEAs and schools must use their Title I funds to improve student outcomes, including academic achievement. At this public hearing the community will also have an opportunity to comment on Title I spending.