Ohio Special Education Funding Guide

The Program provides grants to school districts, schools, among other key stakeholders, to provide opportunities for children who come from economically disadvantaged families and attend low-performing schools to receive academic supports.

The Grant Program provides funding to communities in the state’s Appalachian region, including investments in school or community-based services to address children’s physical and behavioral health needs. Funds are provided through the American Rescue Plan Act.

CBDDs are located in each of Ohio’s counties and offer services including medical, nursing, case management, OT and PT, room and board, education, counseling and more to their school districts. Funding buckets include preschool education, school-aged special education, and transportation. A list of County Boards are here.

The competitive grant program is intended to expand access to early education and care for children in Ohio. The program includes the Increase Capacity for Children with Special Needs Grant, providing pp to $100,000 for centers, schools/preschools toward providing evidence-based support for students with special needs, and evidence-based training for staff and families. The 5-part Access Grants has several provisions related to special education.

Developed through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education (DOE), Graduation Alliance, and Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA), ENGAGE is offered to Ohio's local education agencies (LEAs) to assist schools and families with school engagement by providing outreach, engagement, and enhanced support for eligible students in grades K–12.

ESSA is the law that governs K-12 education in the United States. ESSA has several provisions that can support special education and mental health programs in schools.

Tutoring programs are offered by the Department of Education and Workforce at no direct cost to participating districts or schools. However, all participating districts and schools must commit to participation criteria that align to best practices for high-quality tutoring. The program is funded through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds.

Ohio’s Part B Federal Application for Federal Fiscal Year 2024 (FFY24) is available for review from March 21 through May 21, 2024. These funds support provision of special education services to children with disabilities who are ages 3 to 21 in Ohio.

LEAs can use up to 15 percent of their Part B funding for Early Intervening Services.

Learning Aid Ohio connects families in need with professional providers. Providers deliver in-person, supplemental learning support for students’ IEPs and 504 Plans to help students stay on track toward their academic goals, specific to their individual needs, and based on the their school curriculum. Learn more and find providers here.

MSP facilitates Medicaid reimbursement for school districts offering school-based therapy services to eligible students. While MSP doesn't cover all therapy costs, it alleviates financial burdens for districts. The program primarily covers therapy services indicated on a student's IEP and transportation services for Medicaid-enrolled students to access healthcare.

The Council releases competitive grants for organizations and individuals, with the majority of grants opening at the beginning of the Council’s five-year State Plan (October 2021). Other funds are offered throughout the five-year cycle, and discretionary fund requests are also available. The Council includes grants specific to children and health projects to support families of children and youth, aged birth to 21 years, with developmental.

The new Credential promotes infant and caregiver mental health to increase infant vitality, reduce infant mortality, and create positive health and wellness outcomes for children.

Ohio PROMISE is an initiative that provides support and education to support early care and education support services for children with special needs. Ohio PROMISE includes but is not limited to the following.

• The Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential: The Credential provides training and support for early childhood educators to better work with children with special needs and their families. Learn more.
• The Early Childhood Inclusion Center of Excellence: The Center will provide professional development, in-person consultation and coaching, and access to materials and equipment to create meaningful participation of all children. Learn more.
• Inclusive Child Care Program: The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is contributing Supplemental Discretionary Funds awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to support the inclusive child care services and supports. The ICCP designation are awarded to programs who meet eligibility requirements and is available to all private pay and publicly funded ODJFS licensed child care centers and family child care homes; approved day camps; certified in-home aides; and Ohio Department of Education (ODE) preschool and school-age programs. The designation is valid for one year, and all programs must reapply annually. A pilot financial support program is available, and funding can be used for improving inclusive child care programming, assisting with operating expenses, additional staff expenses, or the purchase of adaptive or specialized equipment. Learn more.
• The Inclusive Child Care Program (ICCP) Child Scholarship: is available for families who have been denied publicly funded child care (PFCC) due to being over income (over 145% FPL), are under 200% FPL, and attend an ICCP designated program. Children must have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Learn more.

School-based health centers provide health services in school buildings, delivered through schools and local healthcare partnerships. Programming includes but is not limited to mental health and behavioral health services and supports. The most recent fiscal year 2024-2025 state budget allocated $7.5 million for the development and expansion of school-based health centers across Ohio.

The Funds can be used for wraparound services for Ohio students in schools. Use of funds include but are not limited to mental health services, family engagement, before and after school programming, reading improvement, ESY and extended school day, professional development, and more. For Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, districts and schools must use at least 50% of SWSF for mental health services or physical health care services or a combination of both.

Threshold cost is available as a supplemental payment to districts, joint vocational schools, and community schools for special educational students. This reimbursement is available to the financially responsible district or school for any child in categories 2,3,4, 5, or 6 whose educational and related expenses exceeded a designated dollar amount.