Regional Meetings on Revisions to Ohio's Special Ed Rules

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone:

The following information is a list of where five regional public hearings on the proposed Special Education Rules changes will be held. This is what the Office for Exceptional Children-OEC (State Dept of Special Education-Columbus) is proposing as changes to our current State Operating Standards For Ohio's Schools Serving Children with Disabilities. The rumor mill is that the changes and the language is mirroring the Federal Changes in our Federal Regs of IDEA 2004. There is no rumor about the State maybe going "above and beyond" what the Federal law requires. Federal law guides our States on what they must do minimally, States are allowed and can offer more (above and beyond) what the Federal Law (IDEA 2004) requires. This is why PARENT INPUT is so important at these meetings. So please review the following list, if any of these meetings are within your area and you are able to attend please do so. At this time, a copy of the proposed rules are not on OEC's website. I'm working on this so that parents can review a copy of these rules before attending the meetings. Also call your local Special Education Regional Resource Center (SERRC's) and ask if you can recieve a hard copy of these proposed rules for your review. As soon as I get word that they are on the State Dept's website, I'll email the link.

4/30/07 Cuyahoga SERRC ESC Professional Development Center 2:30 - 4:45pm &

5700 West Canal Road 6:30 - 8:45pm

Valley View, Oh 44125 Call or email Kodek @ 216-524-2770 x3805 or @... to register. They welcome walk-ins, but registration is preferred.

5/1/07 NWOSERRC Wood County ESC 2:30 - 4:45pm &

1867 N. Research Drive 6:30 - 8:45pm

Bowling Green, Oh 43402 (seats 60)

Director: Sue Zake 419-833-6771 SZake@...

5/2/07 COSERRC Central Ohio SERRC 2:30 - 4:45pm &

470 Glenmont Avenue 6:30 - 8:45pm

Columbus, Ohio 43214

Director: Rhonda Dickson 614-262-4545 x1575 rhonda_dickson@...

5/10/07 SEOSERRC 507 Richland Avenue 2:30 - 4:45pm &

Athens, Oh 45701 (seats 40) 6:30 - 8:45pm

Director: Dave Roach 740-594-4235 91_droach@...

5/11/07 SWOSERRC Southwestern Ohio SERRC 12:30 - 2:45pm &

1301 Bonnel, 3rd Floor 4:00 - 6:45pm

Cincinnati, Oh 45215

Director: Bill Bogdan 513-563-0045 x12 bill.bogdan@...

Barbara Rutt, Information Specialist

OCECD-Cleveland Office

440-617-9544 - Office

440-617-9547 - Fax

800-694-6402 - Toll Free

www.ocecd.org

Words of Wisdom:

"All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents!"

-- F. Kennedy