Numbers of students with learning disabilities is increasing in Ohio

An article from The Hannah Report (Learning Disabled Students a Growing, Neglected Problem, Argue Experts, May 14, 2012) covered the topic of the growing number of students with disabilities in Ohio. The article stated that the State Board of Education reported that "the number of children with learning and other disabilities is approaching one fourth of all Ohio public school students, and the challenge of educating those youth in the 21st century is going to become only greater." Children with specific learning disabilities are the largest category of the children classified as having a disability, according to the article.

Director Sue Zake of the Office of Exceptional Children at the Ohio Department of Education stated that there is a need for better and earlier interventions to alleviate this problem. Margaret Burley, executive director of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities was interviewed for the article and pointed out that the elimination of the Special Education Regional Resource Centers (SERRCs) took out the ability for the state to provide early intervention and other services to help children with special education needs. She noted that nothing has replaced the expertise provided by the SERRCs.