? Legal Notice: Ohio’s Part B Federal Application for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 (FFY26) is available for review from March 20 through May 20, 2026. All states applying for funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are required to make available for public review and comment the application packet for those federal funds. These funds support provision of special education services to children with disabilities who are ages 3 to 21 in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Office for Exceptional Children has developed a draft application packet for IDEA Part B funds and, by this notice, is making the application available for review and comment. The application packet, developed by the U.S. Department of Education and Workforce’s Office of Special Education Programs includes a summary of the assurances, certifications and IDEA use of fund descriptions the state will use to implement Part B of IDEA. Upon the Office of Special Education Programs’ approval of Ohio's Part B application, the state will receive a federal grant award under Part B of the IDEA for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. In reviewing the application, please note the following: The application is in a format required by the Office of Special Education Programs. Ohio is providing general assurances to the Office of Special Education Programs that the state will be implementing the provisions of state and federal regulations for Part B of IDEA 2004. The dollar amounts listed in Section III, Use of Funds, are for state-level administration and targeted initiatives; not the cost of serving students with disabilities or the total cost of special education services in Ohio. View the proposed Part B Annual State Application for FFY26 at http://education.ohio.gov/(search: IDEA Part B Funding) The Department will accept public comments from March 30 through April 30, 2026. Comments via: email – exceptionalchildren@ education.ohio.gov or mail: Attention: Jo Hannah Ward Office for Exceptional Children 25 South Front Street, MS 409 Columbus, OH 43215 The U.S. Department of Education details specific procedures that states are to follow to receive annual grant funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) at section 76.102 make clear that the Part B fund applications are considered to be state plans for the use of Part B funding. The U.S. Department of Education, under the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) at 20 USC1232d (b)(7)(B), sets forth the public participation requirements and requires each state to publish its proposed application for Part B funds in a manner that will ensure circulation throughout the state at least 60 days before the date on which the application is submitted to the Secretary of Education or on which the application becomes effective, whichever occurs earlier, with an opportunity for public comment on such application to be accepted for at least 30 days. CIN-12176772 3/27/26 ?3/29/26