State-Wide Family Survey for Families of Students With Disabilities (Indicator 8)
The State-Wide Family Survey for Families of Students with Disabilities (Indicator 8) is an annual project conducted by the CETE’s Excellence in Engagement & Evaluation (EEE) program team in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to examine parents’ and guardians’ perceptions of their involvement in their children’s special education services. The project supports improvement efforts and fulfills federal reporting requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The survey is administered statewide to parents and guardians of students with disabilities ages 3–21. Each year, approximately 150 school districts and community schools participate, yielding an average of 10,000 responses annually. The survey includes a required Indicator 8 item along with questions related to school climate, communication, family–school partnerships, and knowledge of graduation requirements for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
EEE is responsible for survey administration, data management, analysis, and reporting to ensure accessible results that inform state and local decision-making designed to enhance family-school partnerships.
Read the key findings in the 2026 Special Education Family Survey Report.
Funded by: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Current Award Total: $69,061
Project Contacts: Dr. Melissa Ross
Information on the 2027 Special Education Survey
2027 Participating Districts and Schools
As part of Ohio’s six-year Indicator 8 survey cycle (Spring 2026-Spring 2031), the districts and community schools listed below will participate in the Spring 2027 Special Education Family Survey. Participation in Spring 2027 fulfills a district’s Indicator 8 survey requirement for the 2026-2031 cycle.
Districts and community schools assigned to the Spring 2027 survey will be notified via the Special Education Profile.
- Download Spring 2027 Participating District and Community School List
Indicator 8 Spring Survey Schedule (2026-2031)
Ohio school districts and community schools participate in the Special Education Family Survey once during each six-year survey cycle. The complete participation schedule for the Spring 2026 through Spring 2031 survey administrations is available below.
- View Full Spring 2026-Spring 2031 Participation Schedule
Participation Schedule Information
Districts and community schools participate in the Special Education Family Survey once every six years during their assigned survey year. The survey is administered each spring.
The participation schedule is reviewed and updated periodically to reflect newly established districts and community schools, consolidations, closures, and other changes that affect district or community school assignments.
- Participation satisfies a district’s scheduled Indicator 8 survey requirement for the Spring 2026-Spring 2031 cycle.
- District participation assignments are published annually in the Special Education Profile (Phase 1) each December.
- Districts and community schools scheduled to participate receive survey materials, guidance, and implementation support prior to their assigned spring survey administrationin
