In the past, it was adequate for students with significant cognitive disabilities to solely have access to the general curriculum. However, research has shown that students with significant disabilities can make progress if given appropriate supports and instructed in their best mode of learning.
The Ohio Department of Education released the Ohio Learning Standards-Extended (OLS-E) in July 2012. The Ohio Learning Standards-Extended are also commonly known as the "extended standards."
These standards help to ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities are provided with multiple way to learn and demonstrate knowledge. At the same time, the extended standards are designed to maintain the rigor and high expectations of the Ohio Learning Standards. The general curriculum is based on the academic content standards at the student's chronological grade level. The extensions to Ohio's New Learning Standards provide an entry point to the general curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities.