BY MEGAN HENRYOhio Capital JournalOhio special education advocates fear recent changes to the U.S. Department of Education will cause confusion, delays, and a loss of service to students. The special education office is responsible for making sure states follow the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures students with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education. “For special education in Ohio, it means the process of children with disabilities getting their needs met just got significantly more complicated,” Marks said. About 14% of Ohio students receive special education services, said Jennifer Webb, past president for the Council for Exceptional Children’s Ohio chapter. The U.S. Department of Education will continue to be in charge of the statutory responsibilities over special education as required by federal law, but this shifts the day-to-day operations to HHS.