Students succeed when parents share in the responsibility of developing educational plans.  This active role requires parents to have information about the special education process and requirements.

The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), provides district supports to increase the capacity of districts to implement and sustain the use of evidence-based practices in order to improve the quality of education and outcomes for students who receive Title services and students with disabilities in specialized and general education classrooms. Any educator needing support may go to ksdetasn.org and press the “big blue button” to request assistance.

This guide has been written to help parents and other educational decision-makers understand the special education process.  Special education is not a place to which one or a group of students in a school goes; it is supportive services that are given to some students so that they may progress in and be a part of the general education curriculum. All students are general education students and all students benefit from parents being involved in education, not just the special education part of it.

Parent Guide to Special Education (English PDF) / (Spanish PDF)
Kansas Special Education Process Handbook
Parents Rights Document (Notices/Forms)

All children participate in state accountability assessments. Accommodations on the general assessment are available for students with documented accommodations on their IEP or 504 plan. Students may be designated as having significant cognitive disabilities by their IEP team for the purpose of participation in the Dynamic Learning Maps™ Alternate Assessment System (DLM™).

Assessments and Accommodations
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) & Essential Elements

Any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.

Kansas Assistive Technology Guidance (external link)

USDE-O.S.E.P. Office of Special Education Programs
          Assistive Technology (External Link)
          Assistive Technology Dear Colleague Letter (PDF)
          Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices (PDF)
          More to the Myths and Facts: Addressing Accessible Educational Materials in the 2024 Assistive Technology Guidance (External Link)

Dyslexia is a type of learning disability. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. It is specifically cited as an example of a learning disability in the implementing regulations of the IDEA and in the Kansas Special Education for Exceptional Children Act, under the definition of specific learning disability. In its more severe forms, a student with dyslexia may qualify for special education services, special accommodations, or extra support services.

Dyslexia Initiatives in Kansas (link)

If you have questions about dyslexia and the statutes and regulations governing eligibility for special education services, please contact the KSDE Special Education Services Team.

Dyslexia - Dear Colleague Letter from OSERS October 23, 2015 (External PDF)
Dyslexia within MTSS (PDF)
Dyslexia: What Families Need to Know (PDF)

Eligibility Indicators (PDF) updated July 2023
Evaluation/Eligibility Report Checklist (PDF)

Dyslexia information (Link)

An emergency safety intervention is the use of seclusion or physical restraint. The use of an emergency safety intervention shall cease as soon as the immediate danger of physical harm and violent action ceases to exist. Emergency safety interventions law sets forth standards for the use of restraint and seclusion to ensure that all Kansas students and staff have a safe learning environment.

If a parent believes that an emergency safety intervention has been used with the parent’s child in violation of the State Board’s emergency safety intervention regulations or the district’s emergency safety intervention policy, the parent may file a complaint with the local board. The complaint must be filed within 30 days of the date on which the parent was informed of the use of that emergency safety intervention. The local board’s final decision must be in writing and include findings of fact and any corrective action required by the district if the local board deems these actions necessary. The local board’s final decision must be mailed to the parent and KSDE within 30 days of the local board’s receipt of the complaint. To comply with the requirement in K.A.R. 91-42-3(a)(2)(C) to mail the local board’s final decision to KSDE, the local board’s final decision must be mailed to Trish Backman, Special Education and Title Services, KSDE, Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66612 or emailed to tbackman@ksde.org.

Any parent who filed a written complaint with their local board of education regarding the use of emergency safety intervention and is either not satisfied with the local board’s final decision or did not receive a final decision within 30 days, may request an administrative review by the Kansas State Board of Education. The form below may be used to request administrative review. Questions on this process, please contact the Office of General Counsel at ogc@ksde.org or 785-296-3204.

Administrative Review Request Form (PDF)
Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) Resources (External Link)

Administering Literacy Assessments for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs (PDF)
Disability Awareness: A Primer on People First Language English / Spanish (External PDFs)
Disability History and Awareness:  a resource guide (PDF)
Kansas Accessibility Manual (TASN link)
Kansas Special Education Process Handbook
Kansas Guidelines for School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists (rev 2023) (external PDF)

Most IEP related documents are located on the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) website.

Considerations for Specially Designed Instruction (PDF)
Considerations for Accessible Educational Materials (PDF)
Reflective Framework for IEP Development (External link)
TASN webpage

Flyer for KSSB (PDF)
     may be included in notice of meeting to inform parents of supports available through the School for the Blind/Visually Impaired

Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC)
DRC is an advocate for the civil and legal rights of Kansans with disabilities. DRC also educates policymakers on needed improvements to the law, programs and public policy.

Families Together, Inc.
Families Together, Inc. is a statewide organization that assists parents and children with disabilities. Each year, Families Together Inc. provides, without fees, direct support to more than 12,000 Kansas families.

Infinitec
The Mission of Infinitec is to advance independence and promote inclusive opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through technology.  The Infinitec staff helps people with disabilities find and get access to information, technology services, training, assistive equipment and specialists by creating partnerships that maximize resources.

Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC)
KPIRC promotes meaningful parent involvement at all levels of education and provides information and resources to help parents, educators and other organizations promote the educational success of every Kansas child.

Special Olympics Kansas
Dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports competitions, health and nutrition programs and leadership development. Offering year-round initiatives to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Kansas is a platform for acceptance and inclusion as well as one of the largest advocates for healthy lifestyles in the state – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences.

Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN)
provides technical assistance to support school districts’ systematic implementation of evidence-based practices.

Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (External Link) / Brochure on "In the Classroom After Concussion" (PDF)
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (External Link)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (External Link)
National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc. (NASDE) (External Link)
United States Department of Education (USDE) (External Link)
USDE-Office of Civil Rights (504 Information) telephone 816-268-0550 (External Link)
USDE-O.S.E.P. Office of Special Education Programs (External Link)
IDEA Partnership (External Link)
Center for Parent Information and Resources (External Link)
Project IDEAL (Informing and Designing Education For All Learners) (External Link)
TASH (External Link)
Understood Action Center for Learning and Attention Issues (External Link)

Secondary Transition information and Resources have been moved to https://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=583 (link)

Transition in the Individualized Education Program What Parents and Students Need to Know (PDF)