Kentucky Special Needs Resources

In Kentucky, when a child is referred for special education evaluation, the district has 60 calendar days from receipt of parental consent to complete the evaluation and hold an Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) meeting to determine eligibility. This is Kentucky's term for what other states call the IEP team. The evaluation must assess your child in all areas of suspected disability and use a variety of assessment tools and strategies. No single measure or assessment can be used as the sole criterion for determining eligibility.

If your child qualifies for special education, the ARC develops an IEP that must include measurable annual goals designed to meet your child's needs resulting from their disability. Kentucky requires the IEP to address how the child's disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum. For students age 14 and older (or younger if appropriate), the IEP must include postsecondary goals and transition services. Kentucky uses something called the Transition Readiness Assessment to help plan for life after high school.

Kentucky has been working to improve outcomes for students with disabilities through initiatives like the Continuous Improvement Model and Kentucky's Multi-Tiered System of Supports. The state emphasizes that special education is a service, not a place, and students should be educated with their nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. Kentucky also has an Alternate Assessment (K-AAS) for students with significant cognitive disabilities. If you're struggling to get appropriate services or have concerns about your child's progress, KY-SPIN can provide training, resources, and even help preparing for ARC meetings.

Kentucky provides special education services based on individual student needs as outlined in their Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) decision—Kentucky's term for the IEP. Services include specially designed instruction, related services like therapy, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications.

The ARC determines where services will be provided along Kentucky's continuum of placements. This ranges from regular classroom with supports to separate special education classes, separate schools, or even homebound instruction for students with significant medical needs.

Kentucky emphasizes the Least Restrictive Environment principle, meaning students should be educated with peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. The ARC must consider supplementary aids and services that would allow your child to succeed in the regular classroom before considering more restrictive placements.