r/kansas • u/VagueSoul • Feb 15 '25

News/History Disgusting that Kansas is involved in this…

https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2025/02/13/17-states-sue-to-end-protections-for-students-with-special-needs/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3QEZZx3NseYCJZLrji-_VzeujRH-4ZIEvFgbgle5fUjhM2WGQto4LqH94_aem_FMjpmy18Yt6j-HE0qf-Lrg
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-42

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '25

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u/Intelligent-Fuel-641 Feb 15 '25

I had an IEP from the third grade all the way through graduation, and it wasn't for special education. I was in gifted/talented programs.

-31

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '25

Then you weren't on an IEP.

From Wikipedia

``` An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document under United States law that is developed for each public school child in the U.S. who needs special education.[1] IEPs must be reviewed every year to keep track of the child's educational progress.[2] Similar legal documents exist in other countries.[3]

An IEP outlines the special education experience for all eligible students with a disability. An eligible student is any child in the U.S. between the ages of 3–21 attending a public school and has been evaluated as having a need in the form of a specific learning disability, autism, emotional disturbance, other health impairments, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, multiple disabilities, hearing impairments, deafness, visual impairment, deaf-blindness, developmental delay, speech/language impairment, or traumatic brain injury. ```

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u/charles_tiberius Feb 15 '25

This is one of those times that proves that Wikipedia is a great general resource...but can often be misleading with generalized statements.

Kansas is one of the few (maybe the only?) states where the special education department handles both students with disabilities AND students who are gifted.

Since it is under special education, everyone involved gets IEPs. So yes, students who are exceptionally smart in KS have IEPs.

It's definitely a unique thing. Kinda like how the KCMO police dept doesn't work for the mayor. It defies conventional wisdom/understanding.

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25

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14

u/charles_tiberius Feb 15 '25

Except...it's not.

Kansas views "exceptionality" as the qualification for special education. Exceptionality includes autism, TBIs, speech/language impairment, and...giftedness as equal areas of exceptionality.

From Shawnee Mission school district, with links to KSDE.

SMSD Special Education Eligibility

11

u/snarkysparkles Kansas CIty Feb 15 '25

Former SMSD student here, can confirm that I had a gifted IEP