Support for Diverse Needs

Students arrive at school with a variety of needs. Kentucky’s public schools offer many programs and supports to meet the diverse needs of all students from preschool to high school graduation. Information is available on parental rights, procedural information and how to be the best advocate for your child.​​​​​​

English Learner and Immigrant Resources: Tools and resources are available to support English language learners and immigrants. This resource includes parent notification timelines for districts to follow. The website also includes several resources regarding legal obligations and rights of English learner and immigrant students.​

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is the federal law which ensures children with disabilities have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The Parent and Family Rights website provides families with a review of this federal law, including information on how to advocate for their child. What is the Special Education Process? walks parents through the steps by which children are identified as having a disability and in need of special education and related services. This document is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili.

The Kentucky Parent Guide for Special Education is a comprehensive resource which guides parents through the special education process. The Admission and Release Committee, often referred to simply as “ARC”, is fully explained in the Admission and Release Committee Guide including its membership requirements, including parents, working together to create Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and ensure students with disabilities have equitable access to curriculum, instruction and other school-based services. The Parent and Family Toolbox lists a host of parent support organizations for families of students with disabilities spanning across the state. The Dispute Resolution Process outlines the system to resolve disputes between parents of students with disabilities and local school districts. Usually, parents and school personnel have a good relationship in which they work together to make decisions about a child’s education. However, there may be times when parents and school personnel do not agree. Often, these disagreements can be resolved by a meeting between the parents and a school representative. By working together informally, parents and school personnel can maintain a positive relationship and can usually resolve their disagreement more quickly than they can address the matter through a more formal process such as a due process hearing or a formal written complaint.  

Title IX, Part A, Education for Homeless Children and Youth: For the past thirty years, this federal legislation has supported homeless youth by promoting educational success for students who are experiencing homelessness, Often referred to as McKinney-Vento, these funds may be used for college applications, tests and exams, clothing, tutoring, supplemental services, enrichment services, evaluation of strengths and needs of homeless children, professional development, provision of referral services for medical, dental, mental and other health services, transportation costs (access to academic and extra-curricular), programs to retain homeless children in public schools, mentoring, homework assistance and costs for obtaining records, education and training to parents about rights and resources. To locate a homeless coordinator for a specific district, visit KDE's Open House - District and School Directory or reference the Homeless Coordinator by District list.​​​

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