Special education in Kentucky

What Kentucky calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Kentucky

Special education is called

Exceptional Children / Special Education

The IEP meeting

Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) meeting

Eligibility team

ARC

Evaluation timeline

60 school days. 60 school days from consent; IEP within 30 days of eligibility and within the 60 school days (707 KAR 1:320)

IEP timeline

Within the 60 school days

Transition planning starts

14 or grade 8, whichever first (course of study statement); goals and services by 16 (verified KDE)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 8 (verified 707 KAR 1:002)

Dyslexia law

yes: KRS 158.307 and SB 9 (2022) Read to Succeed: universal K-3 screener incl. dyslexia indicators

State categories

Mild mental disability and functional mental disability (instead of intellectual disability); emotional-behavioral disability

Find your district and schools

177 districts and charter districts. 20 special education schools and 0 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Kentucky Services for children in Kentucky (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Kentucky Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Learning (502) 564-4970

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network (KY-SPIN)
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Louisville
(502) 937-6894

Disability rights agency

Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Frankfort
(502) 564-2967

Advocacy groups in Kentucky

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

Kentucky Medicaid

CHIP

KCHIP

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes (KFF 2026: state plan option or comparable waiver); program not named in sources checked

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

yes

Autism insurance law

yes. no visit limits; caps not listed

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

none

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Kentucky scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

Rank 3 of 51

State of Support

C+

Rank 23 of 51

Combined

B-

Rank 9 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	A-
Learning together	A-
Results	B+
School funding	B-
Family protections	C
Options and transition	F

IDEA determination 2026: Meets. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.