Special education is specially designed instruction that enables all students to make continuous progress in school.

Special education services are provided within each school and services are individualized to meet the needs of each child. Special education and related services are provided to eligible students with disabilities ages 3 to 21 and to students who qualify for gifted services in Kindergarten to Grade 12. Special education and related services (such as speech-language, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy) are determined through comprehensive assessment and input from a student's parents/guardians.

At Lawrence Public Schools, our philosophy is to provide special education services in the least restrictive environment (LRE) by including students in educational and social activities to the maximum extent appropriate, based on individual learning needs.

The Kansas State Department of Education Parent Rights in Special Education (Procedural Safeguards) document is provided via the links below. Please visit the KSDE Special Education Notices and Forms webpage (linked below) to view additional language options and information.

Read KSDE's Parents Rights (Procedural Safeguards)
Visit KSDE webpage

 

 

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

The Individual Education Program, or IEP, describes in detail the special education services a student will receive from Lawrence Public Schools. Written by an IEP team, alongside parents/guardians (and the student, if appropriate)—the IEP includes information designed to communicate to the school and the student's parents/guardians a plan for delivering services and measuring the student's progress toward IEP goals. The IEP is reviewed with parents at least once annually. IEP Progress Reports are also delivered to families at the same time as grade level progress reports (quarterly for early childhood, elementary, and secondary).