Special Education

Special education and related services are provided to eligible students with disabilities ages 3 to 21 and to students who qualify for gifted services Kindergarten to grade 12.

Special education in Topeka Public Schools is specially designed instruction that enables students to make continuous progress in school. Special education services are present within each school and are an integral part of Topeka Public Schools system. The Topeka Public Schools philosophy is reflected in the practice of responsibly including students in educational and social activities to the maximum extent appropriate, based on their individual learning needs. We advocate for students with disabilities to receive inclusive instruction with their non-disabled peers and support them in their learning.

 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Reauthorized by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in December 2004, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA-04) guides all special education practices in the United States. IDEA-04 mandates that each student identified as eligible for special education services receive a "free and appropriate public education" in the "least restrictive environment" and be afforded "due process rights" as delineated in the legislation.

The Topeka Public Schools uses compliant practices as described in the Kansas Special Education Process Handbook that is published by the Kansas State Department of Education, which is available online.

 

Eligibility

The evaluation process establishes whether or not a child has an exceptionality (disability or giftedness) and has a need for special education and related services. A variety of tools and strategies are used to gather information to determine whether or not a student is eligible for special education.

Students must meet criteria to be enrolled in special education:

  1. Does the student have a disability?
  2. Does the student need specially designed instruction to benefit from the general education curriculum?

 

Screenings and Referrals

Early Childhood

Ages 3 years to 5 years: Call the Early Childhood Special Education department at 785-235-7261 to schedule a screening.

The Topeka Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education Team works with community-based day care and pre-school providers to inform these agencies of the child find process. Community-based staff is encouraged to refer children and their families to Topeka Public Schools if a concern arises related to the presence of potential disability or developmental delay.

Students ages 5 to 21: including those who are highly mobile, migrant and/or homeless, are referred for special education evaluation by school personnel when a disability is suspected. Parents are notified and involved in the process when a concern first arises.

Parents may also request a special education evaluation and the district is required to respond in writing. The need for special education and related services is determined in consultation with parents at each Topeka Public Schools building site following the completed evaluation process. Parents are encouraged to contact their child's neighborhood schools' principal or school psychologist with questions about special education services and the evaluation process.

Private School Students

Topeka Public Schools follows state and federal processes for evaluation of students who may have exceptionalities and the provision of special education services to those students who are determined to be eligible.

 

Records Request

Special Education records are maintained by Topeka Public Schools and provided to school districts upon request when a student enrolls in a Kansas school or in a school in another state. Contact information for records requests:

Shelly Pruitt by phone at 785-235-7600 or email [email protected]

Jennifer Hixson by phone at 785-235-7660 or email [email protected]

Angela Ludden by phone at 785-235-7654 or email [email protected]

 

New to Topeka Public Schools

If you are new to the district and your child has an IEP, please contact:

Bryan Candea-Kromm
785-235-7602
[email protected]

Michelle Gartner
785-235-7630
mgartner@tps501.org

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