Picture of a young boy reading what he has typed on a Braille typewriter.

The U.S. Department of Education’s (USED’s) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) issued its 2022 Determination Letters on State Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Kentucky was found to Meet Requirements and Purposes of Part B of the IDEA. This marks the 13th consecutive year of Kentucky receiving the U.S. Department of Education’s highest level of determination states can receive for the implementation of the IDEA.

Part B of IDEA governs how special education and related services are provided to school-aged children (ages 3-21) with disabilities. Kentucky’s Part B program is administered by the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL).

This year, 22 states or territories met requirements, three states need assistance (one year), 35 states or territories need assistance (two or more consecutive years), and no state or territory received a determination of needs substantial intervention.

More information about the 2020 annual determinations and a full list of each state’s performance and their implementation of the IDEA may be found on the USED’s website.

“The past couple of years have brought us all considerable changes and uncertainties, but Kentucky’s special education staff and families of students with disabilities were prepared for the challenge,” said Gretta Hylton, associate commissioner of OSEEL. “Not only did Kentucky meet requirements again this year, we also improved our overall performance score on the metric OSERS uses to make these determinations!

“This outstanding accomplishment occurred because educators and families maintained collaborative partnerships that focused on improving results for our students with disabilities. I am honored to lead this incredible group of educators.”

Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass said he was proud of KDE’s ability to serve the Commonwealth’s children with disabilities. 

“For state education agencies this mission is two-fold: providing supports and technical assistance to educators and districts, and upholding the many requirements of the IDEA,” he said. “By doing so, we ensure that students with disabilities have fair and equitable access to a rich and meaningful educational experience.”

For additional information about how OSERS makes its Annual State Determinations under Part B of the IDEA. email Hylton.