Mental Health Services in Kansas IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in Kansas?
Kansas addresses mental health services for students with disabilities through a combination of IDEA-funded related services and broader state mental health infrastructure. Under IDEA, eligible students may receive psychological services, counseling services, and social work services in schools as related services when these are required to benefit from special education (34 CFR 300.34; K.A.R. 91-40-17). Kansas has made significant investment in school-based mental health through the Kansas Mental Health Coalition and KSDE partnerships. The Kansas State Board of Education has promoted school-based mental health services through its Kansans Can vision and MTSS framework, integrating mental health supports at all three tiers. Students with emotional disturbance (ED) disability classification may require psychiatric or therapeutic services as part of their IEP. Kansas IDEA funding may be used for mental health-related services that are educationally necessary; however, Medicaid (Kansas KanCare program) may be billed for certain health-related services with parent consent (K.S.A. 38-2209 et seq.). Kansas law allows schools to coordinate with community mental health centers (CMHCs) to provide services on school grounds. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) funds CMHCs that may provide school-based services.
What Kansas Requires
Psychological services, counseling, and social work services are IDEA-related services that must be included in the IEP if required to benefit from special education (34 CFR 300.34(c)(10); K.A.R. 91-40-17).
Students with emotional disturbance may require mental health-related services as IEP-documented related services; these must be at no cost to the family as part of FAPE.
Kansas districts may coordinate with community mental health centers (CMHCs) funded through KDADS to provide services on school grounds.
Kansas KanCare (Medicaid) may be billed for certain health and mental health services with parental consent, provided the services are also required under the IEP (K.S.A. 38-2209 et seq.).
KSDE's MTSS framework integrates school-based mental health supports (Tier 1 universal, Tier 2 targeted, Tier 3 intensive) for all students including those with disabilities.
School-based mental health services provided under the IEP must be delivered by appropriately licensed or credentialed personnel.
Key Timelines
Mental health-related IEP services must be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review (K.A.R. 91-40-18(a)).
Medicaid billing for school-based health services requires prior parental consent, which may be requested at any IEP meeting (K.S.A. 38-2209).
CMHC coordination services should be incorporated into the IEP with projected start dates, frequency, and duration specified (K.A.R. 91-40-17(a)(7)).