Special Education Terms in Kentucky
What special education terms does Kentucky use?
Kentucky uses several terms that differ from both federal IDEA terminology and common usage in other states. The most important Kentucky-specific term is 'ARC' (Admissions and Release Committee), which is used instead of 'IEP Team' throughout all Kentucky regulations. The word 'admissions' refers to admitting a student to special education; 'release' refers to dismissing a student from special education; 'committee' reflects the collaborative team structure. Kentucky also uses 'emotional-behavioral disability' (EBD) instead of the federal term 'emotional disturbance' and 'mental disability' with subcategories 'mild mental disability' (MMD) and 'functional mental disability' (FMD) instead of 'intellectual disability'. Kentucky's alternate state assessment is referred to as the 'alternate portfolio' or 'Alternate K-PREP' rather than just 'alternate assessment'. The KDE's special education office is called the 'Office of Special Education and Early Learning' (OSEEL). Kentucky regulations use 'specially designed instruction' as the core service type rather than 'special education services'. The appellate body is the 'Exceptional Children Appeals Board' (ECAB). For preschool, Kentucky uses 'early childhood special education' (ECSE). All definitions are codified in 707 KAR 1:002.
What Kentucky Requires
ARC (Admissions and Release Committee) = IEP Team in federal IDEA terminology; 'admissions' = enrollment in special education, 'release' = exit from special education (707 KAR 1:002, Section 1).
Emotional-Behavioral Disability (EBD) = federal 'Emotional Disturbance' — Kentucky's unique preferred terminology (707 KAR 1:002, Section 24).
Mental Disability = federal 'Intellectual Disability'; Kentucky subdivides into Mild Mental Disability (MMD) and Functional Mental Disability (FMD) (707 KAR 1:002, Section 37).
Alternate Portfolio / Alternate K-PREP = alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (707 KAR 1:320, Section 5(11)).
OSEEL (Office of Special Education and Early Learning) = the Kentucky Department of Education's special education oversight office.
ECAB (Exceptional Children Appeals Board) = Kentucky's second-tier review body for due process hearing decisions (707 KAR 1:340, Section 13).
Individual Learning Plan (ILP) = Kentucky's required postsecondary plan under 704 KAR 3:305, which IEP transition components must align with.