Parents and disability advocates urge KSDE to protect in-school ABA services

Kevin Steinmetz, a Manhattan father, told the State Board of Education that his USD 383 district recently banned outside, medical ABA providers from campus and his daughter had to leave public school to continue prescribed therapy. "ABA is the go-to medical intervention for children with autism," Steinmetz said, and he urged the board to direct KSDE staff to issue guidance similar to a memo from the South Carolina Department of Education explaining that blanket bans likely conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mike Burgess, director of policy and outreach for the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, told the board the problem is not isolated. He said parents, insurers and Medicaid often pay for medically necessary services delivered by clinicians in school settings and that some districts have adopted policies that block those services. Burgess offered the agency the center's help in drafting guidance or rules, saying the issue affects more than one district and could be addressed systemically.

Board members asked clarifying questions about who pays for the services and how districts might implement consultations. KSDE staff did not announce immediate rulemaking but said they would take note of the requests and provided the South Carolina memo that speakers left at the dais. No formal action was taken; speakers requested staff-level guidance or rulemaking to preserve students' access to medically prescribed interventions delivered in school settings.

What happens next: Board members and KSDE staff indicated they would review the materials submitted by speakers and consider whether guidance or rulemaking is appropriate. The Board did not vote on a directive during the meeting.