Knox County Schools (KCS) unveiled a new plan to help special needs students improve academic achievement faster.
The school board presented the plan during its meeting last Thursday amid calls from parents and community members to update its policies. The plan includes efforts to increase reading and math proficiency, improve individualized education plans (IEPs), and increase graduation rates.
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KCS reported academic gains among its special education students between 2022 and 2024, with Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Dr. Andrew Brown telling board members during a January 2025 meeting that English Language Arts proficiency increased 1.4 percent and math proficiency rose 3.5 percent. The district also reported that 79.29 percent of students with disabilities were educated in less restrictive settings, exceeding the state’s goal of 77.2 percent.
Later that year, the district reported that its analysis showed its disabled students spent more than 80 percent of their time in general education classrooms, exceeding the state standard…