The Beacon

There were 82,000 special education students in Kansas public schools in 2024-2025. That’s 12,000 more than a decade ago. The 12,000-student increase is not a massive share of the 500,000 students in Kansas public schools. But the steady increase in special education students is making more demands on already overworked teachers. “We are feeling that as a district,” said Ryan Alliman, executive director of student support services at Wichita Public Schools. The increase contributes to a broader trend in education. Teachers are handling more students with less help, leading to longer days and more stressful work. Districts are trying to hire additional staff, but they can’t find qualified applicants. It’s a cycle that leads to burnout.