2E (IDEA) in high school and potential lifetime adverse effects

[Curious Cat]

Heartfelt thanks to any professional who cares to answer this question.

Situation: High schools in my state are required to permit students to take up to 18 district funded college credits under dual enrollment programs. It is a practice to obtain a 2E (twice-exceptional, e.g. gifted and disabled) status under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act) to "open" funding (especially for more than the minimum 18 credits). BUT this requires a label - and that label is psychological in nature. The school district is interested in throughput. But, what happens to that student who gets a free freshman year of college at the cost of an ASD, OHI (SC or B/E), SLD, ED or other diagnosis?

 

[gearFX]

As a parent of someone applying for dual enrollment, I am interested in the answer too.

 

[decalogue]

Heartfelt thanks to any professional who cares to answer this question.

Situation: High schools in my state are required to permit students to take up to 18 district funded college credits under dual enrollment programs. It is a practice to obtain a 2E (twice-exceptional, e.g. gifted and disabled) status under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act) to "open" funding (especially for more than the minimum 18 credits). BUT this requires a label - and that label is psychological in nature. The school district is interested in throughput. But, what happens to that student who gets a free freshman year of college at the cost of an ASD, OHI (SC or B/E), SLD, ED or other diagnosis?

Interesting scam on the part of the schools


To make it simple

In aviation it’s probably easier to reach your goals with a criminal conviction vs a medical diagnosis, ESPECIALLY a mental one



Also it’s disgusting that they are trying to diagnosis these kids with made up nonsense to fleece even more tax pay money.

BTW.. this college scam isn’t “free” is stolen out of others paychecks

So I guess if kiddo and mommy are cool with lying to get “free” college they can reap the rewards when many doors are later closed to them due to the BS diagnosis they decided to scam.

Reminds me of the veterans who scam the VA to get a disability check every month, only to find they can’t get a FAA medical anymore.

Who are the “doctors” who are complicit in this scam? I’d hope one could go after their licenses at the state level and hopefully criminal charges as well, funny how little Billy and his parents only noticed he had OCD when it came with a “free” year of college.

What state is this in and who in the school district is pushing for this? This needs to make its way to the AG of that state

 

[AvNavCom]

If an individual claims (or has it claimed for them) to have a diagnosable psychological disability sufficient to merit special funding, then presumably that is enough to be of interest to the FAA, with the potential attendance consequences. There is no free lunch. Witness the guys getting hammered by the FAA for undisclosed VA disability claims, and all the kids who got an ADD diagnosis and meds to improve academic performance but run into issues subsequently getting a special duty medical. In the military, you wouldn't believe how many people need neuropsych testing for waivers due to a history of academic-related disability history and then subsequently applying for an aviation gig. If it's needed, it's needed. But if it's a money-saving convenience, the long-term cost may outweigh the near-term benefits.

All that said, I can't speak to it first-hand with this stuff and the FAA, so take the above with a grain of salt. I can tell you first-hand that any history of a psychological diagnosis will trigger additional scrutiny for military aviation.

 

[Half Fast]

But, what happens to that student who gets a free freshman year of college at the cost of an ASD, OHI (SC or B/E), SLD, ED or other diagnosis?

Bad things. And it's not just aviation. Mental health diagnoses can prevent one from obtaining a security clearance or from being hired for certain jobs or from entering the military or even from owning a firearm.

For some diagnoses, to get an FAA medical the only path forward is for the student to undergo extensive and expensive testing with the objective of proving the original diagnosis was incorrect in the first place. That's a high hurdle, but clearing it raises new issues regarding fraud. If the student scammed the system, I hope he gets what he deserves, and I hope he's forced to reimburse the money obtained falsely. And I'd like to see any physicians who are complicit in such a scheme get hit with heavy fines and the loss of their medical licenses.

Overall, this is a really, really dumb way to pay for a year of college, especially when there are so many scholarships, grants, and AP/CLEP opportunities.

 

[bbchien]

I have a kid for whom I submitted 1000 pages of stuff, and a positive summary. Basically, the kid is fine, but has lots of labels... Good student, but had a mom who wanted every advantage she could get for her 1st son. She got exactly what she asked for - a 210 day wait for the correct medical officer to get to it in his queue.

"Parents. Why does it always have to be parents?".
Dad agrees with me and he has two more boys coming down the pike (from a high resource schoool district). It awakened my inner "foghorn Leghorn". For kid #2, its too late but for kid #3, I basically said to Dad, "STOP HER FROM DOING THAT TO YOUR 3rd one!"

How do I know that? The section 504 materials, were mixed with the second son's records which I had to comb out.

And Autism spectrum Disorder as a diagnosis is nearly always fatal to certification. In 28 years I have only managed to win a certification, TWICE. That's about "defective interhuman relationships" and one does not outgrow that. You only plaster personality level work arounds into your being. FAA views that negatively as everyone in the airspace, has to play nicely, with everyone else in the sandbox.

 

[Barrett50]

The right expert in aero-med has offered up, and that is the best info you will find(for free) anywhere.

What kind of flying do you want to do? There is always part 103 ultralight. This is a single seat, under 254Lbs empty, 5 gal and less than 63MPH in level flight.

Ultralight Aircraft in 2026: Part 103 Rules and 6 Models

Compare six ultralight and light aircraft, understand the U.S. Part 103 limits, and distinguish single-seat ultralights from larger recreational aircraft.

engineerine.com

I would choose the Kolb Firestar. I've flown one before and they are delightful on a calm day.

As noted, there are a lot of other things to consider with that type of med history. Career limits may be significant. Hope it works out for you and get interested in either a part 103, or check in to gliders/sailplanes.

 

[Dana]

What kind of flying do you want to do? There is always part 103 ultralight. This is a single seat, under 254Lbs empty, 5 gal and less than 63MPH in level flight.

Ultralight Aircraft in 2026: Part 103 Rules and 6 Models

Compare six ultralight and light aircraft, understand the U.S. Part 103 limits, and distinguish single-seat ultralights from larger recreational aircraft.

engineerine.com

I would choose the Kolb Firestar. I've flown one before and they are delightful on a calm day.

The Kolb Firestar is a great plane, but is NOT a legal part 103 ultralight. Their Firefly and Ultrastar are, though.

Hope it works out for you and get interested in either a part 103, or check in to gliders/sailplanes.

Sport Pilot is also a no-medical option.

 

[Barrett50]

The Kolb Firestar is a great plane, but is NOT a legal part 103 ultralight. Their Firefly and Ultrastar are, though.



Sport Pilot is also a no-medical option.

I will defer to those with far more experience in SP and medical. I have third and fourth hand info that this can be a bit of a minefield.

 

[GoFlightMed]

Heartfelt thanks to any professional who cares to answer this question.

Situation: High schools in my state are required to permit students to take up to 18 district funded college credits under dual enrollment programs. It is a practice to obtain a 2E (twice-exceptional, e.g. gifted and disabled) status under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act) to "open" funding (especially for more than the minimum 18 credits). BUT this requires a label - and that label is psychological in nature. The school district is interested in throughput. But, what happens to that student who gets a free freshman year of college at the cost of an ASD, OHI (SC or B/E), SLD, ED or other diagnosis?

If the kid actually meets the criteria for the diagnosis and the expected struggles that come along with the diagnosis, then go for it, but if trying to become a pilot they will have to navigate the appropriate FAA guidance. If they don't have the diagnosis than (as stated a few times above), don't try to pursue a misdiagnosis for some kind of secondary gain. It's not good for the student and not good for these programs that exist. Sorry, is that too hardline?

I see a similar approach often with guys leaving the DoD and pursuing diagnoses for VA SC disability only to later find it they impact their flying career and now stating they don't actually have that diagnosis (usually mental health in nature).

 

[AZEL]

Interesting scam on the part of the schools


To make it simple

In aviation it’s probably easier to reach your goals with a criminal conviction vs a medical diagnosis, ESPECIALLY a mental one



Also it’s disgusting that they are trying to diagnosis these kids with made up nonsense to fleece even more tax pay money.

BTW.. this college scam isn’t “free” is stolen out of others paychecks

So I guess if kiddo and mommy are cool with lying to get “free” college they can reap the rewards when many doors are later closed to them due to the BS diagnosis they decided to scam.

Reminds me of the veterans who scam the VA to get a disability check every month, only to find they can’t get a FAA medical anymore.

Who are the “doctors” who are complicit in this scam? I’d hope one could go after their licenses at the state level and hopefully criminal charges as well, funny how little Billy and his parents only noticed he had OCD when it came with a “free” year of college.

What state is this in and who in the school district is pushing for this? This needs to make its way to the AG of that state

I understand that nothing is "free," everything comes from somewhere.

But, as I read the situation, and having recently graduated from pubic school (snic) I rather doubt that 13-17 year-olds are "gaming the system." I also rather doubt that at one meeting the PTO hatched a "new plan to get someone else to pay for college." My read is that it is a school admin technique to use money allocated for "purpose A" to fund "purpose B."

 

[decalogue]

I understand that nothing is "free," everything comes from somewhere.

But, as I read the situation, and having recently graduated from pubic school (snic) I rather doubt that 13-17 year-olds are "gaming the system." I also rather doubt that at one meeting the PTO hatched a "new plan to get someone else to pay for college." My read is that it is a school admin technique to use money allocated for "purpose A" to fund "purpose B."

Scammers are scammers, starting them in their teen years is even more reprehensible

If in their teen years they don’t know lying is wrong, they lack the mental hardware to amount to a productive member of society

If they don’t get faking a diagnosis to get “free money” is bad, hopefully we can get them into prisons before they cause too much damage

I know some local folks who actually have mental issues, these scumbags are taking money from the funds to help them, I have ZERO sympathy for when these scammers get their comeuppance

 

[Dana]

But, as I read the situation, and having recently graduated from pubic school (snic) I rather doubt that 13-17 year-olds are "gaming the system."

No, but their parents may be.

 

[AZEL]

Scammers are scammers, starting them in their teen years is even more reprehensible

If in their teen years they don’t know lying is wrong, they lack the mental hardware to amount to a productive member of society

If they don’t get faking a diagnosis to get “free money” is bad, hopefully we can get them into prisons before they cause too much damage

I know some local folks who actually have mental issues, these scumbags are taking money from the funds to help them, I have ZERO sympathy for when these scammers get their comeuppance

If we say that ethics are personal, morality is within a discrete group, and legality is the society to which we belong - then unless one self-identifies as a criminal - "a ... technique to use money allocated for "purpose A" to fund "purpose B" is wrong, unethical, immoral, and illegal.

No, but their parents may be.

Fair point.

In any group people should not benefit from breaking the rules of the group. Personally, I find it particularly abhorrent when those tasked with the care of others, be it their children or the public abuse their discretionary power for their personal benefit. @decalogue IMHO I would agree that from a societal point of view it is worse when people learn that cheating works when they are young. And your comment touched on at least three other silent points. Incarceration is incredibly expensive. The criminal justice system is an incredibly blunt instrument. And this society has a gigantic structural problem - that might even be called an outright failure - to deliver relief to those who actually need it, and for who the relief was intended, without that relief being misdirected, misappropriated, and often downright stolen before it is delivered.

None of which IMHO was actually the OP's question.

 

[decalogue]

If we say that ethics are personal, morality is within a discrete group, and legality is the society to which we belong - then unless one self-identifies as a criminal - "a ... technique to use money allocated for "purpose A" to fund "purpose B" is wrong, unethical, immoral, and illegal.

Fair point.

In any group people should not benefit from breaking the rules of the group. Personally, I find it particularly abhorrent when those tasked with the care of others, be it their children or the public abuse their discretionary power for their personal benefit. @decalogue IMHO I would agree that from a societal point of view it is worse when people learn that cheating works when they are young. And your comment touched on at least three other silent points. Incarceration is incredibly expensive. The criminal justice system is an incredibly blunt instrument. And this society has a gigantic structural problem - that might even be called an outright failure - to deliver relief to those who actually need it, and for who the relief was intended, without that relief being misdirected, misappropriated, and often downright stolen before it is delivered.

None of which IMHO was actually the OP's question.

We say lying is bad, that has transcended most all of history, religion, nation, race, sex, etc

Per Grock

“IDEA misuse: Civil/administrative (fund repayment only).


Criminal False Claims (18 U.S.C. §287): Felony; up to 5 years prison + $250k fine (if federal IDEA funds claimed for contrived disability).


Conspiracy to defraud U.S. (18 U.S.C. §371): Felony; up to 5 years prison + $250k fine.


Guilty comparable cases: A3 Education founders (CA 2021) guilty conspiracy theft public funds (false enrollment for extra state ed funding); house arrest + $37M restitution.

Limestone County (AL) virtual school officials guilty wire fraud/conspiracy (falsified eligibility/enrollments for funding); 18 months–5.5 years prison. SSA parents guilty faking/coaching child disabilities for federal benefits (exact parallel to false 2E label).”