[luckystarmom]

However, if a person has a low IQ and they have school problems, they qualify for special ed.

All I know is that special ed is tied to academic problems, and other health impaired is tied to non-academic problems.

So if a person qualifies for special ed, then they would probably not be in honors classes. However, I'm not sure how it would work if someone has a learning disabilty in reading and qualifies for special ed, but is great in math. I would imagine they would be able to take an honors math class, but I don't know.

[brianl703]

There are many facets of academic performance. As you mentioned, someone with dyslexia may be great in math, and if they are, they will be allowed to take AP math classes if they want to (if they've taken the prerequisite math courses).

Likewise that someone with AD(H)D may be very good with the written word and take honors english classes.

It doesn't do anyone any good to say to a student, "Well, you can't take calculus because you have dyslexia". Especially if calculus is something they would excel at.

[Politicalmom]

I can answer this for Georgia elementary schools.

My son has a very high IQ, but tested more than 20 points lower in writing.

He was enrolled in an accelerated math class (couldn't handle the organization, but that's another story).
He has special ed help one hour a day in writing, but pulls As and Bs in all other subjects.