New policy gives special needs students the chance to win the Homecoming Crown

LAWRENCE, Kansas - The Free State High School Firebirds geared up for their homecoming game Friday in Lawrence.

During halftime they crowned a Homecoming King and Queen. This year’s a special year for homecoming royalty because an old school policy that kept special needs students off the nomination list was just overturned .

Senior Owen Phariss, who has Down Syndrome, won the title of Homecoming King.

But it took some obstacles before Owen could win. Students wanted to nominate Owen but when they went to find his name on the list, they realized his name was not there. The students started a petition to get the policy changed and school administrators were quick to reverse the rule.

School administrators said they were not aware of the rule, so they were glad the students put the petition together to get it changed.

The new rule allowed eight students who were excluded to be added to the list and Owen received enough votes to be nominated as homecoming King.