STUDENT SERVICES
Special Education Department Overview
The law requires the district to identify and assess all students within the district who may have disabilities, and then provide appropriate programs and/or related services to those eligible. These services are provided based on the individual needs of the student and the recommendation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team. Programs and services are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), which was signed into law in 2004.
The Special Education Department provides district-wide support and technical assistance regarding the design and implementation of effective educational programs for students with special needs. In meeting the requirements of the Least Restrictive Environment section of IDEA, the Board continues to embrace the support of inclusive instructional practices. These practices are designed to provide special education services within the context of the general education classroom to the greatest extent possible. This means that students with special needs will be in membership with a general education classroom and will receive appropriate recommended individualized educational services with general and special educators working as a collaborative team. If a student's needs cannot be met with support at his/her neighborhood school, the educational team will determine an appropriate, least restrictive service delivery option that best addresses his/her current needs.
A continuum of special education services is available to support the education of children with disabilities. Services are provided for children from 3 to 22 years of age who qualify under one or more of the following eligibility categories:
Developmental Delay (3-9)
Speech/Language Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Other Health Impairment
Autism
Cognitive Disability
Emotional Disability
Hearing Impairment
Deafness
Orthopedic Impairment
Visual Impairment
Blindness
Traumatic Brain Injury
Multiple Disabilities
Special Education Referral Process:
A “referral” in the context of special education services is a process asking the school district to evaluate a student to decide if the student qualifies to receive special education services. A referral can be made either by the school district (through a teacher or other school personnel involved in the student’s education) or by a parent or guardian. The referral is a required first step before an evaluation can take place.
The “date of referral” is the date of written parental consent for an evaluation. Screening procedures shall not be considered an evaluation.
Within 14 school days after receiving the written request, the district will decide whether to evaluate the child or not. If the district determines an evaluation is warranted, then the district must provide the parents with the paperwork to provide formal written consent.
If the district determines that the evaluation is not necessary, it must notify the parent in writing of the decision not to evaluate and the reasons for the decision.
Please see the link below for more information from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding the Special Education Referral Process:
http://www.isbe.net/spec-ed/pdfs/parent_guide/ch3referral.pdf
Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District maintains related service logs that record the type and number of minutes of the related service(s) administered to your child. Copies of any related service logs will be available to you at your child’s annual review IEP meeting. You may also request a copy of the related service logs at any time.
Any questions or concerns can be addressed by the Student Services Department.
Phone: 708-668-9434
Email: studentservices@sd163.com
STUDENT SERVICES STAFF
Dr. Regina Nottke
Assistant Superintendent Student Services
rnottke@sd163.com
(708) 668-9414 / (708) 668-9415
Taliah Bashir
Student Services Grant & Budget Coordinator
tbashir@sd163.com
(708) 668-9414
Shaunita Jones
Student Services Secretary
sjones@sd163.com
(708) 668-9415