Special Education/Section 504

Special Education in District 69

Vision Statement:

Skokie District 69 believes students with disabilities are contributing members of our diverse community. In partnership with families, District 69 will provide meaningful inclusive educational experiences that promote student growth, independence, and attainment of individualized goals in their neighborhood schools.

Contact Information

Kristine Joaquin Schubert
Director of Special Services
joaquinschubertk@skokie69.net

Sarah Kalinowski
Related Services Coordinator
kalinowskis@skokie69.net

Adriana Gonzalez
Administrative Assistant gonzaleza@skokie69.net

Guiding Principals

Individualization for Each Child

District 69 believes in:

Fostering self-awareness, self-advocacy, and independence in every child
Creating responsive plans that build upon children’s strengths and support their individualized needs
Using a whole child approach in planning and programming
A whole child approach to education is defined by policies, practices, and relationships that ensure each child, in each school, in each community, is healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged.

Continuum of Service

District 69 believes:

Inclusion in general education is a child’s right and is the initial consideration when developing the IEP
Children should be educated in their home school when the school has the necessary supports to meet the child’s needs.
Decisions should be data-driven and focused on maximizing student growth
An ongoing commitment to education and professional development is essential to building high-quality programming that is responsive to individual student needs

Equity

Home, School, Community Relationships

District 69 believes:

Meaningful, productive relationships amongst all stakeholders (students, families, staff, and community) are essential to student success
It is a collaborative effort between home and school that creates a safe and nurturing learning environment

Special Education is an integral part of the total program offered to serve students in School District 69. Special education and general education staff work collaboratively to meet the needs of all of our students. This page provides information concerning referral, eligibility, programs, services, and parent involvement.

Referral

Any student experiencing difficulties in school may be referred to the building problem-solving team by a teacher, parent, principal, or another concerned person. The team reviews referral information and collaborates with the classroom teacher to develop intervention strategies within the general education classroom. Please review the MTSS site for more information.

If a student does not respond to intervention, then parents are invited to their child’s individual problem-solving meeting. Building problem-solving teams also determine the need for case study evaluation. When an evaluation is discussed, parents are notified in writing of the team’s decision as to the need for an evaluation. Written parental consent must be obtained before an initial case study evaluation occurs.

Upon completion of the case study evaluation, parents are invited to a formal conference at which evaluation results are reviewed and eligibility for services is determined. If a student is eligible for special education services, an Individual Education Program is developed.

Eligibility

Recommendations regarding eligibility are made by a consensus of members of the special education team which includes the parent. In order for eligibility to occur, the student must be found to exhibit one or more exceptional characteristics that adversely affect his or her educational performance and require special education and related services.

Programs to address student achievement are the heart of special education. There are special education programs for students with all types of disabilities. These include:

Consultation Services
Itinerant Services
Resource Services
Co-Taught Services
Cross-Categorical Special Education Classrooms
Therapeutic Day School
Residential School
Homebound Services

Special Services provides all related services specified in Federal and State Law. These include:

Physical and Occupational Therapy
Orientation & Mobility
Speech and Language Therapy
Nursing Services
Psychological Services
Counseling Services

The District maintains related service logs that document the type and number of minutes of related service administered under a student’s individualized education plan (IEP). These related service logs will be available to parents/guardians at a student’s annual review IEP meeting. Parents/guardians may also request, at any time, a copy of any IEP related service log maintained for their child. The school district will have 10 days to fulfill this request. Please direct any requests to the Director of Special Services.

Resources

Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents/Guardians of Students with Disabilities

ISBE Parent Guide - Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois

Niles Township District for Special Education

Section 504

An important responsibility of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability against students with disabilities. Under the Section 504 regulations District 69 provides a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met.

Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) may qualify for services under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, if the student: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (3) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment. If you believe your student meets one of the above categories and requires reasonable accommodations, you may contact the Director of Special Services, Kristine Joaquin Schubert, at 847-675-7666 for more information regarding the identification, assessment, and placement of your student.

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