Special Education Overview

All children with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education as provided under Illinois and federal law. It is the obligation of the school district to properly identify, evaluate and serve such disabled students. Children, aged 3-21, may be eligible for special educations services if the student meets criteria established under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Disability identification is limited to the following categories, autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, visual impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, emotional disability, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, speech language impairment traumatic brain injury, intellectual disability, and for students under nine years of age, developmental delay. All categories have specific criteria which must be met in order to qualify for services under IDEA. Additionally, IDEA requires that the identified disability have an adverse educational impact, requiring a specialized service, and the disability is markedly discrepant from same-aged peers in order to qualify.

 

 

 

Parents of students with disabilities are entitled to a copy of procedural safeguards in brief, annually. Parents have the right to request another copy at any time. A copy of the procedural safeguards can be found on this link through the Illinois State Board of Education website.

 

A complete copy of the parental rights document is called Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois. This manual can be accessed at this link.

 

Further information can be accessed through the ISBE website at the following link. Please contact the Burbank 111, Student Services Department at 708/496-0500, if you have further questions.