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The member districts of the Franklin & Jefferson Special Education District #801 provide a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal mandates. In order to receive special education services, a student must have a physical or mental disability as identified in the Illinois State Criteria. The qualifying disabilities are autism, visual impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, multiple disabilities, deafness,  deaf-blindness, and other health impairment. In addition, a qualifying disability must adversely impact educational progress and require specially designed instruction. It is important to note that not all students with a disability will be eligible for special education services.

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Understanding Special Education in Illinois

Procedural Safeguards

Behavioral Interventions in Schools Guidance

Parentally Placed Private School Students 

 

Preschool Children:

Students between the ages of 3-5 who live within the district’s boundaries may participate in developmental screenings conducted by the district in cooperation with FJSPED #801. This screening will determine if the child is meeting developmental milestones in the areas of speech and language, academic readiness, social-emotional readiness, and motor skills. If difficulties are detected, an evaluation for special education services may be initiated.  

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School-Age Students:

Students who are currently enrolled in grades K-12 and attending a school within the district boundaries (including private and homeschooled students) may be referred for an evaluation by their parent/guardian or the school team. To refer a child for a special education evaluation, a letter should be submitted to the school principal with the referral request. Students who are homeschooled and/or in a private/parochial school may also direct their referral request to the district principal, superintendent, or Franklin & Jefferson Special Education District #801. A meeting will be provided within 14 school days of such referral requests.

 

Special Education and Related Services:

The districts provide special education and related services as identified by the IEP team. Services and supports provide specially designed instruction to meet the educational needs and goals identified by the IEP team. Related services are designed to support students in benefiting from special education and include, but are not limited to, social work, psychological services, speech/language therapy, special transportation, assistive technology, occupational and physical therapy. Related services are determined based on educational needs and differ in eligibility and services provided within a medical model.

School districts maintain related service logs that document the type and number of minutes of related services administered under a student’s individualized education program (IEP). Parents/guardians may also request a copy of any IEP-related service log maintained for their child. Please direct any requests for a copy of a related service log for your child to Franklin & Jefferson Special Education District #801.

 

Continuum of Services:

A full continuum of services is available for all students who qualify for special education. The continuum of services available for eligible students may range from supports provided minimally and entirely in the general education setting and range up to services within a home/hospital setting. There are a variety of options between these points. All special education services on the continuum are individually designed by the IEP team and aligned with the student's educational needs.

The vast majority of our students receive services within their district’s schools. Additionally, specialized classrooms are available throughout the district/cooperative for students who need additional support. Each specialized classroom provides a smaller student/teacher ratio, more intensive services, and a focused methodology aligned to the student’s needs.

 

Students with a disability who do not qualify for an individualized education program, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and implementing provisions of the School Code, may qualify for services/accommodations under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child/student (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, and (iii) requires accommodations to address such impairments to allow for access to the general education programming of the school.

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• District Joint Agreement

• Special Education Procedures Assuring the Implementation of Comprehensive Programming for Children with Disabilities

• Timely Meaningful Consultation

• ​FJSPED Evaluation Plan

• • Evaluation Plan and Guide for Licensed Employees

  • Evaluation Plan for Non-Certified Employees

• Title IX Sexual Harassment

  • Title IX Officers:​

  • Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure

  • Title IX Sexual Harassment Incident Form

  • Training Materials

• McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children Contact Information​​

• Faiths Law

  • Faith's Law Resource Guide (pdf)​

• Physical Restraint, Time-Out and Isolated Time Out Reduction Plan

  • ISBE Plan

• Bullying Policy

• FJSPED Board Policies

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