Special Education
The Special Education Process
Special Education in District 112 must conform to all of the requirements of state and federal mandates for exceptional children and youth.
Professionals providing for students with needs must comply in accordance with The School Code of Illinois, Illinois School Student Records Act, Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Family Education Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA), and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In place are systematic procedures for identifying and evaluating the need for special education and related services.
Child Find Activities
The district has an affirmative duty to seek out and find all children suspected of a disability which adversely effects educational performance.
Speech and Language screenings are available at all elementary schools for all new students to determine the need for potential services or further evaluation as warranted.
A referral may be initiated through home or school. A referral means that the child will be screened by the Child Study Team (CST) or Problem Solving Team (PST) to determine if a Case Study Evaluation (CSE) should be conducted, or if informal intervention can be developed to appropriately meet a student's needs.
The problem solving model includes the following steps:
- Problem Identification
- Problem Analysis
- Plan Development
- Plan Implementation
- Plan Evaluation
When a child is the subject of a CSE a written notice shall be sent to the parent/guardian and the source of the referral, indicating the rationale for conducting the evaluation.
The Child Study Team selects a Case Manager to interact with
the child’s
parent/guardian regarding the process.
The process includes a review of the following domain areas:
- Health/Vision/Hearing Social Emotional Status
- General Intelligence Communicative Status
- Academic Assessment Motor/Orthopedic Status
- Classroom Performance
Timeline: A CSE must be completed within the designated 60 school-day timeline. The initiation of this occurs when the parent signs consent for the evaluation.
Early Childhood Screenings for children 3-5 years of age are conducted by the Early Childhood Team throughout the school year. Screenings may determine the need for further assessment.
Special Education Staff Structure
Each school shall have a Child Study or Problem Solving Team
that serves as the school’s screening committee.
This is a multidisciplinary committee that may include the:
- Building Administrator
- Learning Coordinator
- General Education Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- Counselor or School Social Worker
- School Psychologist
- Speech Language Pathologist
This team may expand to include other experts when the needs of the child require additional expertise:
- School Nurse
- Bilingual/ESL Consultant
- Educational Diagnostician
- Inclusion Consultant
- Occupational or Physical Therapist
Special Education Leadership, Intervention and Special Education Technical Support
- Matt Barbini
- Director of Student Services
- Office: District 112 administrative office, 1936 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park
- Email: mbarbini@nssd112.org
- Nita Goodman
- Principal
- Early Childhood programs
- Office: Green Bay School, 1936 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park
- Email: ngoodman@nssd112.org
- Diane Denes
- Learning Coordinator
- Middle School Support: Northwood, Edgewood, Elm Place Middle Schools
- Office: Northwood Junior High School, 945 North Ave., Highland Park
- Email: ddenes@nssd112.org
- Tom Edgar
- Learning Coordinator
- Elementary School Support: Braeside, Wayne Thomas Elementary Schools
- Office: Braeside School, 150 Pierce Rd., Highland Park
- Email: tedgar@nssd112.org
- Annette Cronin
- Program Liaison/Elementary School Support: Ravinia School
- Office: Ravinia School, 763 Dean Ave., Highland Park
- Email: acronin@nssd112.org
- Learning Coordinator
- Elementary School Support: Red Oak, Sherwood Schools
- Office: Sherwood School,1900 Stratford Rd., Highland Park
- Email: hschultz@nssd112.org
- Arlene Vombrack
- Learning Coordinator
- Elementary School Support: Indian Trail, Lincoln Schools
- Office: Indian Trail School, 2075 St. Johns Ave., Highland Park
- Email: avombrack@nssd112.org
- Maria Waskin
- Oak Terrace School associate principal
- Special Education Support: Oak Terrace School
- Email: mwaskin@nssd112.org
Special Education Information Links
- District 112 Special
Education Services
- District 112 Special Education
Programs
- A study of special education programs and services in North Shore School District 112
- A Parent's Guide - The Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities
- Una Guía para los Padres - Los Derechos Educacionales de los Estudiantes con Incapacidades
- Illinois State Board of Education Parent Resources
- Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Board of Education Policy 8:70
Special Education Organizations
PASK 112 is a collaborative initiative in District 112 between parents and to work together on behalf of children in the district who have educational and learning differences.
The North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) is a cooperative of 19 local school districts in the north suburban area of Chicago that have joined together to provide special education services for children in those districts.
The NSSED Association of Parents and Staff is an organization of parents who have children with special needs in any of NSSED's 19 member school districts and the staff who serve them.
Last Updated 4/15/08