Embedded Files
The member districts of the Kaskaskia 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.
Understanding Special Education in Illinois
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 KSED #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. To schedule a developmental screening, please contact Kaskaskia Special Education District #801 at 618-532-4721 for more information.
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 Kaskaskia Special Education District #801. A response will be provided within 14 school days to 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, and adaptive physical education. It is important to noted that 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). These related service logs are available to parents/guardians at a student’s annual review IEP meeting. 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 Kaskaskia 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 posts. All special education services on the continuum are individually designed by the IEP team and aligned to the educational needs of the student.
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 of the specialized classrooms provides a smaller student/teacher ratio, increased intensity of services, and a focused methodology aligned to student’s needs.
Students with 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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