Questions? Email the Special Education Committee at: SEC@ieanea.org
Open Hearing Resources
- 2023-24 IEA SpEd Committee IEA-RA Open Hearing
- 2022-23 IEA SpEd Committee IEA-RA Open Hearing
- 2020-22 IEA SpEd Committee IEA-RA Open Hearing
Co-Teaching
- The general definition of co-teaching involves two equally-qualified individuals who may or may not have the same area of expertise jointly delivering instruction to a group of students.
- A common example of co-teaching today is played out in many inclusion classrooms where a General Education teacher and a Special Education teacher share responsibility for classroom management and instruction. A common example of co-teaching today is played out in many inclusion classrooms where a General Education teacher and a Special Education teacher share responsibility for classroom management and instruction.
- The Co-Teaching Connection: http://www.marilynfriend.com
- Teach Hub Strategies: http://www.teachhub.com/effective-co-teaching-strategies
70/30 Rule
- When a student’s IEP calls for services in a general education classroom, the student must be served in a class that is composed of students of whom at least 70 percent are without IEPs, that utilizes the general curriculum, that is taught by an instructor certified holding an educator license for general education and who is employed for that purpose, and that is not designated as a general remedial classroom.
- For purposes of this subsection (a), a student who receives speech services outside of the general education classroom and who does not require modifications to the content of the general education curriculum shall be included in the calculation of the percentage of students without IEPs. (See 105 ILCS 5/14-2.)
- Illinois Administrative Code Part 226: http://www.isbe.net/Documents/226ark.pdf
- Class Size Guidance: http://local1211.org/class-size-guideline-illinois-state-law/
- 70/30 Rule Compliance Member Survey: https://tinyurl.com/IEA7030
SB 100
- Based on the new law, by September 15, 2016, school boards and governing bodies of charter schools will need to develop, review and implement discipline policies in accordance with the new law’s requirements.
- SB 100 eliminates “zero tolerance” polices and provides that the harshest forms of punishment may only be used for students who pose a threat to the school community or who substantially disrupt, impede or interfere with the learning environment.
- When passed into law, the bill was designated as Public Act 990456, and made changes to several sections of the School Code.
- Additional SB100 Resources
PERA/SLO
- PERA is the acronym for the Performance Evaluation Reform Act that became Illinois law on Jan. 1, 2010.
- A Student Learning Objective (SLO) is a detailed process used to organize evidence of student growth over a specified period of time. The SLO process is neither an assessment nor a measurement model. The SLO process is solely an organizational and planning tool. The SLO process helps educators organize evidence of student growth using chosen assessments and selected measurement models.
- ISBE Guidance:
- IEA Resources:
Supreme Court Cases
- Fry v. Napoleon Comm. Sch. District began as a case about a school’s refusal to allow a child’s service dog to accompany her in school.
- In Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1, the parents argued that their child with autism did not make measurable progress on his IEP goals and that the school failed to address his worsening behavior problems.
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children: https://massadvocates.org/billsview/
- Special Education Case Law: http://www.wrightslaw.com/caselaw.htm
Transition Issues/Resources
- Transition services are activities that prepare students with disabilities to move from school to post-school life. The activities must be based on the student’s needs, preferences, and interests, and shall include needed activities in the following areas:
- Instruction
- Related services
- Community experiences
- Development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives
- Acquisition of daily living skills (when appropriate)
- Functional vocational evaluation
- Transition Case Law: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/trans.index.htm
- NASET Transition Services: https://www.naset.org/transervices4.0.html
- Illinois PaCE: https://www.isbe.net/documents/pace_revisions.pdf
- Postsecondary transition Guide: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/transition/products/postsecondary-transition-guide-2017.pdf
ESSA/IDEA
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): www.isbe.net/essa
- NEA ESSA Resources: www.nea.org/essabegins
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
- ISBE Special Education Page: www.isbe.net/Pages/Special-Education-Programs.aspx