Special Education Eligibility & Policy

Special Education Eligibility

Students of the District may be found eligible for special education services under the following categories:

Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disability, Hearing Impaired, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment and Developmental Delay. 

Each child is entitled to nondiscriminatory evaluation for each suspected, identified and diagnosed disability. District procedures include the use of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) as part of the identification process for a specific learning disability. MTSS is the practice of providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction and educational decisions related to special education. In the most recent reauthorization of IDEA (2004), the process for identifying students eligible under the Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) category changed significantly from over 30 years of practice. The most noticeable changes include the removal of the requirement to consider a severe discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability, and the inclusion of the requirement that a local education agency may use a process which determines if a child responds to scientific, research-based intervention as part of the evaluation process. This process is most commonly referred to as Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). A multi-disciplinary conference involving parents, teachers, and all members of the evaluation team review and determine eligibility based on MTSS data. Special education and related services for IDEA-eligible students are provided as outlined within a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Wauconda CUSD 118 conducts a general screening for preschool children ages three to five at least two times a year for children residing in the District 118 community. Registration is required prior to the screening. Call 847-526-7950, ext) 9208 for more information. All other students are screened on an ongoing basis, services are provided based on need rather than waiting for students to fail before high-quality interventions can be used, and an accountability system ensures frequent progress monitoring that informs changes in both the type and intensity of programming.

Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the 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, or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment. Questions about the identification, assessment and placement of students, or a potential referral for special education services, should be directed to the Director of Student Services.  

Any parent, staff member, or student may request an evaluation to determine a student’s potential eligibility for special education services. Written requests should be directed to the student’s teacher or building principal. Additional information is available by contacting the  Director of Special Services.  

Medicaid

This notice informs parents of changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) regulations at 34 CRF §300.154, effective March 18, 2013, regarding written notification and parent consent to access public benefits or insurance, such as Medicaid. Before the school district accesses Medicaid for the first time to seek reimbursement for services provided to an eligible student, and annually thereafter, this  written notice is provided to inform parents of the following: 

• A one-time prior written parental consent will be requested to release personal information from a  child’s education records or information about the services that may be provided for the purpose of  billing Medicaid for Individualized Education Program (IEP) services. 

• Along with this request to bill Medicaid, it is also necessary for Wauconda District 118 to obtain  your written permission to release information to Medicaid. This permission must be obtained prior to Wauconda District 118 ever releasing your child’s personal information from educational  records for billing purposes to a public benefits or insurance program. Medicaid requires  documentation of the services our staff provided prior to making payment to Wauconda District 118. 

• Parents cannot be required to sign up for or enroll in public benefits or insurance programs for their  child to receive free appropriate public education, that is, IEP services. 

• Parents have the right to withdraw consent to disclose their child’s personal information for billing  purposes at any time. 

• Parents’ withdrawal of consent, or refusal to provide consent, to release their child’s personal  information for purposes of accessing Medicaid does not relieve the school district of its responsibility  to ensure that all required IEP services are provided at no cost to parents.

Illinois Medicaid School-Based Health Services

If your child's individual education plan (IEP) or 504 Plan includes special education and related services provided by our special education staff and/or related service providers, and they are eligible for Medicaid, please complete this consent form. One or more of the services included on your child's IEP or 504 qualifies for reimbursement from Medicaid. Schools routinely access Medicaid funding to help meet the costs of providing special education services. Federal special education law requires that school districts seek parental permission prior to submitting bills for reimbursement from public insurers such as Medicaid. 

The purpose of this consent form is to ask for your permission (also known as consent) to share records and information about your child with Medicaid. Granting this permission to bill Medicaid will not reduce your ability to seek other Medicaid-covered health-related services outside the school setting. This permission will not decrease lifetime coverage, increase premiums, or lead to the discontinuation of benefits, as Medicaid does not have a maximum number of eligible visits or a lifetime maximum for services.

Notice Regarding Students with Disabilities

Notice Regarding Students with Disabilities: House Bill 5770, which became law on August 28, 2018, requires that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a school board posts on its internet website and incorporates into its student handbook or newsletter notice that students with disabilities who do not qualify for an IEP may qualify for services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child: (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; or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.

Parents are entitled to receive a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents/Guardians of Students with Disabilities annually and will be reviewed with the parent at the time of the multi-disciplinary conference. Parents may request a list of free or low cost legal services through the Department of Student Services.

A temporary Special Education Record is also kept for all children referred for a case study evaluation and/or who receive special education services. This consists of referral information, observation and screening data, psychological evaluations, staffing and progress reports, reports from physicians and other agencies having direct contact with the student and other verified information deemed relevant to the education of the student. This record is housed in the Special Services Office at the District Office for Wauconda CUSD 118.  Annual notification shall be made to all residents of Wauconda by the publication of this notice each year.

Questions regarding special education or student services in Wauconda District 118 should be directed to the appropriate individual based on your child's grade level.

Preschool:

Kelly Plunk, Director of Special Services Pre-K

847-526-7950, ext) 9203

Elementary: 

Stephanie Spiewak, Director of Special Services K-5

847-526-7950, ext) 9202

Middle School
Heather Fontanetta, Director of Special Services 6-12

847-526-7950, ext) 9209

High School 

Jes Schuessler, WHS Special Education Department Chair

847-526-7950, ext) 1155

Director of Specialized Programs

Kristen Bordonaro 

847-526-7950, ext) 1155

504 Coordinator

Melissa Hanes

847-526-7950, ext) 9206

Again, a complete copy of the Illinois State Board of Education “A Parent’s Guide: The Educational Rights of Students With Disabilities” is linked here.  You are urged to consult this document  should your child be considered for special educational services. The Director of Special Services will review this with you.