Special Education Eligibility

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 a nondiscriminatory evaluation for each suspected, identified and diagnosed disability. District procedures include the use of the 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 that determines if a child responds to scientific, research-based intervention as part of the evaluation process. This process is most commonly referred to as the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). A multi-disciplinary conference involving parents, teachers, and all members of the evaluation team reviews and determines 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 before 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 be eligible 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.