Chicago Public Schools is committed to ensuring every student is afforded a quality education and students with disabilities are no exception.
For those students with disabilities who qualify for extra support, a federally mandated individualized education plan (IEP) is necessary. An IEP allows educators, parents and school support staff to create a plan to suit each child’s unique needs.
Last year, Chicago Public Schools added $128 million in additional funding for special education teachers and paraprofessionals. Overall, the district added 533 teachers, mostly due to increased demand for special education teachers.
Read on for an IEP overview for Chicago Public Schools.
What is an IEP?
An IEP is an individualized education plan designed to allocate extra support and resources to students with disabilities. It is federal law that any child in the public school system who receives special education and services have an IEP.
Examples of students who would benefit from an IEP include those with hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder or dyslexia.
Each student’s individual education plan is meant to be unique to their specific needs. All stakeholders, including the child, can work together to create the plan.
Students with an IEP may meet with speech therapists, be allocated more time on tests or be given audio versions of print learning materials depending on their specific education plan. They may also be pulled out of their general education classroom to have more intensive small group instruction catered to their needs.
The list of possible accommodations and services are extensive, but educators are trained to provide the most effective support for each child.
How does the IEP process work?
Federal guidelines provide two routes toward a child being identified with a disability: each state runs a “Child Find” service to search for children with disabilities and a school professional or parent may request an evaluation.
Once a child is referred, evaluated and found eligible, a meeting between the IEP team and parents or guardians takes place. The child will begin to receive services as soon as possible after a successful meeting.
Part of an IEP is a special report on the progress the child is making toward the goals laid out in the plan. An IEP report card is released quarterly at the same time as the general education report card in CPS schools.
A new evaluation must be performed on any child with an IEP every three years.
More information on an IEP for your child
Chicago Public Schools provides extensive information for students with IEPs and their parents.
Parents can learn more about the district’s IEP process and other disabilities resources online or reach the Office for Students with Disabilities at 773-553-1800.
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