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District presents overview of Section 504 program and campus caseloads
Summary
Educational services staff summarized the district’s 504 program structure, coordinator roles, common accommodations and recent enrollment changes, noting an increase in 504 plans at Joliet West.
Jamila Cage, presenting for Educational Services, provided the Board of Education an update on the district’s current 504 program structure and services, including how 504 plans differ from individualized education programs (IEPs) and which staff roles oversee plan implementation.
Cage said school psychologists serve as 504 coordinators and special-services coordinators at each campus oversee program implementation. School counselors act as case managers for students with 504 plans; counselors attend 504 meetings and answer teacher and parent questions. Cage said clerical staff support coordinators and that the district provides professional development to staff on 504 policies and procedures.
Board members asked how counselors identify students who may need accommodations and whether nurses participate in teams when medical needs are involved. Cage said teams use classroom and assessment data, teacher concerns and parent requests to trigger meetings; nurses are invited to 504 meetings when medical issues are relevant. She added that counselors are assigned by alpha caseloads and that counselors’ overall caseloads average roughly 325 students each. At Joliet West the board confirmed there are 11 counselors plus a college-and-career counselor; Cage said that on average counselors may have about 10–12 students with 504 plans depending on the building.
Cage reviewed common supports documented in 504 plans: testing accommodations, medical plans and social-work supports, and she said West has shown an increase in the number of students with 504 plans this year compared with last year.
Ending: Cage said staff will continue professional development and coordination among counselors, school psychologists and special-services coordinators to ensure compliance and appropriate supports for students with 504 plans.
