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District outlines next steps after special-education review and prepares discipline-disproportionality plan for state
Summary
Administrators described two near-term tasks from a recent special-education review: expanding the Special Ed continuum (individual student needs, placement and supports) and creating a student-services parent collaboration group to address communication and professional development; the district also must submit a discipline-disproportionality plan to ISBE by Feb. 3.
The board received an update on the district's response to a recent external special-education review. District staff said the review produced multiple recommendations; administrators prioritized two near-term tasks for this school year: expanding the Special Education continuum to better match student needs and establishing a parent–staff collaboration group to address communication and professional development.
Why it matters: Administrators said expanding the continuum will involve reviewing individual student needs across grades and buildings and implementing the five recommendations tied to that bucket; the parent collaboration group will help translate recommendations on communication and professional development into concrete capacity-building activities.
Discipline plan deadline: Separately, district staff reported the district was flagged on ISBE’s discipline-disproportionality list. The superintendent said the district will submit a plan to reduce exclusionary discipline and meet the state’s requirement, with a submission target the Monday immediately after the board meeting (Feb. 3 referenced in discussion). Board members underscored the need to define MTSS roles and eligibility determination clearly as part of the parent collaboration work.
Next steps: District staff said they will form the parent collaboration group with broad representation of parents and staff, prioritize the five recommended tasks under the Special Ed continuum expansion, and bring periodic updates to the board; items related to MTSS data submissions and eligibility determinations will be part of future capacity-building work rather than immediate actions tonight.
