Special Education

Naperville District 203 provides a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal mandates. In order to receive special education services, a student must have a physical or mental disability as identified in the Illinois State Criteria. The qualifying disabilities are autism, visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental retardation, orthopedic impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, multiple disabilities, deafness, deaf-blindness, and other health impairment. In addition, a qualifying disability must adversely impact educational progress and require specially designed instruction. It is important to note that not all students with a disability will be eligible for special education services.  

Child Find/Identifying Students for Special Education:

Preschool Children:

Students between the ages of 3-5 who live within the district boundaries may participate in a developmental screening at Ann Reid Early Educational Center.  This screening will determine if the child is meeting developmental milestones in the areas of speech and language, academic readiness, social emotional readiness, and motor skills.  If difficulties are detected an evaluation for special education services may be initiated. To schedule a developmental screening, please contact Ann Reid Educational Early Educational Center at 630.420.3882 or visit their website for more information.  

School-age Students:

Students who are currently enrolled in grades K-12 and attending a school within the district boundaries (including private and homeschooled students) may be referred for an evaluation by their parents or the school team. To refer a child for a special education evaluation, a letter should be submitted to the school principal identifying the areas of concern.  Students who are homeschooled may direct the letter to the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services. A written response will be provided within 14 school days.

Special Education and Related Services:

District 203 provides the special education and related services as identified by the IEP team. Services and supports provide specially designed instruction to meet the educational needs and goals identified by the IEP team.  Related services are designed to support students in benefitting from special education and include but are not limited to social work, psychological services, speech/language therapy, transportation, assistive technology, occupational and physical therapy, and adaptive physical education.  It is important to note that related services are determined based on educational needs and differ in eligibility and services provided within a medical model.

Student Services Staff Roles and Responsibilities

The District maintains related service logs that document the type and number of minutes of related service administered under a student’s individualized education program (IEP).  These related service logs are available to parents/guardians at a student’s annual review IEP meeting.  Parents/guardians may also request a copy of any IEP related service log maintained for their child.  Please direct any requests for a copy of a related service log for your child to the Assistant Principal responsible for student services. 

Continuum of Services:

A full continuum of services is available for all students who qualify for special education. Students with disabilities may receive services exclusively in the general education classroom or within a residential setting, with many other options in between. Services and supports are individually designed by the IEP team and aligned to the educational needs of the student.

The vast majority of our students receive services within their neighborhood schools. Additionally, specialized classrooms are available throughout the district for students who need additional support. Each of the specialized classrooms provides a smaller student/teacher ratio, increased intensity of services and a focused methodology aligned to student’s needs.

NCUSD 203 Continuum of Services

Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and implementing provisions of the School Code, may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal 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.