Families in
Transition
Chicago Public Schools
If you live in the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is your official local education agency (LEA) responsible by law for evaluating, determining eligibility, and providing services for children with disabilities.
Placement Types
There are lots of different types of placements. This allows for more support specific to the child's needs. Placement is categorized based on how restrictive it is. Each child has the right to be placed in the least restrictive environment for them. See more about rights here:
CPS Preschool Program Options
Children who have an IEP only to receive speech therapy
These students are in general education classrooms 100% of the time
LRE 1: Students who need teaching from a special education teacher up to 120 minutes/week.
These classes are taught by general education teachers and have special education itinerant (traveling) teachers for part of the week.
LRE 2: Students who need teaching from a special education teacher up to 500 minutes/week.
These are classes taught by both general education and special education teachers where children with disabilities attend with gen ed peers
LRE 3: Students who need teaching from a special education teacher in a separate classroom
These classes are taught separately from general education peers by special education teachers
Enrolling
Students with speech only services, LRE 1, and 504 plans may apply and enroll in a CPS preschool program using the online portal
Inclusive programs and cluster programs are not available at every school. So these students are placed in a program that meets their needs by CPS's Office for Students with Disabilities
Click to see a list of schools who offer full and half day special education pre-k programs
Click to see a map of schools offering full and half day special education pre-k programs
* Most programs for three year olds in CPS are half day, so your child will either be in the morning or afternoon section.
After preschool placement options for children with disabilities change.
Starting in their kindergarten year placements there are more placement options. See below if you want to learn more.
LRE 1: 0%-20% removed from general education classroom
LRE 2: 21%-60% removed from general education classroom
LRE 3: 61%-100% removed from general education classroom
Specialized classrooms where students need 61%-100% removal from general education classrooms and a significantly modified curriculum.
A specialty school outside of CPS district for students with higher needs.
A placement for when child’s needs are 24/7 and cannot be met in any other setting.
Instruction in the home or hospital setting for if a student is unable to attend a school elsewhere due to medical or psychiatric condition.
Want to learn more about school services with CPS?
Every month CPS hosts an online meeting for parents about the transition process from early intervention to CPS. Meetings usually take place the last Tuesday of the month from 1pm-2pm. At the time of the meeting, just use this link.
Sign up for the Office for students with disabilities (OSD) monthly newsletter at this link:
Ask your service coordinator for more information!