Families in
Transition
Frequently Asked Questions
How do magnet schools work?
Magnet schools should follow the same rules as normal public schools. If your child requires school placement for their IEP they can get placed at a magnet school just like they would any other public school. If your child does not require placement you can choose to apply to a magnet school just like any other student. For selective enrollment schools, the same placement roles apply. If a child does not require placement they can apply the same way other students do.
What are the criteria for the different environments?
There are no specific criteria for being placed in a more or less restrictive environment. It is actually within the law that environment decisions cannot be based on any one factor, and this actually protects children from being placed without proper evaluation. However when deciding on placement they do take into account;
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Behavior
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Cognitive skills
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Adaptive skills
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Communication skills
They have to take into account everything about the child, and if the related services, special education, and supplementary aids and services will be enough to achieve goals.
Childcare for children with disabilities?
By law children with disabilities cannot be excluded from a child care center because of their disability. There are no child care centers specifically for children with disabilities, but children with disabilities are welcome at lots of centers in the city. Here's some tips for finding child care that can meet your child's needs.
How do I pick the right school for my child?
If you are going into a public school then they have the job of finding a school that can meet your child's needs. You can choose to put your child in a different school if you choose in which case its important to visit the schools, do research, and speak to school staff to make sure they can meet your child's needs.
My child qualified for transportation services. Is it safe?
Transportation services are safe, however many many families feel anxiety about putting their young child on a bus. CPS has to make sure that transportation is safe for all students, so they should not recommend it for your child if it is not safe. Buses also have cameras recording audio and video, so in case of a problem they can be looked at. During IEP meetings if a student is eligible for transportation the team decides if the students needs any accommodations specific for transportation.
If you are concerned for your students safety on the bus ask about these accommodations and reach out to the student transportation services.
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What if I want to wait to send my child to school?
Children in Illinois have to go to school starting at age six or there are legal consequences for caregivers. Before that age caregivers can choose to wait to put their children in school. If your child has an evaluation and gets an IEP at 3, you can still choose not to enroll them until later. Depending on how long they might have to be reevaluated later.
What if the school district says there is no room in the program for the child?
Law of the state and country say that the local education agency (LEA) is REQUIRED to provide the services to children eligible for early childhood special education (ECSE). In the city of Chicago the LEA is Chicago Public Schools (CPS). If your child is eligible for ECSE and they are being denied a spot you can choose to contact an organization who can help your family such as Equip for Equality. You can also use other tools that are part of the disagreement process. Click below for more.
What about charter schools?
Charter schools are independent schools with an agreement with the state to get funding. They still have to follow all the same laws to protect students with disabilities. To apply to elementary school/pre-k charter schools you have to send applications directly to the school and follow their rules for applying and for sending in your child's IEP. If your child's needs can be met at the school then they will go into the school lottery to be randomly selected with other students. Find a school here:
What will happen if the department of education is shut down?
No one knows exactly what will happen to special education or IEPs but many people are feeling anxious. IDEA, the law that governs special education is still in effect and CANNOT be changed by executive order. But without the department of education checking if states are following IDEA, states will likely vary in how well they accommodate and provide for students with disabilities. In Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker has a history of standing up for special education. This is an issue that is still changing based on continued changes to the government, so its important to keep up to date if possible.