Child Find
As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Child Find Mandate, District 31 is responsible for identifying and evaluating all students, between birth and age 21, with suspected disabilities, within the school district. If the evaluation results determine a child has a disability under the IDEA, the school team and parents will work collaboratively to create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as appropriate.
There are a variety of ways District 31 actively engages in Child Find.
Preschool Screenings
Children ages 3 - 5 living within the District 31 boundaries may participate in a preschool screening to identify developmental concerns which may interfere with success if not treated early. This will help determine if a preschooler may benefit from special education assistance prior to enrollment in kindergarten.
Children can be screened in the areas of speech and language, concept development, and or motor development. Vision and hearing screenings are also available. The approximately one hour screenings are conducted remotely by the school District’s speech clinicians, learning specialists, school psychologists and school nurses.
District services can begin with early identification of students who may be eligible for future support.
View Screenings Dates
Proof of residency must be completed at least one week prior to your child's schedule screening. If residency is not completed in the appropriate time frame, the screening will be canceled and rescheduled for a future date.
To make an appointment for a screening, please contact Anabel Santiago at asantiago@district31.net.
Preschool screenings are NOT for determining kindergarten readiness. For all questions regarding typical kindergarten enrollment, please contact the Winkelman school office at 847-729-5650.
Early Intervention
District 31 works with area early intervention providers to make a smooth transition from early intervention to preschool. Students already receiving early intervention services from birth through two years old should be notified by your provider of meeting dates and times in order to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed before the child’s 3rd birthday.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
District 31 utilizes the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) process to identify students' academic and social-emotional needs. Through this process of providing intervention to and monitoring at-risk students, children with suspected disabilities are identified through each school’s individual problem solving teams.
It is the goal of District 31 to ensure that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education which provides them with proper academic, social-emotional, and behavioral supports. Additionally, through the Child Find process, District 31 aims to ensure that children are identified in a proactive manner to receive appropriate early intervention services.
For more information about the Child Find process or if you suspect your child may have a disability, please contact the building principal or Assistant Superintendent of Services, Dr. Janine Gruhn, jgruhn@district31.net
Resources
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/b/300.111
Section 226.100 Child Find Responsibility
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/023/023002260B01000R.html