School District 308 Finalizing Special Education Plan

Oswego, Ill. (Oct. 23, 2015) — For the next phase of the withdrawal process, School District 308 is required to submit a Special Education Comprehensive Plan of its proposed special education services to the Illinois Special Education Advisory Committee (ISAC). District administrators updated the Board of Education on the status of the plan at its meeting on Tuesday, October 13.

“This is a great moment for School District 308,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Wendt told the Board of Education. “I could not be happier. I believe we will have a better special education program beginning July 1, 2016. It is time for our school district to lead, manage and coordinate special education within our own system.”

To improve special education services, School District 308 will add more special education coordinators to serve at the building level as part of its withdrawal plan to separate from the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative (KCSEC), starting in the 2016-17 school year. The added special education coordinators are part of a plan allowing the district to provide the services originally supplied by KCSEC.

Coordinators serve as compliance managers for students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and provide technical assistance within their area of expertise, as well as instructional guidance to special education teachers and related service providers. The plan would increase the overall number of coordinators by two in an effort to improve the special education culture within the system.

The increase would allow the coordinators to better address the needs of students within each building and provide for greater availability and flexibility in addressing the needs of special education students.

SD 308 has received input from numerous stakeholder groups through nine different review sessions, including specific feedback from over 80 parents. Two additional forums were offered for teachers to provide input.

An executive summary of the sessions will be provided as part of the comprehensive plan. In early November, the plan will be submitted to an Illinois State Board of Education consultant for review. In December, it will be submitted to ISAC.

“We wanted to make sure that parents felt like they were part of the process,” Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Judith Minor said. “It is their input and the feedback from teachers and staff members which will allow us to make changes resulting in improved academic achievement.”