An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a comprehensive plan that outlines the program of special education instruction, supports, and services a student needs to grow and achieve in his or her education. Students are legally entitled to these needed services and supports under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The IEP is designed to meet a student’s unique needs and is put together collaboratively by the IEP Team and reviewed at least annually. Learn more about IEP from the Illinois State Board of Education »
The IEP team includes parent(s)/guardian(s), a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a school administrator, evaluation personnel, and others with special knowledge or expertise regarding the student.
IEP Process
The process begins with an evaluation that shows a student’s strengths and challenges. The results let families and schools create a program of services and supports tailored to meet the student’s needs.
All children with disabilities who are between the ages of 3 and 21, and have not yet graduated from high school are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). We are committed to providing a continuum of special education programs and services for children ages 3 through 21 with special needs who qualify for special education services.
Referrals and Screenings
Huntley 158 uses a variety of methods of referral and screening to identify students with special needs.
- Referral by parents or guardians, concerned adults, and children themselves
- Preschool screening for children ages 3-5 at the District 158 Early Childhood Center
- Hearing and vision screenings at regular intervals during the child’s educational career
- An ongoing referral process completed by teachers and other professional personnel identifying children who exhibit difficulty performing in the classroom
When a referral is made, a team of professionals will meet to determine whether a case study evaluation is warranted. If so, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Team will meet with parents to collect information from parents or guardians, teachers and others to review existing information and determine the specific domain areas to be assessed in an evaluation.
This domain meeting will address the areas of Health, Vision, Hearing, Social/ Emotional Status, General Intelligence, Academic Performance, Functional Performance, Communication Status, and Motor Abilities. Once the domain areas have been determined, the parents will then give consent or refuse consent for evaluation of the determined assessments.
After determined assessments are completed, a meeting to share the results will be held within 60 school days. This purpose of this meeting will be to summarize, interpret and document evaluation results, and determine eligibility for special education services.
Contact the Special Services Department for information on making a referral.
