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Services

Child Find

Child Find is an ongoing process that identifies, locates, and evaluates children who may be eligible for early intervention or may need special education services. This process takes place from birth through age 22 (i.e., through the end of the school year when the student turns 22). Hazel Crest District 152.5 is responsible for actively locating, identifying, and evaluating all children who live within the district boundaries who may qualify to receive special education and/or related services. 

All school districts must have written procedures for Child Find activities for all school children, including those attending private, charter, and/or religiously affiliated schools.

 

Continuum of Services

The Special Services Department at Hazel Crest District 152.5 offers a continuum of placements where students with disabilities are educated with students without disabilities, to the 

greatest extent appropriate. A student’s educational placement is determined by an IEP team.

Note: For additional information on Least Restrictive Environment and The Placement Continuum, please 

visit https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Special-Education-Parents-of-Students-with-Disabilities.aspx.

 

Availability of Related Service Logs

Students with disabilities may receive related services as part of their IEPs. HCSD 152.5 will maintain related service logs that record the type and number of minutes of the related service(s) administered to such students. Copies of any related service logs will be available to parents/guardians at their child’s annual review IEP meeting. Parents/guardians of students with disabilities may also request copies of their child’s related service logs at any time.

 

ADA Section 504

Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 504 protects the rights of individuals with disabilities and requires that school districts receiving federal financial assistance provide a “free appropriate public education” to qualified students with disabilities. To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to (i) have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (including caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, working, or operation of a major bodily function); (ii) have a record of such an impairment; or (iii) be regarded as having such an impairment.
Similar to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which established special education programs and services in public education, Section 504 requires that school districts provide qualified students with disabilities a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) .  However, Section 504 differs from IDEA in three respects: 

  •  
    • The Definition of disability in 504, as related above, is significantly different from the thirteen eligibility categories listed under IDEA (see Special Education Eligibility section above).
  •  
    • School districts do not receive state or federal money for serving Section 504 students.
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    • Section 504 is broader in scope, it applies to both students and employees of school districts.

Anyone can refer a child for evaluation under Section 504, and the evaluation, services and placement of students with disabilities will be provided at no cost to parents/guardians. For each student who is eligible under Section 504, the 504 team (including parents/guardians) will develop and implement a written plan designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs. The 504 plan will describe the services and/or accommodations the student will receive in school.  

If you have questions concerning Section 504, eligibility, or your student's 504 plan, please contact the school nurse.