504

Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.

An impairment as used in Section 504 may include any disability, long-term illness, or various disorders that “substantially” reduces or lessens a student’s ability to access learning in the educational setting because of learning-, behavior- or health-related condition. Substantially limits is not defined in the federal regulations. In considering substantial limitations, students must be measured against their same age, non-disabled peers in the general population and without benefit of medication or other mitigating measures.

Many students have conditions or disorders that are not readily apparent to others. They may include conditions such as specific learning disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy and allergies. Hidden disabilities such as low vision, poor hearing, heart disease or chronic illness may not be obvious, but if they substantially limit that child’s ability to receive an appropriate education as defined by Section 504, they may be considered to have “impairment” under Section 504 standards. As a result, these students, regardless of their intelligence, will be unable to fully demonstrate their ability or attain educational benefits equal to that of non-disabled students. The definition does not set forth a list of specific diseases, conditions or disorders that constitute impairments because of the difficulty of ensuring the comprehensiveness of any such list. While the definition of a disabled person also includes specific limitations on what persons are classified as disabled under the regulations, it also specifies that only physical and mental impairments are included, thus “environmental, cultural and economic disadvantage are not in themselves covered."

Major life activities include, but are not limited to: self-care, manual tasks, walking, seeing, speaking, sitting, thinking, learning, breathing, concentrating, interacting with others and working. As of January 1, 2009 with the reauthorization of the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act, this list has been expanded to also include the life activities of reading, concentrating, standing, lifting, bending, etc. This may include individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, cancer, diabetes, severe allergies, chronic asthma, Tourette ’s syndrome, digestive disorders, cardiovascular disorders, depression, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, HIV/AIDS, behavior disorders. Students who are currently using illegal drugs or alcohol are not covered or eligible under Section 504.

Students that are eligible for a 504 Plan receive accommodations based on their identified need and how it substantially limits one or more of their major life activities. 

If you have questions, please contact the Director of Alternative/Supplemental Learning and 504, David Nowak, at 847-551-8497. 

Click here to view the Parents Rights Form.

Haga clic aquí para ver el formulario de derechos de los padres.

Click here to view the 504 Grievance Form.

Alternative Programming

Community Unit School District 300 has several alternate learning opportunities which include:

iLearn

The program is offered at all three high schools and is designed to provide a self-paced, computer based curricula aligned to District 300 standards that allow students to earn credit recovery for on-track graduation or accelerate graduation.

Success Academy

This program provides opportunities for students who are at risk of academic failure with a broad range of supports. Success Academy is offered at Carpentersville Middle School (6th, 7th, and 8th grade), Dundee-Crown High School, Hampshire High School, Jacobs High School (9th through 12th grade), and Oak Ridge School (6th through 12th grade).

Summer School

For questions, contact the Director of Alternative/Supplemental Learning and 504, David Nowak, at 847-551-8497. 

Oak Ridge School

Students are referred to Oak Ridge for a variety of reasons. Oak Ridge serves District 300 students in grades 6-12 with a wide variety of needs and services. Students are expected to follow District 300 Curriculum rules/ expectations. The ultimate goal is for all students to be able to mainstream back into their base schools and be successful in the areas of academic growth, positive behavior, and consistent attendance.

If you have questions regarding Oak Ridge School, please contact the Oak Ridge School principal, Stacy Wilkinson, at 224-484-5800.

Community Resource Partnership

Education Services fosters relationships with community services. 

If you have questions please contact your Education Services Specialist.

Click here for more information on the Community Resources Guide.

Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre la Guía de recursos comunitarios.

Click here for more information on Faith's Law.

D300 Liaison Program

The Special Education Parent Liaison Program

The Special Education Parent Liaison Program is a partnership between The Special Education Network and Community Unit School District 300. The purpose of this program is to educate D300 parents of students with disabilities about special education, assist them through the IEP process, provide training, workshops, ongoing technical assistance for parents, school personnel, and the community, address concerns between parents and school personnel and work to improve the quality of relationships, provide parent networking opportunities/support groups and to develop and sustain school and family relationships. The Special Education Parent Liaison Program is a collaboration with the Parent & Educator Partnership; an initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education.

For questions please contact Judy Ruffulo at judyruffulo@specialednetwork.org or 847-551-1780.

DCFS liaison

DCFS liaison works to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools. 

The goal of the liaison is to: 

• Support in the enrollment process 
• Support in student data and monitoring 
• Supports in access to services 
• Coordinate efforts with the foster care system and supports
• Training of District staff on DCFS matters

District 300, DCFS liaison is Shelley Nacke, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services at shelley.nacke@d300.org. 

Health Services

Education Services oversees health services for School District 300.  

For more information, please contact the Director of Health Services, Sherrie Schmidt, at 847-551-8371.

Homebound and Hospitalization Services

Home/hospital services are provided to a student when a licensed Medical Doctor (MD/DO), Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) and Physician Assistants (PA) determines at the time of signing the medical certificate that the student, will or is anticipated to, due to a medical condition, be out of school for a minimum of two consecutive weeks of school (10 days) or more  or on an ongoing intermittent basis.

For more information, please contact the Education Services office at 847-551-8430.

Click here to view the Homebound Information Packet with Forms.

Haga clic aquí para ver el Paquete de información sobre confinamientos en el hogar con formularios. 

Individualized Education Plans and Related Services

Education Services oversees individual education plans and related services for students with special needs.  

For questions, please contact Education Services. 

• Kristina Biegelmann, Director of Teaching and Learning: Preschool and Elementary at 847-551-8346
• Susan Rohlwing, Director of Teaching and Learning: Secondary at 847-551-5476
• Therapeutic Outplacements: Dr. Michelle Gambardella at 224-484-5477

Special Education Resources

• D300 Education Services Programs Overview
• Procedural Safeguards (Arabic)
• Procedural Safeguards (Chinese)
• Procedural Safeguards (English)
• Procedural Safeguards (French)
• Procedural Safeguards (Gujarati)
• Procedural Safeguards (Korean)
• Procedural Safeguards (Polish)
• Procedural Safeguards (Russian)
• Procedural Safeguards (Spanish)
• Procedural Safeguards (Tagalog)
• Procedural Safeguards (Urdu)
• Procedural Safeguards (Vietnamese)
• IEP Meeting Planner
• Records Parents Should Keep
• Letter to Parents Regarding DLM
• Brittany's Law - Graduation Participation
• Click here to view the Parent Guide for Special Education
• Haga clic aquí para ver la Guía para padres sobre educación especial

Interpreting

In an effort to ensure all parents/guardians are able to meaningfully participation in IEP meetings, the District wants to  provide notice that interpretation services are available to all parents/guardians. In the event parents/guardians request interpretation services, they also have the right to request the interpreter provided by the school district serve no other role in the IEP meeting than as an interpreter and the District will make reasonable efforts to fulfill this request. To request an interpreter please notify the case manager at least 10 days before the scheduled meeting so that they may request the interpreter. Additionally, if you have any questions or complaints about interpretation services, please contact Education Services. 

Private, Parochial, Homeschooled Individual Service Plans

Education Services provides related services to eligible private, parochial, and homeschooled students. To request services, please contact the D300 school closest to your private, parochial, or homeschooled location. 

For questions, please contact Education Services at 847-551-8331430.

Click here to view the Child Find Flowchart.

Click here to view the Private School to Nearest D300 Serving School Child Find.

Recovery Intervention

District 300 supports building-level teams in needed crisis situations of deaths, injuries, or other traumatic events impacting the school community and to meet the emotional and psychological needs of students and staff.

For questions, please contact the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, Shelley Nacke, at 847-551-8430.

Restraint, Isolated Time-Out, and Time out (RTO)

Public Act 102-0339 was signed into law August 13, 2021. It amends the Illinois School Code and specifies that the use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out will be limited to instances in which the student’s behavior poses an “imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others.” Following each incident of an RTO, schools must provide the following items to parents and guardians: a written summary of the incident; a copy of the RTO standards; information about the rights of parents, guardians, and students.

In addition, District 300 created an oversight team that consists of, but is not limited to, teachers, paraprofessionals, school service personnel, and administrators to develop district-specific plans that include procedures to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out (RTO). 

To view District 300's Physical Restraint, Time Out, Isolated Time Out Reduction (RTO) Plan, please click here.

To view the RTO Bill of Rights, please click here.

CPI - Crisis Prevention Institute

The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Program is a safe, non-harmful behavior management system designed to help human service professionals provide for the best Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security of disruptive, assaultive, and out-of-control individuals-even during their most violent moments.

For more information on CPI - Crisis Prevention Institute, please click here.

Whole Child Tier 3 Supports

Family Service Association of Greater Elgin (FSA)

• Click here to view the FSA Flyer
• Haga clic aquí para ver el folleto de la FSA

Love and Logic

Love and Logic provides simple solutions, tips, and practical techniques to help adults with students of all ages. It raises more responsible students, strengthens the relationship between students and staff, and promotes more fun in the classroom. 

For more information on Love and Logic, please click here.

Mental Health Outside Resources

• 1-800-273-TALK - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
• For Teens: 1-305-377-8336. Daily, 24 hours. TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889). Daily, 24 hours. Spanish: 1-888-628-9454. Daily, 24 hours.
• Crisis Text Line: - Text HOME to 741741: Crisis text line to reach a crisis counselor that serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support via a medium people already use and trust.
• AFSP.org – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: A voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
• ReachOut.com - ReachOut.com: An internet service for young people that provides information, support, and resources about mental health issues and enables them to develop resilience, increase coping skills, and facilitate help-seeking behavior. The site contains information about issues affecting young people in the form of fact sheets, stories, podcasts, and online forums.
• samhsa.gov – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): The agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
• ok2talk.org – 1-800-273-TALK: A community where teens and young adults struggling with mental health conditions can find a safe place to talk about what they are experiencing by sharing their personal stories of recovery, tragedy, struggle, or hope.

Restorative Practices

The fundamental premise of restorative practices is that people are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.

Five Characteristics of Restorative Practices

1. RELATIONSHIPS: Developing caring connections and finding common ground
2. RESPECT: Listening to others’ opinions and valuing them
3. RESPONSIBILITY: Being accountable for actions taken  
4. RESTORATION: Repairing harm that has been caused
5. REINTEGRATION: Ensuring all remain included and involved

The goals of restorative practices both in communities and in schools include:

• Building relationships, creating a sense of community, and its capacity for resolving conflict
• Empowering students by giving them a voice and a shared responsibility in finding constructive resolutions
• Addressing the underlying causes of inappropriate behavior
• Promoting and sharing community values
• Promoting healing for all affected parties of inappropriate behavior
• Providing an opportunity for the offender to make amends and be restored to the school community

Special Education Records

Education Services manages all special education records. To request a copy of special education records for your students, please complete the Release of Student Records Form and submit to D300 Central Office. 

For more information, please call the Education Services Office at 847-551-8430. 

Click here to view the District 300 Release of Student Records.

Haga clic aquí para ver la publicación de registros estudiantiles del Distrito 300.

Special Olympics

Education Services supports the Special Olympics in D300 schools. 

School District 300 offers current students who qualify opportunities to participate in Special Olympic competitions in these three sports: Basketball, Bowling, and Track & Field. This operates out of Jacobs High School. New participants are welcome.

Sports Offered:

• Basketball: Operates from October - January with the state competition in March
• Bowling: Operates bi-monthly from October - May
• Track & Field: Operates from March - June

Click here to view a flyer on what sports are offered for Special Olympics.

For questions on the Special Olympics, please contact Alex Fisher at 630-956-0331.

Specialized Transportation

Education Services works with the transportation department to deliver specialized transportation for students with special needs.  

For questions, please contact the Education Services Office at 847-551-8430.

Summer School Programming - General and Special Education

Education Services coordinates general education summer schools and special education extended school year. 

For questions, please contact the Director of Alternative/Supplemental Education and 504's, Dave Nowak, at 847-551-8497 or click here to visit the D300 Summer Offerings webpage.

For special education questions, please contact Education Services at 847-551-8340.