Student Services
NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , the District must provide students with disabilities with appropriate special education and related services to address their educational needs. If your student receives related services from the District through their Individualized
Education Program (“IEP”) document, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, nursing services, and speech and language therapy, you may request copies of related
service logs developed and maintained by the District for your child. These related service logs include information regarding the type and duration of related services administered to your child.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s special education services, please contact Alyssa Hart, Director of Student Services, ahart@dunlapcusd.net , 309-691-3955 ext. 6.
Please note under the new HB3586 law we have to provide a copy of the IEP draft 3 days before the IEP. This will be available in the school office, unless you communicate with your case manager before that time.
Student Services is a department of the Dunlap School District that encompasses several areas to support students throughout the school system. These areas include:
- Section 504 Plans
- English Language Learners
- Nursing
- Response To Intervention
- Social Emotional Learning
- Special Education
- Dunlap Gives Back
- Resources
Section 504 Plans
Section 504 Plan
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability by any program or activity that receives or benefits from federal funding. Section 504 requires that disabled students be provided with a free appropriate public education including education with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
Definition of Qualified Individual with a Disability Under Section 504
A person has a disability within the meaning of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if he or she has a mental or physical impairment, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities. An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active.
For more information about 504 plans, please speak to your school's counselors or administration.
Resources
English Language Learners
DUNLAP COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #323
Program Description for English Language Learners
Enrolling students from foreign countries is a unique experience for our school district. We are provided an opportunity to learn of other peoples, countries, and cultures from sources other than textbooks and multimedia. These experiences give our staff and students’ opportunities to share knowledge and information with people from other lands and build friendships that otherwise would not be possible.
Housing English Language Learners (ELL) does, however, present challenges for receiving schools. Like all other children enrolled in our schools, their individual needs must be met. It is the intent of the Dunlap School District to have ELL students functioning on his/her own as quickly as possible within a push-in model of support (without the assistance of special teachers). With this in mind, the following information provides a program overview.
ENROLLMENT / WITHDRAWAL:
All families should complete a Home Language Survey upon registering for school. Receiving schools should contact the ESL teacher when registering students from homes where English is not the home language. Students will then be assessed a certified staff member to determine whether they qualify for ELL services. Parents will be sent written notification if their child qualifies for ELL services.
Any parent or legal guardian whose child has been enrolled in a program shall have the absolute right to withdraw the child from the program immediately by submitting a written notice of his or her desire to withdraw. This written notice should be submitted to the building principal.
Students will exit the ELL program when they are able to function effectively in the content areas of their classrooms. In keeping with Illinois State guidelines, each student’s English language proficiency will be assessed annually. The ACCESS assessment will be the primary indicator of a student’s readiness to exit the program. Other factors, however, may be considered for exiting the program. These factors include a student’s level of acculturation in the school community, content area academic achievement, and results of local assessments. The classroom teacher, ELL teacher, and building principal will collaboratively determine when a student will be exited from the program.
The ELL program is flexible in that it allows a student to re-enter the program if the need arises. As educational concepts and vocabulary grow in complexity and quantity, the student may require ELL program services intermittently throughout the elementary school years.
ASSESSMENTS / RECORDS:
All ELL students will take part in state standardized assessments that their grade level peers are required to take. Students may be exempt from some state testing requirements however. Results of these assessments will be reported to parents in the same manner as other student reports are communicated.
ELL students will also take part in an additional assessment called ACCESS. This assessment is given in order to monitor progress toward WIDA standards. Results of the ACCESS assessment will also be reported to parents. The ELL teacher will be responsible for administering the ACCESS test to ELL students. One copy of the individual test scores should be placed in the student’s cumulative file and one copy should be forwarded to the District coordinator.
Access
Can Do Descriptors
Identify ELLs
Office Staff
Ms. Katie Norbutas
Resources
Nursing
Response To Intervention
What is Response to Intervention or "RtI"?
RtI is a means of providing early intervention in the general education program. There is often a misconception that RtI is a special education program and this is false. In fact, schools must demonstrate evidence that early intervention has been attempted through a three tier model before consideration of special education services. By using RtI, teachers and other school staff members are able to identify challenges to student learning, provide appropriate research based interventions, and to monitor student progress based on achievement and benchmark data. The data obtained enables teachers to differentiate instruction in order to meet the needs of their students.
RtI uses a three tier model that utilizes increasingly more intense instruction and interventions. All students are given Tier I support in the regular classroom. If students do not respond to the regular curriculum they are provided with Tier II, small group assistance. If students do not respond to the Tier II interventions they are provided with Tier III, assistance which is more intensive. Students who do not respond to Tier II or Tier III interventions may be considered for special education services.
At Tier I classroom teachers use scientifically researched based reading and math programs in their classroom to educate all students. Data is collected and used as a general screening process for all students and to determine effectiveness of core instructional practices. All K-12 students are benchmarked in the fall, winter, and spring using Curriculum-Based Measurements (CBM) and Social Emotional Learning assessment. Results of the tests are entered into the district data system. Kindergarten students are assessed in the areas of early literacy skills and early numeracy skills. Students in grades 1-8 are assessed in reading fluency, reading comprehension, writing and math. High school students are screened annually using EPAS readiness exams.
At Tier II classroom teachers and RtI support staff will supplement the regular classroom instruction by providing interventions in order to increase student achievement. Data is collected to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and to determine if an instructional change is needed. These interventions are carried out in small groups. Students at Tier II will be progress monitored regularly using CBM assessment probes in order to determine the effectiveness of their interventions. Professional Learning Community teams will monitor progress of all students to determine student needs and growth.
At Tier III, a more intensive intervention plan is created for students. Students who have failed to respond favorably to intervention at the Tier II level may be referred to the RTI team. A referral form is completed and submitted to the team. The referral should be accompanied by progress monitor data from Tier II and a listing of interventions used and the duration of the interventions. A formal meeting is conducted at the Tier III level and includes parent participation in the creation of a more intensive intervention plan.
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning
A definition of Social Emotional Learning: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which we learn to recognize and manage emotions, care about others, make good decisions, behave ethically and responsibly, develop positive relationships, and avoid negative behaviors. It is the process through which students enhance their ability to integrate thinking, feeling, and behaving in order to achieve important life tasks. Within the school setting, SEL can best be accomplished through a layered approach of skills lessons, infusion into the curricula and classroom practices, and an environment of safety, respect, and caring which models SEL values.
Special Education
Dunlap provides special education services at all levels and in all buildings. The type of special education services may differ among the buildings, however we have a full continuum of services throughout the district. We have speech services and cross categorical services (resource support) at every school.
Dunlap has center based Early Childhood programs housed at Hickory Grove Elementary School; Early Childhood Special Education and Bright Futures/Blended Early Childhood Special Education Program.
We also provide an Instructional program for students who require a modified curriculum. The K-5th grade instructional program is housed at Ridgeview Elementary School, grades 6-8 at Dunlap Middle School and grades 9-12 at Dunlap High School.
In addition to the instructional modified curriculum, we have a Life Skills program for students who require an alternative curriculum. The Life Skills program for K-5th grade is housed at Banner Elementary School, grades 6-8 at Dunlap Middle School and grades 9-age 21 at Dunlap High School. To view more information about the services that Dunlap provides please click on the "Continuum of Services" tab on the left.
Continuum of Services and Supports
We strive to continuously improve student growth and achievement by ensuring that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled age-appropriate peers. Placement decisions are the responsibility of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team. In order to obtain a satisfying and productive classroom and school learning environment the team must take into consideration the educational needs of both the student with disabilities and those of other students in the classroom. The IEP team also places particular emphasis on access to the general education curriculum and class placement when planning appropriate goals and objectives for the student with disabilities. Students are placed in a program that best meets their needs and individual learning goals are determined through by the IEP team.
Related Services: Students may receive one or more of the following services as determined by the IEP team. Common services may include Speech / Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Counseling, and Physical Therapy.
Early Childhood Services
Services for students aged 3 - 5 who are referred through a screening process. Curriculum is based on individual IEP goals which include cognitive skills, social skills, independent functioning and communication skills. Services range from a self-contained setting to a blended preschool setting.
(Cross Categorical /Resource): General Education with direct special education support/ instruction outside the general education classroom.
The student receives special education supplemental support for the general education curriculum outside of the general education classroom. Supplemental instruction is provided in a small group or individual setting using research based interventions based on student need. General education teachers collaborate with special education teachers to make accommodations and modifications.
At the high school level, students receive supplemental support within the general education classroom through a co-teaching model. Specialized courses in English and math are provided according to student need. Additional support is available through resource study halls.
Students participate in general education setting to the maximum extent possible, as determined by the IEP team.
Direct Special Education Instruction (Instructional)
A modified academic curriculum is provided in a special education setting. Curriculum mirrors general education with significant modifications in content, intensity, and pacing. Students are included in general education setting to the maximum extent possible, as determined by the IEP team.
Direct Special Education Instruction (Life Skills)
Curriculum is based on alternate assessment framework of the Illinois State Learning Standards. This curriculum provides academic instruction by primarily focusing on independent functioning, social skills, community- based instruction, and pre-vocational skills. Services are primarily delivered in special education classroom. Students participate in general education setting to the maximum extent possible, as determined by the IEP team.
Dunlap Gives Back
Dunlap Gives Back
Program:
Description: A program to help students and families with school supplies, birthday treats/valentines, hygiene products, clothes and other needed items throughout the school year. This program will protect families’ privacy and maintain confidentiality.
This program will direct families, teachers, and staff to one source and eliminate the risk of offending parents by randomly providing items to students without parents’ permission.
Background information: In 2014/2015 Dunlap staff completed a basic needs assessment.
The most significant areas of need noted were: school supplies, Breakfast/food items, hygiene, and clothing items.
Process:
· If you are a student or family that has a need please email ahart@dunlapcusd.net
· The email will be reviewed and the student or family will be contacted. All information will be kept confidential. No other staff will be informed of this request.
· Example of items that MAY be provided: pencils, pens, paper, backpack, calculator, deodorant, shampoo, soap, clothing items, etc. No item is too big or too small.
We will do our best to help provide supplies requested, we CANNOT promise we can always help, but we will try are hardest!
If you would like to be, a person who could DONATE or help give to the program please contact me at my email below.
Alyssa Hart
Director of Student Services
309-243-8655
Resources
Dunlap CUSD #323 cares deeply for the well-being of our families and students. If are in need of additional services or resources, outside of what Dunlap CUSD #323 can provide, please view the comprehensive list of National, State, and Local resources. Contact Alyssa Hart, Director of Student Services, with further questions.
For families looking for additional resources, information, or activities to do with their children at home, please click the link below for a comprehensive list in Padlet of parent resources to best support your child's individual needs at home. The list will be updated frequently with new resources and activities. The resources are separated into different categories, which are listed at the top of the Padlet. Scroll through each category and click on the resources that are most useful to you and your family. If you experience issues with any of the resources or have questions, please contact Alyssa Hart at ahart@dunlapcusd.net or Emily Barnes at ebarnes@dunlapcusd.net.