Student Services

It is with great honor that I welcome you to the HSA-McKinley Charter School Diverse Learner (DL) webpage. Special Education services are available to meet the unique educational needs of eligible students. Our department plays an important role in the total educational program for the (DL) student. The (DL) Department strives to cultivate partnerships with parents, teachers, students, administrators, community members, and other stakeholders.

The (DL) Department has a core set of beliefs that all students can learn, but in various ways and at different rates. We also believe that there is value in every learner who attends our schools. All students should benefit from their education, and the (DL) Department will work to ensure this with fidelity.

Collaboration and positive partnerships are paramount for the progress of our learning community. It is essential that all students are given the opportunity to have success in their academic and social emotional school experience and the (DL) Department is here to assist in that process.

If there are any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully yours,

Becky Cortesi	Julie King
Executive Director of Special Education	Case Manager
[email protected]	[email protected]

Service Logs

Students with disabilities may receive related services as part of their individual education programs (IEPs). The school district 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.

Parent Guide to Rights

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) partners with school districts to provide programs and services for students with specialized educational needs. This helps ensure that these programs and services meet state and federal requirements.

The ISBE Special Education Department provides and updates a parent guide called Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois. This guide incorporates the changes in regulation and law and serves as a resource for learning about the educational rights of children who receive special education and related services due to disabilities that affect their ability to achieve academically.

For details, please review The Parent Guide from ISBE

Required Notices, Consents, and Procedural Safeguards

All school districts and cooperative agreements in Illinois have been required to provide official written notice to parents of suspected and eligible special education students regarding a broad range of topics authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides a comprehensive list and instructions concerning the purpose of each form and its use, and additional information. Please see ISBE Notice and Consent Forms.

PUNS and ABLE Program Information

In Illinois, PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) is a statewide database that records information about individuals with developmental disabilities who are planning for or seeking services. The State uses the data to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs.

For details, visit the Understanding PUNS web page of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Policy and Laws:

SPED Policy and Procedures Document

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/

Americans with Disabilities Act: https://www.ada.gov/

Section 504, Rehabilitation Act: https://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/sec504.htm

What is the difference between IDEA and ADA with IEP and 504 students? http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html