Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70C
Special Education
Special Education
Laraway School District 70C acknowledges the existence of individual differences in the intellectual, social, emotional, communication and physical development of children. As a member of the Southern Will County Cooperative for Special Education (SOWIC), Laraway 70C adheres to all relevant Federal (Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act-IDEA) and State laws and regulations regarding the education of children with disabilities.
Ongoing Child Find activities are conducted to assure that those children with suspected disabilities are identified and offered the specialized instruction necessary to assure they receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Child Find activities also include free screenings for preschool aged children conducted by the Laraway and SOWIC teams.
For a child to be eligible for special education services there must be a disability that adversely affects a child’s educational performance and that requires specialized instruction. Eligibility determinations are made by a multi-disciplinary IEP team, which includes parents/guardians. This team evaluates the child and if eligible develops, delivers, and assesses his or her program on at least an annual basis.
Our full continuum of services is available for eligible children ages 3 to 8th grade and includes modifications and accommodations in the classroom delivered by certified general or special education teachers, paraprofessionals, speech/language therapists, or related services personnel. According to the needs as determined by the IEP team, services can include resource support, instructional services, SOWIC Cooperative self-contained programs, public or private day school placement, residential placement, and home instruction. This continuum maximizes opportunities for inclusion in the general education environment and offers services in the least restrictive environment (LRE) for that child. LRE requires that (to the maximum extent appropriate) children with disabilities aged 3 through 21 in public or private institutions or other care facilities are educated with children who are not disabled [34 C.F.R. §300.550 (b)(1)]. In addition, children with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic services and extracurricular activities (34 C.F.R. §300.553).
Special Education Procedures
Identifying Students with Suspected Disabilities (Child Find)
The District identifies students with suspected disabilities through preschool screenings and individualized testing requested by parents, school employees, or referrals from State agencies such as DCFS, the ISBE or community agencies and deemed to be appropriate by the District.
Students with suspected disabilities are evaluated by a team of qualified individuals in all areas of suspected disability, which could include the following domains: cognitive functioning, academic achievement, functional performance, communication status, motor abilities, health, hearing and vision and socio-emotional status. Parents are included in determining the scope of the evaluation as part of the team and must consent to the assessment prior to it taking place.
Preschool Screenings
Laraway School District 70C offers community based screenings for preschool students throughout the school year. These screenings include vision and hearing checks as well as speech and developmental screenings. For an appointment, contact SOWIC to set up your Preschool Screening Appointment at 815-741-7777 to request the next steps for a screening.
Requesting an Evaluation
If you are concerned about your child's learning ability, please contact your child's teacher, the principal or the Special Education Director, Meaghan Polensky at 815-727-5196 ext. 2509. Requests should be made in writing and identify the nature of your concerns and how it impacts your child in school and school related activities. Within 14 school days, the school team will arrange a meeting to discuss the need for further assessments.
Procedural Safeguards (Spanish)
Laraway Procedures for Behavior Interventions for Students with Disabilities
Laraway Procedures for Behavior Interventions for Students With Disabilities (Spanish)
Behavioral Interventions Policy
Additional Guidance Procedures
Illinois ABLE:
Public Act 104-0314 expands requirements related to the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (IL ABLE) account program. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, districts will also be required to post information about IL ABLE on their district websites.
Service Logs and Student Records
School personnel who provide related services to students are required to maintain written logs that contain the service provided, the date and the number of minutes administered. These related service logs will be made available to parents/guardians when requested. These service logs are considered part of a student’s temporary school records. Parents/guardians may also request to review their child's school student record prior to any special education eligibility or IEP meeting.
For information on any of these topics, please click on the links below:
- ISBE Parent Guide
- ISBE Records Keeper
- Parent Center Hub
- https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Special-Education-Parents-of-Students-with-Disabilities.aspx
Response to Intervention
Special Education
Social Emotional Learning
Section 504
Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the student (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment. Questions about the identification, assessment and placement of students should be directed to the Director of Special Education/District 504 coordinator Meaghan Polensky at 815-727-5196 ext. 2509
For more information, please contact:
Meaghan Polensky, Special Education Administrator
Email: mpolensky@laraway70c.org
Phone: 815-727-5196
Aaron Ventsias, Principal
Email: aventsias@laraway70c.org
Phone: 815-727-5196