 Illinois
School Districts’ Responsibilities Toward EI Services
As the result of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must participate
in the child find process as primary referral sources. In
addition, they must participate in the Local Interagency Councils’
(LICs) responsibility for the coordination and design of Part
C child find and public awareness activities. LEAs must also
participate in the transition process of eligible infants
and toddlers to preschool programs as they approach the age
of three. A school district is not required to provide
early intervention services, unless participating in a Part
C grant. It is, however in a school district’s best
interest to become involved with the early intervention system
within its geographic region as soon as possible, especially
since they may become responsible for these children in their
district once they become 3 years of age.
Child Find Activities
34 CFR 300.200 requires that each Local Educational Agency
applying for federal funds under P.L. 105-17 include “procedures
which ensure that all children residing within the jurisdiction
of the local educational agency who are disabled, regardless
of the severity of their disability, and who are in need
of
special education and related services are identified, located,
and evaluated…”. This includes 0-3 year olds
as well as Part B children. Therefore, a school district’s
procedures must address the 0-3 age group as well as older
children.
LIC-LEA Relationship
LEAs serve as members of the LICs. As such, an LEA participates
in the LIC’s responsibility for the coordination and
design of Part C child find and public awareness activities.
In addition, Local Educational Agencies must participate
in child find for 0-3 year olds as primary referral sources,
34 CFR Part 303.321(d)(3)(v). They are substantially
responsible for the child find activities for infants and
toddlers with disabilities and are major stakeholders in referring
them for appropriate services, since the LEA will ultimately
be responsible for educating them. Once such children
with disabilities are identified by the LEA, referral must
be made within two days to the local Child and Family Connections
office (CFC). While LEAs are not required to serve as
evaluators, service providers or service coordinators, their
staff may and should do so.
LEAs are also required to participate in the process of smooth
and effective transitioning of eligible Part C children to
preschool programs as they approach their third birthdays,
20 USC Section 1412(a)(9). This requires participation
in a transition planning conference arranged by Part C providers
six months prior to the child’s third birthday.
Summary
In summary, LEAs are responsible under federal regulation
and law for the following Part C activities:
- Conducting public awareness activities targeting families
and other primary referral sources;
- Conducting screening (by developmental checklists) to
actively seek out infants and toddlers with disabilities,
and maintaining procedures to assure compliance with the
two-day referral time frame;
- Working closely with CFCs to assure evaluations of identified
children; and
- Participating actively in their LIC.
Additionally the LEA is encouraged to have its staff therapists
and specialists participate in early intervention evaluations,
assessments, and coordination as appropriate or as requested
by CFCs, unless otherwise participating in a Part C grant. In
that case, the LEA must conform to the Part C requirements.
If you have questions concerning a school district’s
responsibilities relating to Part C requirements and activities,
contact Kay Henderson, ISBE Division Administrator for Early
Childhood Education at 217/524-4835 or Janet Gulley, Department
of Human Services, Bureau of Early Intervention Services at
217/782-1981.
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