Special Education Personnel

Special education personnel reimbursement (Section 14-13.01 of the School Code) is intended to provide funding for school districts and special education cooperatives employing the necessary staff to serve children and youth with disabilities, ages 3-21 years old. Staff that are employed for these specialized purposes include teachers, school social workers, school nurses, school psychologists, school counselors, physical and occupational therapists, individual or classroom aides, readers, administrators, and other staff assigned to work in the area of special education. The State reimburses local school districts and special education cooperatives $9,000 per professional employee and $3,500 per non-certified staff employed on a full-time basis for the school year, depending on the final reimbursement level.

All special education personnel providing services in accordance with an individualized education program (IEP) are reported for approval throughout the school year. Please refer to the Special Education Personnel Approval Procedures. (Updated 4/08)

Additionally, please review the Special Education Personnel Reimbursement Instructions. In order to claim reimbursement after receiving approval, districts and special education cooperatives must transmit Special Education Personnel Reimbursement by August 15 each year. The Special Education Home/Hospital Work Sheet is utilized by each district or cooperative to record data necessary for claiming reimbursement for home or hospital instruction for pupils. A replacement file is required to be transmitted electronically in early November each year to correct any errors or add any approved personnel not submitted on the August 15 claim. Errors discovered after the early November data transmission may be amended in writing to ISBE through November 30. Corrections are not allowed after November 30. Special Education Personnel Reimbursement Calculation Sheets will be transmitted electronically to Site Administrators and to the Directors of Special Education in January of each year or when the final reimbursement level is determined. The Site Administrators are responsible for forwarding a copy to the individual districts.

Staff whose salaries are paid in part or in whole with Medicaid funds may be claimed for reimbursement. The salaries must be entered in the appropriate local funds field on Special Education Personnel Reimbursement. These employees must be approved with an ID Code of 1 or 3 through the special education personnel approval process prior to being claimed.

News and Information

Nurses:Claimable FTE and Reimbursement

Special Education Personnel Data Transmission 2007-08 School Year Memo (updated 05/08)

Special Education Director Change Procedures

Special Education Personnel Questions and Answers

Home/Hospital Instructions and Reimbursement Question and Answers

Special Education Personnel Employed in Excess of 1.0 FTE (updated 06/07)

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