ALERT: Help protect inclusion and supports for students with disabilities in Illinois

As shared from our friends at Access Living, but also we at Ability Chicago share as many other disability groups the same view of opposing the proposal...


The Illinois State Board of Education has proposed eliminating state Administrative Rule Part 226.730. Access Living and many other disability groups oppose this proposal. Currently in Illinois, under Administrative Rule Part 226.730, a general education classroom is one in which at least 70 percent of the students do not have Individual Education Plans (IEP). Most students with disabilities in Illinois have IEPs that call for part or all of their day to be spent in General Education Classrooms. The intent behind this rule is for students with disabilities to spend time in an integrated classroom with non-disabled students. Integrated classrooms have been shown to be beneficial for students with disabilities and students without disabilities.

If this rule is eliminated, there will be no limit on how many students with IEPs could be placed in a general education classroom. If the rule is eliminated, a class could be 100% students with disabilities and still be labeled General Education. This change would eliminate the intent of placing students with disabilities in General Education Classrooms and could further segregate students with disabilities.

In addition, the administrative rule would also eliminate class size requirements for self-contained classrooms for students with disabilities who are placed in non-General Education classrooms. This typically includes students with more significant disabilities who require services that are more intense. By eliminating this class size requirement, there would be no limit to the number of students placed in a special education classroom. The goal of limiting class size is to ensure that students with disabilities receive the supports and attention they need to be successful. Again, eliminating the class size requirement would nullify the intent of Administrative Rule Part 226.730.

Recently, two public hearings were held on the proposed repeal of Part 226.730. One was held in Carbondale, Illinois and one in Elgin, Illinois. Last week, Access Living staff traveled to Springfield to testify against the proposed repeal. All told, more than 600 notices have been filed against the proposed rule change.

For those of you who did not attend the hearings and have not yet delivered your thoughts on the issue, Access Living urges you to speak out against the proposed repeal, and to voice your support for inclusion and integration of students with disabilities in public schools throughout Illinois.

Here is what you can do. Contact members of Illinois' Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). Deliver this message to committee members:

I urge you to support quality education for students with disabilities in Illinois. If ISBE sends JCAR its proposal to eliminate Administrative Rule Part 226.730 please vote to keep these rules in place.

Below is a list of JCAR Members. Please make a few phone calls. Calls to JCAR members in your home district are particularly important.

Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Senator Don Harmon, Co-Chair (D-39)
Oak Park Office -- 708-848-2002
FAX -- 708-848-2022
Springfield 217-782-8176

Representative Timothy L. Schmitz (R-49)
Geneva, Illinois - 630-845-9590
Email: info@timschmitz.org
Springfield Office - 217-782-5457

Senator Pamela Althoff (R-32)
Crystal Lake Office -- 815-455-6330
Springfield Office -- 217-782-8000
pamela@pamelaalthoff.net

Senator Tony Munoz (D-1)
Chicago Office - 773-869-9050
Springfield Office - 217-782-9415
Fax -- 773-869-9046

Senator Dale A. Righter (R-55)
Mattoon Office -- 217-235-6033
Springfield Office - 217-782-6674
Fax --217-782-7818

Senator Ira Silverstein (D-8)
Chicago Office -- 773-743-5015
Springfield Office -- 217-782-5500
Fax -- 773-743-4750

Representative Gregory Harris (D-13)
Chicago Office -- 773-348-3434
Springfield Office -- 217-782-3835
Fax -- 773.348.3475

Representative Louis Lang (D-16)
Skokie Office 847-673-1131
Springfield Office -- 217-782-1252
RepLouLang@aol.com

Representative David Leitch (R-73)
Peoria Office -- 309-690-7373
Springfield Office -- 217-782-8108
Fax -- 217-557-3047

Representative Donald Moffit (R-74)
Galesburg Office -- 309-343-8000
Springfield Office -- 217-782-8032
217-557-0179 FAX

Representative Andre Thapedi (D-32)
Chicago Office -- 773-873-4444
Springfield Office -- 217-782-1702
rep32district@gmail.com


Thanks for your support,

Access Living

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