Our district goal is to provide parents with knowledge and resources to support their child on their education journey. Giving parents access to information and resources that help them actively engage in their child's education is an important step in building and sustaining strong partnerships with families.

Parent Resources

To support parents, the Department of Student Services has compiled the following list of helpful resources.  Parents are also encouraged to contact their child's school if they have specific questions or concerns regarding their child's educational experience

ABLE

Savings for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities and their families can save and invest their money in tax-advantaged accounts and preserve benefits such as SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid.

Medicaid Statement

Parents are required to submit their annual Medicaid statement to the district if applicable.

 

Parent Notices

Availability of Related Service Logs

Students with disabilities may receive related services as part of their IEPs.  Grass Lake School District #36 will maintain related services logs that record the type and number of minutes of the related service(s) administered to students.  Copies of any related service logs will be available to parents/guardians at their request. 

Notice Regarding Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an IEP may qualify for services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child: (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.  To learn more about Section 504, please visit: Civil Right/Section 504

504 Parents Rights in Brief

Notice Regarding Students with Disabilities: House Bill 5770, which became law on August 28, 2018, requires that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a school board posts on its internet website and incorporates into its student handbook or newsletter notice that students with disabilities who do not qualify for an IEP may qualify for services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child: (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.

Meeting Attendees

HB1366: Provides that a school shall provide written notice to the parents or guardian of a child with disabilities that the parents or guardian have the right to have an individualized education program (IEP) advocate present at any meeting regarding the child’s current or prospective individualized education program and that the parents or guardian have the right to ask for an IEP facilitator for the child’s IEP.  Provides that the school may provide the written notification as a part of other provided documentation, including, but not limited to, admission and enrollment documents.

Interpretation & Translation Services

You have the right to request that the school district provide an interpreter for your IEP meeting.  You have the right to request that the interpreter serve no other role in the IEP meeting other than as an interpreter, and the school district should make reasonable efforts to fulfill this request.  If you believe that the school district unreasonably denied your request for an interpreter who serves no other role in the IEP meeting, you have all rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Article 14 of the School Code.  These rights include a due process hearing, State complaint, mediation, ISBE monitoring, and by filing a complaint with the office for Civil Rights.

You have the right to written Translations of vital IEP documents.  You can contact Donna Plath for any questions or complaints about interpretation and/or translation services.

 

PUNS

PUNS is a database of Illinois children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities who want or need developmental disability services.  The PUNS database helps the Division of Developmental Disabilities identify and plan for your services.  Registering in PUNS is the first and most important step you and your family can take to receive Home and Community Based Waiver services from the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Parents who need help understanding the PUNS database, the steps needed to register students, how to contact the appropriate developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination Agency (ISC), and the documentation and information parents/guardians will need for the registration process, may contact Mrs. Donna Plath for assistance. dplath@gls36.org

Special and Related Services

Grass Lake School District #36 provides a full continuum of services to meet the needs of students between the ages of 3 and 14 who experience educational challenges and are found eligible for special education services including occupational and physical therapy, social work programs and educational supports and speech and language pathology services. Students can be referred for an evaluation by their parents, their teacher, or any other concerned adult. If a parent feels his/her child needs special services and is not receiving them, the child’s teacher or principal should be contacted.

Child Find Screenings

Grass Lake School District 36 offers free developmental screenings for children birth-to-5-years of age who reside within the school district attendance area. The purpose of the screening is to determine if your child is meeting his/her developmental milestones. Areas screened include speech/language, readiness, social/emotional, and motor skill development.

SEDOL Cooperative

The district is a member of a special education cooperative within Lake County, which provides special education services not available within the district.

SEDOL website

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Mrs. Donna Plath

Director of Special Education

dplath@gls36.org

847-603-5150