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Dear Superintendents and Special Education Directors,
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B federal regulations (see 34 CFR sections 300.640 and 300.641), require that States must count and report an unduplicated number of children with disabilities receiving special education and related services on an annual basis.
In Illinois, the special education child count occurs on December 1 each year. This year, final December 1, 2020 child count data had to be entered in I-Star by February 24, 2021.
In addition, 34 CFR section 300.645 requires the State to obtain a certification from each local education agency that an unduplicated and accurate count of the number of students with disabilities receiving special education services has been made.
The December 1, 2020 child count certification must be performed in I-Star by the district superintendent or an authorized district representative with District Administrator access in IWAS.
Please note that the Director of the Special Education Cooperative cannot perform the child count certification on behalf of a member district.
The district child count certification is now open and is due on or before March 26, 2021. If district administrator certification is not complete by March 26, 2021, distribution of IDEA Part B grant funds will be suspended until the certification is complete.
To verify, please access the I-Star system via IWAS. The application can be found under System Listing -> Reporting -> Special Education.
Harrisburg Project has provided the following updated links related to instructions and training:
Questions regarding I-Star operation and access should be directed to Harrisburg Project at (800) 635-5274 or support@hbug.k12.il.us.
Thank you for all you do,
ISBE Special Education Department |