According to the code of federal regulations that govern Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (see 34 CFR sections 300.640 and 300.641), States must count and report an unduplicated number of children with disabilities receiving special education and related services between October 1 and December 1 of each year. Per Section 2-3.30 of the School Code, Illinois uses December 1 to compile an unduplicated count of students with disabilities reported annually to the federal government. This year, final December 1, 2018 child count data must be entered in I-Star by March 1, 2019.

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, 2018 child count certification must be performed in I-Star by the district superintendent or an authorized district representative with District Administrator access in IWAS. Special Education Cooperatives cannot perform certification on behalf of their member districts. District certification will be open in IStar March 18-27, 2019. After March 27, IDEA Part B Flow Through and Preschool grant funds will be frozen until district certification is completed.

There will be ample time to review the child count data prior to the certification period in I-Star. Any district user with a District Administrator IWAS account can access and view preliminary child count data starting February 1, 2019. ISBE will collect and post weekly ‘Data Snapshots’ that will be updated each Friday until the final snapshot on March 1, 2019.

To prepare, please visit IWAS and verify I-Star access. The application can be found under System Listing -> Reporting -> Special Education.

Harrisburg Project staff will provide webinars with printed instructions to assist in the certification process. The webinars will be recorded and posted to their website as well for convenient access and sharing. To register for a training click here. Questions regarding I-Star operation and access should be directed to Harrisburg Project at (800) 635-5274 or support@hbug.k12.il.us