From: IMLER TIMOTHY L [mailto:TIMLER@isbe.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 2:56 PM
To: 'speddir@list.isbe.net' <speddir@list.isbe.net>
Subject: Special Education PreK Hours-Evidence Based Funding
Special Education PreK Hours
of Service for Evidence-Based Funding
Please be advised that the current language in PA
100-0465 regarding the inclusion of special education prekindergarten students
for a district’s average student enrollment states the following:
"Average Student
Enrollment" or "ASE" means, for an Organizational Unit in a given school year,
the greater of the average number of students (grades K through 12) reported to
the State Board as enrolled in the Organizational Unit on October 1 and March 1,
plus the special education pre-kindergarten students with services of
at least more than 2 hours a day as reported to the State Board on December 1,
in the immediately preceding school year or the average number of students
(grades K through 12) reported to the State Board as enrolled in the
Organizational Unit on October 1 and March 1, plus the special education
pre-kindergarten students with services of at least more than 2 hours a day as
reported to the State Board on December 1, for each of the immediately preceding
3 school years.
The interpretation of this phrase has the
following meaning:
1.
Student must be
reported at PreK grade level in the Student Information System
2.
As of December 1,
the student must receive 2 hours/120minutes or more of special education
services per day in either a half-day or full-day prekindergarten program
3.
Services are
defined and quantified per the student’s Individualized Education Program
4.
The classroom
setting of the student either blended or separate is not a factor in computing
the eligible time
5.
The interpretation
is intended to mimic claimable special education prekindergarten attendance in
the former General State Aid statute, Section 18-8.05(F)(2)(g) which restricted
attendance for children with disabilities who were below the
age of 6 years and unable to attend 2 or more
clock hours because of their disability or immaturity.
6.
ISBE is aware of
duplicate records in the EBF Enrollment Verification Tool. Some students counted
in the Home Student Enrollment Counts for Kindergarten 1/2 Day and Kindergarten,
which come from the Student Information System, are also counted in the Special
Education PreK count, which comes from ISTAR. Guidance can be found at
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/EBF-Enrollment-Verification-Message-11-8-2017.pdf
7.
Students who do
not qualify can be removed in the EBF enrollment reconciliation tool. Please
see EBF Verification and Reconciliation Process at
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/EBF_Collection_FAQs.pdf
Further questions can be directed to
EBFhelp@isbe.net
Tim Imler
Division Administrator
Funding and Disbursement Services
Illinois State Board of Education
Phone: 217-782-5256
Fax: 217-782-3910