Certifying December 1 Child Count

What is the December 1 Child Count?

States must count and report an unduplicated number of children with disabilities receiving special education and related services between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 of each year, according to the Code of Federal Regulations that govern Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (see 34 CFR Sections 300.640 and 300.641). Per Section 2-3.30 of the School Code Illinois uses Dec. 1 to compile an unduplicated count of students with disabilities reported annually to the federal government.

The Current Year Child Count Numbers are used for:

• State Performance Plan Indicators 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10
• Special Education Tuition Cost Sheets
• Nonpublic Proportionate Share (Fund L,P)

The Previous Year Child Count Numbers are used for:

• Special Ed Profile
• IDEA Excess Cost Worksheet (MOE)
• Indicator 4B
• ISBE Report Card

Who Certifies the December 1 Child Count?

• District Superintendent
• Designated Individual with District Administrator Roles in IWAS
• Although a cooperative may manage I-Star Plus data throughout the fiscal year, cooperatives do not have the authority to certify on behalf of a member district

TO CERTIFY THE DECEMBER 1 CHILD COUNT:

Log into the IWAS system and then to I-Star under System Listing.

From the main page of I-Star, click on the Data Collection dropdown and click once more on Child Count Status/Certifications

NOTE: Districts are not permitted to certify until the final numbers have been released by ISBE. Until then, the district's student count will remain at 0