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
