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 Plus 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.

Click the + sign next to your district's name.

The District Superintendent/District Administrator can then review the final 2026 Child Count number prior to certifying.

NOTE: The number reported CANNOT be changed. All edits in I-Star Plus should have occurred prior to the certification period opening for districts.

Click the CERTIFY button.

*MISSING A SCREENSHOT HERE*

Click the X to close the current window and confirm that the 'Status' column has updated to show the IWAS account name & timestamp.

If the Status is labeled "Not Verified" the Child Count was not properly certified.

If an I-Star user has followed all specified steps and the "Certify" button is not available at the TOP of the screen, that individual does not have the proper security roles to certify the Child Count number for that district.

For questions and/or concerns regarding the certification process, please contact Harrisburg Project at support@hbug.k12.il.us or (800)-635-5274.