Student Services

The Department of Student Services supports the schools and staff while they are working toward educational excellence for each student. This department is responsible for oversight and support in the areas of academic and social-emotional intervention, speech-language, health services, 504 Education Plans, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), crisis intervention and prevention, homeless education, hospitalized youth, and adjudicated youth.

We support students through formalized problem solving teams, 504 Plan teams, and IEP teams. These teams monitor the success of individual students and groups of students. The teams make recommendations around academic, social, emotional, and behavioral interventions or supports to increase a student’s access and success in the general education curriculum.

On August 23, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 3586. This legislation ensures that a copy of your child’s related service log is provided to you at the Annual Review meeting or upon your request. Related service(s) may include: Social Work, Speech Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Orientation and Mobility and/or Health services as outlined in your child’s Individual Education Plan. The logs reflect services delivered within the school setting and will include the date, type of service (direct or consultative), and the amount of time the specific service was provided.

If you have any questions about the implementation of HB 3586 in District 303, please feel free to contact Dr. Kennedi Strickland-Dixon, Executive Director of Student Services at 331-228-6457 or kennedi.strickland-dixon@d303.org.

Social-Emotional Intervention/Support
The Department of Student Services maintains and nurtures the collaboration and support of students in conjunction with the building staff. We support students through special programs and by embedding staff trained in social and emotional interventions and support.

Special Education
Students entitled for Special Education Services are provided an array of supports through a continuum of services designed to increase the students' access to the District 303 curriculum. This access allows for rigorous instruction and specialized supports to meet the child's and family's desired outcomes. 

Speech Language Services
Speech Pathologists work with all students that have been identified to benefit from these services. These clinicians provide support to students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), students with mild speech and language needs, and students that need intermittent walk-in service

Transition Services
Students who qualify for transition services receive direct instruction and support to attain employment, education/training, and independent living outcomes. D303 offers a continuum of transition programming designed to prepare individuals for life as an independent adult. 

Nurse/Health Services
The nurses in District 303 serve all of the students in our 17 school buildings through direct services and through consultation with staff, family and administration. Nurses support all aspects of health and safety in the school community by providing emergency care, facilitating access to school health care, and identifying and managing health issues in the school that impede student learning. 

The Department of Student Services in collaboration with building staff provide opportunities for all students to receive additional enrichment, supports, and intervention. The process is implemented through a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework. This framework includes screening assessments to show growth, and specialized interventions that are determined by a school-based problem solving team.

In collaboration with the building staff, the Department of Student Services works to increase opportunities for students to thrive and progress academically. We support this process through school-based problem solving teams and embedding trained staff in each building skilled in the areas of academic intervention and evaluation.

School Counselors are available to support students’ academic and social pathway toward independence and well-being. They support the schools through academic guidance, social emotional counseling, liaison with classroom teachers, they support the teams with crisis response, and they are members of the school problem solving team.

School Psychologists provide academic and social emotional evaluation and intervention. They are members of the school's problem solving team and support the process of RTI, 504 Plans, and IEP evaluation.

The district supports students that are homeless through a homeless liaison and collaboration with Kane County. The liaison supports students to maintain continuity and access to educational experiences in our community.

Who are Homeless Children and Youth?

Before schools can be certain they are complying with legislation related to educating students experiencing homelessness, they must understand who can be considered homeless. The McKinney-Vento Act (Section 725) defines "homeless children and youth" (school-age and younger) as:

• Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are:
  
• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
• Abandoned in hospitals.
• Awaiting foster care placement.

• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
  
• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
  
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
  
• The term unaccompanied youth includes a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. This would include runaways living in runaway shelters, abandoned buildings, cars, on the streets, or in other inadequate housing; children and youth denied housing by their families (sometimes referred to as "throwaway children and youth"); and school-age unwed mothers living in homes for unwed mothers because they have no other housing available.
  

In determining whether or not a child or youth is homeless, consider the relative permanence of the living arrangements. Determinations of homelessness should be made on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Administrative Assistant Angela Meisenheimer at 331-228-4989 with questions or for additional information.