Bill > SB2249

This bill amends the Illinois School Code to ensure that students with individualized education programs (IEPs) or children with disabilities who have not been removed from the regular education environment receive educational services at their local school building—the same building they would attend if they did not require special education services. The bill clarifies that when calculating the composition of a general education classroom, students receiving only speech services outside the classroom can be excluded, provided their classroom instruction does not require modification. The legislation aims to promote inclusivity by ensuring that special education students are integrated into their neighborhood schools and receive services in the least restrictive environment possible. This approach supports the principle that children with disabilities should have the opportunity to be educated alongside peers who do not have disabilities, while still receiving any necessary supplementary services to help them benefit from regular classroom instruction. The bill reinforces the existing legal framework that requires school districts to provide a free and appropriate public education that meets the individual needs of students with disabilities.

Education

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2249&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104