For Immediate Release
November 9, 2004
Illinois receives one of five national grant awards
for special education
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois is one of only five
states in the nation to receive a grant to improve special
education services for school aged children. The $442,000
grant award was made by from the United States Department
of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
after a highly competitive grant application process.
Reviewers awarded Illinois the grant based on the high
quality of the project’s design, management and project
evaluation plans.
Through grant funds, the State Board will:
- identify school districts most in need of monitoring
and support to improve their special education performance;
- generate and distribute special education data and
reports to the public; and
- create web-based school district Special Education
Profiles on performance in accomplishing the goals identified
in the Illinois Continuous Improvement Plan (ICIP).
“I’m proud that Illinois is being recognized
as a leader in supporting special education students,”
said Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “This grant will allow
the new State Board to provide the kind of high-quality
service needed by special education students and local
districts.”
The award is an Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act Part B General Supervision Enhancement Grant. Thanks
to the grant, the Board will be able to develop a system
for ensuring that it has the data necessary to help districts
work toward their ICIP goals. ICIP, established in January
2002, brings major changes in the collection, management,
and organization of data for school improvement for students
with disabilities. The five-year plan addresses goals
centered on school completion, improving the educational
environment, personnel, family involvement and general
supervision and monitoring.
The State Board will issue a Request for Sealed Proposals
this month to implement the grant.
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