Families of students with disabilities who attend nonpublic schools in Chicago are being warned that funding for special education services will soon run out. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board sent a letter Tuesday saying current services are funded through at least the end of January, but there are no guarantees beyond that.
In October, the Archdiocese of Chicago said that services for students with disabilities would be even more limited this school year because of funding problems. CPS essentially serves as the administrator of the funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It says the funding shortfall stems from the fact that money earmarked for supporting students with disabilities has not kept pace with the growing needs of students in Chicago.
It is worth recalling that in April of last year, more than 800 students with disabilities attending Chicago Catholic schools learned that their support services had been abruptly canceled for the rest of the school year for the same reason. CPS was able to restore those services with emergency funds just one week after the money was pulled. On Tuesday, CPS told parents that, despite this year’s funding shortfall, services will continue at least through Jan. 31, 2027, and that CPS is actively working on a plan to extend services for as long as possible after that date.
In Chicago’s nonpublic schools, the number of students receiving services under IDEA is growing by about 200 to 300 new referrals a month. Illinois state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, a Democrat who sits on the Senate committee on education funding, said these students have a right to a dignified education, so the General Assembly will continue to analyze and consider potential solutions.
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Source: Polski.FM
