LINK TO THE RULES FOR SPED TRANSPORTATION
PARENTS:
I’ve heard from multiple SPED parents in Dunlap CUSD 323 who are concerned because their little peanuts are being picked up at 6:30 a.m. but not arriving at school until 8:20 a.m. I completely understand your worry.
My own neurospicy kid used to “spice things up” on the bus when they were bored. I had to:
- Buy Converse high tops and double-knot them so they couldn’t take off their shoes and throw them.
- Lock their backpack zipper after they not only dumped out everything inside, but also encouraged their peers to do the same — amazing leadership skills, just not at the right time!
Fortunately, I had a bus driver who partnered with me and didn’t report these issues to the school. However, that’s not always the case.
When kids with special needs get bored, long rides can set them up for disaster. Remember — the one-hour rule exists to protect your child.
Sincerely,
Lady Justice
Illinois School Board of Education Tips of Bus/Tarnsportation Safety!
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/bus_safety_parents.pdf
What is FOIA?
FOIA — the Freedom of Information Act — is a law that gives the public the right to request and receive records from government agencies.
In Illinois, it means you can ask your school district, city, or other public body for documents, emails, budgets, and other records, and they must provide them (unless a legal exemption applies), usually within 5 business days.
In Illinois, you can FOIA almost any record a public school district creates, uses, or maintains — as long as it’s not specifically protected by privacy or security laws.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can request from an Illinois school district:
1. Meeting & Governance Records
- School board meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings.
- Board policies and procedures.
- Superintendent contracts, evaluations, and compensation records.
2. Financial Records
- Annual budgets, audits, and AFR (Annual Financial Report) filings.
- Vendor contracts, bids, and invoices.
- Payroll records (names, titles, and salaries of employees).
- Property tax levy and rate documents.
- Grant applications, awards, and related correspondence.
3. Student Services & Program Data
- Data on student enrollment, demographics, and test scores (must be de-identified).
- Special Education program descriptions, ISBE approval letters, and funding records.
- Copies of curriculum guides and instructional materials.
4. Communication Records
- Emails, letters, or memos between district officials on a specific topic- including your student.
- Reports sent to or received from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
5. Contracts & Agreements
- Transportation contracts, food service contracts, and building leases, therapeutic contracts.
- MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with other agencies or vendors.
6. Complaints, Investigations & Discipline (Redacted if Needed)
- Formal complaint filings and responses (with personal info removed).
- Audit or investigation reports by ISBE, OCR (Office for Civil Rights), or other agencies.
What You Cannot Get
- Student-specific records without parental consent (protected by FAPE).
- Certain personnel records (medical files, personal contact info).
- Security system details or safety plans that could endanger people.
- Attorney–client privileged communications
SAMPLE FOIA LETTER
What to include in your FOIA:
- Be clear, specific, and concise. If your request is vague, you may not get the exact records you need. Avoid leaving any room for interpretation.
- Always include dates. Narrow your request to a specific time period. If the district asks you to refine the request because it’s too broad or covers too long a span, this is not a new FOIA — it’s a continuation of the original request.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT – What NOT to Do!
If you file too many FOIA requests in a short time, you can be labeled a “recurrent requester.”
This means the district can take up to 21 business days to respond instead of the usual 5.
You may be labeled recurrent if you:
- File 50+ requests in a year, 15+ in 30 days, or 7+ in 7 days.
GO TO YOUR NEXT IEP MEETING PREPARED!
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/SpED-IEP-Forms.aspx
Above is the link for all documents shown below. These are forms that should be produced by your schools IEP team if your child meets criteria. But, you can always print, review, and fill out the document ahead of time! They might rewrite the document in the meeting, but you will be one step ahead of knowing your child's rights!
