Section 314.20  Definitions

"Case Study Evaluation" means the assessment activities performed by the responsible public school district in accordance with 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, to determine a child's eligibility for special education services.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

"Early Intervention (EI) Services" means those developmental/ educational, social, and health services provided to developmentally delayed infants and toddlers (0 to 3 years of age) designed to maximize their development and eventual independence.  Early intervention services include, but are not limited to:  speech and language services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, case management, medical/health services, psychological services, transition services, therapeutic day care, and respite services. Early intervention programs may serve children who are developmentally delayed, have conditions that typically result in delay, or are at risk of substantial developmental delay.

"Education Assessment" means an ongoing process by which a caseworker reviews the child's education history and identifies current educational needs for further assessment by a public school district or early intervention program.

"Exceptional Children" means all children designated by 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226 as eligible for special education programs and services pursuant to Article 14 of the School Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 122, par. 14-1.01 et seq.) [105 ILCS 5/Art. 14].

"General Education Development or GED Programs" means those programs provided by school districts and community colleges to prepare students for a high school equivalency certificate.

"ISBE" means the Illinois State Board of Education.

"Individualized Education Plan/Program (IEP)" means the document prepared by the public school district pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226 which identifies the specific special education services, class placement, and related services that will be provided to a child.  The IEP also includes education goals and service frequency, quantity and duration.  The services delineated in the child's IEP are based on the results of the multidisciplinary conferences conducted by the public school district.

"Initial Health Screening" means a screening conducted by a physician or other provider qualified under Illinois law to furnish primary medical and health services.  The initial health screening shall be completed within 24 hours after the commencement of temporary protective custody and shall be of sufficient scope to permit the Department to ascertain enough about the current health of the child to identify:

any health needs requiring immediate attention, and

any health information needed to make an informed placement decision.

"Multidisciplinary Conference (MDC)" means a meeting of personnel from various disciplines, including but not limited to psychology, education, social work, health, etc., to determine a child's eligibility for special education services.

"Pre-Kindergarten Programs for Children at Risk of Academic Failure (Pre-K)" means discretionary, developmentally appropriate, education programs provided by school districts to children ages 3 to 5 who do not qualify for early childhood special education, but who are at risk of academic failure.  Pre-kindergarten program components include: screening, education, parental involvement and evaluation.

"Special Education" means those instructional and resource programs and related services, unique materials, physical plant adjustments, and other special educational facilities described or implied in Article 14 of the School Code which, to meet the unique needs of exceptional children, modify, supplement, support, or are in place of the standard educational program of the public schools.  The term includes speech pathology and vocational education when such are incorporated into the IEP.

"Surrogate Parent" means a person (generally the foster parent or relative caretaker) appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education to serve as the ward's educational advocate in accordance with 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226.  The surrogate parent has the authority to sign the request for case study evaluation, consent for the case study evaluation, initial educational placement, and educational reevaluations for Department wards. The surrogate parent is also the person authorized to access the Illinois State Board of Education due process system for children for whom the Department is legally responsible.

"Tutoring Services" means child specific, one-on-one or group instructional services designed to support and supplement the child's educational growth and development.  These services are generally provided to address some type of academic problem (i.e., failing grade(s), class deficiency report(s), behind in grade level).