Illinois’ state board of education has taken on sweeping authority to supervise special education in the Chicago school district, voting to appoint an outside monitor who for at least three years will have to approve any changes to the district’s policies and procedures in that area.
State officials took the action this month after concluding that the district’s 2016 overhaul of special education violated a swath of federal law and regulations.
The board also recommended that the district change the way it creates legally mandated education programs for special ed. students and identify students who may have had their services delayed or denied because of the policy overhaul.
