Special education in Illinois

What Illinois calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Illinois

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

IEP meeting (eligibility conference)

Eligibility team

Multidisciplinary conference / IEP team

Evaluation timeline

60 school days. 60 school days from consent; if fewer than 60 school days remain, eligibility must be decided before the next school year (23 IAC 226.110)

IEP timeline

30 calendar days after eligibility

Transition planning starts

14.5 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 9 (child count)

Dyslexia law

no: PA 103-0402 (literacy plan guidance) and PA 104-0389 (2025, K-3 screening reporting only); universal screening mandate removed from enacted SB 1672

Find your district and schools

1,029 districts and charter districts. 312 special education schools and 131 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Illinois Services for children in Illinois (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Illinois State Board of Education, Department of Special Education (217) 782-5589

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Family Matters
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Teutopolis
(217) 717-8016

Disability rights agency

Equip for Equality, Inc.
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Chicago
(312) 341-0022

Advocacy groups in Illinois

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

Illinois Medicaid (All Kids)

CHIP

All Kids

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes (KFF 2026: state plan option or comparable waiver); program not named in sources checked

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

yes

Autism insurance law

yes. under 21; $36,000 per year (as listed by NCSL)

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

none

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Illinois scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

C+

Rank 19 of 51

State of Support

Rank 48 of 51

Combined

Rank 45 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	B+
Learning together	F
Results	B-
School funding	A
Family protections	F
Options and transition	C

IDEA determination 2026: Meets. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the K12 Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.