What is the Illinois Approved List and where can I find information on it?
The “Illinois approved list,” as it is referred to in special education matters, is the list of private (non-public) schools in Illinois which are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education to serve children with various disabilities. If your local school district and/or special education cooperative is not able to appropriately educate your child, or if your child is in need of a more restrictive or intensive services such as a therapeutic day school or residential placement, then choosing a school on the approved list is the next option. The approved list can be found on ISBE’s Harrisburg Project website located at http://www.hbug.k12.il.us/pfs. The site includes a search engine, which allows you to search for a day or residential placement based on the child’s disability, distance from your home or by facility name. Parents also have the choice of choosing other, non-approved special education facilities around the country. However, if they chose to do so, then the likelihood
