According to state and federal regulations, students who have been identified as having a disability and in need of special education services are to be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment. Professionals, attorneys and judges have long argued over the definition of least restrictive environment (LRE).

Within District 50, we have adopted a definition that supports “that environment in which the student can be most successful while providing opportunities for interaction with non disabled peers” as the LRE. This does not mean the removal of all students with a disability from the regular classroom nor the inclusion in regular education of all students. It is based on the belief that we have a continuum of options and each student’s individual needs will determine the appropriate placement.

Within the district we offer a variety of placement options which generally can be categorized in one of the following options:

• regular class placement with support
• regular class placement with a one to one assistant
• resource services provided in the classroom as well as in a pull out model less than 50% of the school day
• instructional services provided in a small structured classroom with a high student to teacher ratio

Students with needs requiring more restrictive placements are generally educated in a program offered through our cooperative—the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL). In a few instances we have needed to recommend private placements.

Social Work

Services provided individually or in small groups to address issues of self esteem, peer relations, behavior, loss, grief, social skills. Provided to all students both regular education and special education.

Speech and Language

Services provided individually or in small groups to students identified through the evaluation process as having articulation, receptive and expressive language disorders, voice or fluency problems.

Occupational Therapy

Individual services provided to students who receive some sort of instruction who have delays in fine motor and perceptual motor skills.

Physical Therapy

Service provided on an individual basis to students identified as having gross motor delays. Frequently student have been identified as having a physical impairment such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida etc.

Special Education Cooperative

Students with more significant needs are educated in programs operated by our cooperative—the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL). These include students who are deaf, multiply handicapped, severe behavior disorder, etc.

Resource Program

Special services which are services provided in a variety of settings—integrated in the classroom, small group within the classroom, small group outside of the classroom (pull out) or within one of the instructional classrooms for a specific content area, ie: math.

Instructional Program

In instructional classrooms students are in a small structure environment all day. Students may be mainstreamed for a content area but must be able to handle grade level material. Students in this program are always included for art, music, P.E., lunch, etc. with non-disabled peers.

Early Childhood Program
Pre-School Screenings

Pre-school screenings are held periodically throughout the school year. These screenings are for children ages 3-5 to assess language, speech, gross and fine motor skills and general pre-academic skills.

Woodland Early Learning Experience

Through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education, Woodland offers a program for students at risk for academic failure who are between the ages of three and five. Further information about the referral and eligibility requirements is available through the Support Services Department by calling (847) 856-3603.