Bring Back Special Education Programs in District 205!

Every child deserves a school where they can learn, grow, make friends, and feel like they belong.

Thornton Township High School District 205 has made the decision to discontinue specialized special education programs for incoming freshmen. This change has left families with fewer educational options and some students attending schools outside their home district.

We recognize that providing quality special education services comes with challenges. Programs may need improvements, additional staffing, training, or resources to better serve students. However, we believe the solution should be to strengthen these programs rather than eliminate them.

If the programs were not producing the desired results, could we look at what was missing and invest in making them better?

Federal law requires students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment appropriate for their individual needs. This means placement decisions should be based on each student's needs, with access to education alongside students without disabilities whenever appropriate.

Therapeutic day schools serve an important purpose for students who need that level of support. However, not every student who needs a specialized classroom requires a separate therapeutic school. Likewise, not every student will thrive in a co-taught classroom. There are students whose needs fall somewhere in between, and we should have options for them too.

Our children have a wide range of abilities, strengths, and needs. Our educational programs should reflect that diversity.

As taxpayers and community members, we support investments in athletics, general education, career and technical programs, and other opportunities that help students succeed. We are simply asking that specialized education receive that same commitment. Our students deserve qualified staff, appropriate resources, meaningful instruction, and programs designed to help them reach their full potential.

We also recognize that education is about more than academics.

Our students deserve the opportunity to be Wildcats, Falcons, and Thunderbirds! They deserve to enjoy football games, pep rallies, school activities, friendships, and the experience of attending high school alongside their neighborhood peers whenever possible. These experiences help build confidence, independence, social skills, and a sense of belonging.

For some families, the transition to out-of-district placements has also brought challenges, including delays in starting school and interruptions in instruction. My own daughter missed the first quarter of her freshman year while arrangements for her new placement were being finalized. I share this not to assign blame, but to emphasize how important thoughtful planning, timely communication, and appropriate educational options are for our children.

We understand that District 205 wants its students to succeed. We share that goal. As parents, educators, taxpayers, and community members, we would like to see the district revisit this decision and explore how specialized programs can be restored and improved.

We are asking District 205 and its Board of Education to:

- Reconsider the decision to discontinue specialized programs for incoming freshmen.
- Explore reopening and strengthening these programs with appropriate staffing, training, and resources.
- Preserve a range of educational placements that reflect students' individual needs.
- Include families, educators, and special education professionals in discussions about future programming.
- Ensure students with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to participate in their neighborhood high school communities whenever appropriate.

Our students may have different educational goals and require different levels of support, but their education, experiences, and futures matter just as much as anyone else's.

District 205 has served students with a variety of needs for many years. We believe those programs are worth revisiting, improving, and investing in.

We are not asking for perfection. We are asking for options, opportunities, and a willingness to invest in every student.

Please sign and share this petition in support of restoring specialized special education programs in District 205. Together, we can encourage meaningful conversations and positive changes that benefit our students, families, and community.