The Development of a Proposed Policy and Procedures Manual for the South Eastern Special Education District

The purpose of this field study was to develop a coherent, comprehensive, and codified policy and procedures manual to propose for adoption by the South Eastern Special Education Joint Agreement District. Prior to completion of this field study there existed no single source of reference for policies established by the Governing Council of South Eastern Special Education. Also, procedures meant to govern operation of the district, administrative directives, and forms affecting students and personnel were neither organized nor available in one convenient place. The problem was to compose a useful working document to serve as a guide for future activities of the South Eastern Special Education District. This paper discusses the advantages of written policies in general and points out issues and approaches in the development of written policies. The make-up of joint agreement special education districts in Illinois is discussed, and their relationship to local school districts is delineated. The desirability of a policy manual for a special education joint agreement is presented. Activities required to bring the project to completion are summarized, and a portion of the paper is devoted to an analysis of problems encountered in treating a project of such complexity. Suggestions for eliminating or reducing such obstacles are offered for those who undertake similar projects