Special Education
To meet the needs of all students within SD74, the special education department provides various services and supports for children beginning at the age of three.
The District employs highly qualified special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, social workers, and school psychologists, and provides an extensive continuum of services for children with special needs in collaboration with Niles Township District for Special Education #807. Students are educated in the least restrictive environment.
The District is committed to partnering with families to develop plans to meet students’ academic, social, physical, and emotional needs.
Free Developmental Preschool Screenings
If you are concerned about your preschool-aged child's development, please make an appointment to attend one of the NTDSE Developmental Screenings offered on these dates:
Nov. 2, 2026
Dec. 7, 2026
Jan. 8, 2027
Feb. 1, 2027
March 1, 2027
April 2, 2027
May 3, 2027
To make appointments, contact Connie Gusek at 847-965-9040, ext. 841.
Related Services Log
Related Service Log Notice: The District maintains related service logs that document the type and number of minutes of related service administered under a student's individualized education plan (IEP). These related service logs will be available to parents/guardians at a student's annual IEP review meeting. Parents/guardians may also request, at any time, a copy of any IEP-related service log maintained for their child. The school district will have 10 days to fulfill this request.
Please direct any requests to Jennifer Ruttkay, director of special education, at jruttkay@sd74.org or 847-675-8234.
PUNS
What is the Illinois PUNS Program and Database? PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) is a database of Illinois infants, children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities who have needs for developmental disability services or supports. The PUNS database helps the State of Illinois identify and plan for your immediate needs. If you need support with PUNS, please contact Jennifer Ruttkay, the PUNS Coordinator for the District.
ABLE Accounts
An ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account is a special savings account for individuals with disabilities that allows them to save money for disability-related expenses without generally affecting eligibility for programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), within program limits. Funds can be used for a wide range of qualified expenses, including education, housing, transportation, healthcare, and assistive technology. An ABLE account can help individuals and families build financial independence while protecting access to important public benefits.
Director of Special Education
Jennifer Ruttkay
jruttkay@sd74.org
jruttkay@sd74.org
847-675-8234
Degrees and Certifications:
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Master of Education in School Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
- Director of Special Education Endorsement
- General Administrative Certificate
