Special Education

CMSD will continue providing inclusive, individualized support in the least restrictive environment. Building Brighter Futures will expand support for students with special education needs and provide more opportunities, like additional enrichment classes, extracurriculars, and sports, for all students. 

Some students require support in special education in single classrooms (e.g., classrooms for students with intensive academic support needs). Special education, single classrooms will still be offered across regions and in multiple schools. Every special education single classroom has been considered to ensure there is space and a plan for all students. Starting in fall 2026, more schools will offer a full K–8 continuum of classrooms so more students can stay in one school longer, with fewer moves and more stability. 

Families with students in special education single classrooms will receive individual communication from the Office of Special Education & Intervention Services.   

Siblings of special education students in single classrooms impacted by BBF-related changes who are currently enrolled in the same school will have reserved seats at schools that can keep siblings together, and they are also guaranteed placement at the school where the special education classroom is moving if space is available. Families are encouraged to participate in the school choice process, which remains open to all students, while the District partners with Say Yes to provide wrap‑around transition support for those who may need additional assistance.

CMSD remains committed to providing high-quality Pre-K across our District, for learners of all needs and abilities. Building Brighter Futures includes plans for Pre-K classrooms at all but one of our K–8 schools in SY 26-27 (currently, four K-8 schools do not offer Pre-K).   

Enrollment steps have not changed. Families with Pre-K students can visit our enrollment page for more information. 

The District will engage in the following events to engage families, provide information, and gather input: 

For more information, please visit the at Building Brighter Futures website.

With stronger enrollment, schools can offer more.  

• K-8: additional classes beyond art, music, and PE, expanded sports, and more clubs and extracurricular activities.  

• High School: career pathways, college credit, and honors diploma options at every school, and hundreds more students with on-campus Senate League sports.  

• All schools will retain their focus areas, traditions, and community partnerships. Every school will have steady or increased staffing for safety, nursing, counseling, and career services. CMSD remains committed to students of all abilities, including special education, multilingual learners, and Pre-K. 

We know the critical importance of providing students with safe and reliable transportation. Building Brighter Futures will allow us to continue to offer transportation to all students who meet the District’s eligibility requirements. This includes students who: 

• Live within 1–3 miles of their K-8 school 

• Attend and live more than 1 mile from a K-8 specialty school that currently offers district-wide transportation (Campus International, Dike School of the Arts, Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership, Kenneth Clement Boys’ Leadership, Stonebrook-White Montessori, Tremont Montessori, Valley View Boys’ Leadership, Warner Girls’ Leadership, and William Rainey Harper, Buhrer Dual Language) 

• Live more than 1 mile from their high school (RTA transportation) 

• Have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that requires transportation 

Most K-8 students affected by mergers live within 3 miles of their new school; those farther away will receive extended transportation. 

Students currently attending an impacted K-8 school within 3 miles of home will be eligible for extended transportation to their welcoming school through school year 2027–28, if the welcoming school is more than 3 miles from home. 

• They must continue living within 3 miles of their current school to qualify. 

• Standard eligibility requirements will resume for all students in school year 28-29. 

The standard transportation policy will apply to any students who choose not to accept a reserved seat at their welcoming school.  As noted above, students who attend and live more than 1 mile from a K-8 specialty school that currently offers district-wide transportation will continue to receive transportation.  

Families can still explore all options through School Choice, including those families at transitioning schools who would like to explore options beyond their paired welcoming school. CMSD will offer College and Career Pathway fairs, District-wide School Choice fairs, a new online CMSD School Finder Tool, and an expanded CMSD School Choice Book. Special consideration will be given to students most directly impacted by the Building Brighter Futures recommendations in the School Choice process.  

• A School Choice Navigator will be assigned to provide individualized support to each student whose current school is moving or merging.  

• Current students in grades K-7 and 9-11 at transitioning schools have a reserved seat at their paired welcoming school. Students who do not make a choice will be automatically assigned to their welcoming school, but we encourage all families to proactively accept their student’s reserved seat through the School Choice process so CMSD can plan staffing for next year. 

• Current students in grades K-7 and 9-11 at transitioning schools will also receive first priority for available seats at all schools they are eligible to attend, and they can work with their Choice Navigator to apply for those schools during the School Choice process.  

• To receive this priority, families must submit a School Choice application between January 5 and February 27, 2026, with results shared with families during the week of March 30th. If students do not receive a seat at the school(s) they apply to in the School Choice process, they will be placed at their paired welcoming school.