Preschool Special Education Information

All the evaluations are free to the parent.  The person referring the child will be asked to select three approved evaluators and sign the consent form.  The reason for choosing three agencies is not for the parent's preference but to be able to meet the state's 60 days deadline.  There is a 60-day timeline once consent for evaluations is received by the preschool special education office.

All children are evaluated in the following areas: Psychological, Observation and Social History.  Additional evaluations are completed depending on areas of concern such as speech/language skills and motor skills. Additionally, a copy of the child's latest physical will also be requested. 

We will contact the agencies you selected and determine which one can do the evaluations in a timely manner.  Once the agency is determined, then they will contact you to set up a time to do the evaluations.  Most evaluations are conducted at the site of the agency, but some are available to come to the home/community. 

Once the evaluations take place and the reports are written, the Initial Eligibility CPSE meeting will be scheduled.  The evaluating agency will provide you with the written report. 

The CPSE Initial Eligibility Meeting will include the following members:

•  CPSE Chairperson (district representative)
•  County Representative
• General Education Teacher
• Representative from Evaluation Agency
• Parent/Legal Guardian(s)
• Parent Member (if requested by the parent)
• Service Coordinator (if student is receiving Early Intervention services)
• Related Service Providers (if student is receiving Early Intervention services)

Evaluations can take place at the evaluator’s site. Portions of an evaluation can be conducted in the family’s home or child’s primary day location (preschool or babysitter’s). These details can be discussed while working out the best possible plan for a child’s evaluation by the chosen evaluator.

On the consent for CPSE Evaluation form that you sign, please write the name of the agency that you would like to evaluate your child.

List of NYS approved Preschool Evaluators that are contracted with Ontario County:

• Clinical Associates of the Finger Lakes: 590 Fishers Station Drive, Suite 130 Victor, NY 14564
• FLUCP Happiness House: 5415 County Road 30 Canandaigua, NY 14424 OR 731 Pre-Emption Road Geneva, NY 14456
• Keuka Lakes School: 235 North Ave: Penn Yan, NY 14527
• Kid Start/ARC Glow: 5871 Groveland Station Road, Mt Morris, NY 14510
• Roosevelt Children's Center: 150 VanBuren Street, Newark, NY 14513

Preschool students may be identified as having a disability if they exhibit a significant delay in one or more functional areas related to cognitive, language and communicative, adaptive, social emotional or motor development which adversely affects the student’s ability to learn. The CPSE considers all evaluations and compares the child's performance to accepted milestones for child development. The criteria for eligibility are:

• 12 month delay in one or more functional area(s);or
• 33% delay in one functional area, or a 25% delay in each of two functional areas; or
•  If appropriate standardized instruments are individually administered in the evaluation process, a score of 2.0 standard deviations below the mean in one functional area, or score of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean in each of two functional areas; or
• Meet the criteria for a disability as described in the terms for school aged students

If you have any questions, you can contact the Office of Special Programs at any time.

Related Services are recommended by the CPSE to meet the individual needs of a student with a disability as set forth in the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Related Services may be provided in conjunction with other preschool special education services.

Related Services include, but are not limited to:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Counseling
• Vision Services
• Teacher of the deaf services
• Assistive technology

Please submit evidence establishing you and your child’s physical presence in the school district. Such evidence may include:

1. A copy of a residential lease or proof of ownership of a house or condominium, such as a deed or mortgage statement;
2. A statement by a third-party landlord, owner or tenant from whom the parent(s) or person(s) in parental relation leases or with whom they share property within the District, which may be either sworn or unsworn;
3. Such other statement by a third party establishing the parent(s)’ or person(s) in parental relation’s physical presence in the district; and/or
4. Other forms of documentation, which may include, but will not be limited to:

• pay stub;
• income tax form;
• utility or other bills;
• membership documents (e.g., library cards) based upon residency;
• voter registration document(s);
• official driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver identification;
• State or other government issued identification;
• documents issued by federal, state or local agencies (e.g., local social service agency, federal Office of Refugee Resettlement); or
• evidence of custody of the child, including but not limited to judicial custody orders or guardianship papers.

** Note on Residency - Only students who are are valid inhabitants in the Canandaigua City School District boundaries may attend the district schools unless families in temporary residences fall within the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act.

Only the child's parent or legal guardian can register a student. Upload your ID to confirm guardianship.

The District will require documentation and/or information establishing your child’s age. Please supply a certified transcript of a birth certificate or record of baptism (including a certified transcript of a foreign birth certificate or record of baptism) giving the date of birth. Where such documentation is not available, a passport (including a foreign passport) may be used.

Where birth certificate or passport is not available, the District may consider certain other evidence, which has been in existence two years or more. Other evidence may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• official driver’s license;
• state or other government issued identification;
• school photo identification with date of birth;
• consulate identification card;
• hospital or health records;
• military dependent identification card;
• documents issued by federal, state or local agencies (e.g., local social service agency, federal Office of Refugee Resettlement);
• court orders or other court-issued documents;
• Native American tribal document; or
• records from non-profit international aid agencies and voluntary agencies

Custody paperwork is required if the student has more than one legal guardian, who resides at a different address than the student.

For example: If a parent is listed on the birth certificate, but does not currently live with the child, you will need to provide some sort of documentation. If court generated guardianship papers are not available, the district will provide affidavits that you can use to specify your custodial arrangement.

To provide evidence of custody of the child, including but not limited to judicial custody orders or guardianship papers.

The District may also require the parent(s) and/or person(s) in parental relation to the child to provide an affidavit either:

1. indicating that they are the parent(s) with whom the child lawfully resides; or
2. indicating that they are the person(s) in parental relation to the child, over whom they have total and permanent custody and control, and describing how they obtained total and permanent custody and control, whether through guardianship or otherwise.