Special Programs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is CSE program?

If your child has a disability that may be affecting his or her learning, the Committee on Special Education will find your child to be an eligible "student with a disability.”

What is the CSE process?

Students believed to be educationally disabled are REFERRED to a multidisciplinary team called the CSE. The CSE EVALUATES students' abilities. The CSE RECOMMENDS an appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP) based on evaluation results.

How do I refer my child to special education?

If you suspect your child needs special education services, your first step will be to contact your child’s classroom teacher and discuss interventions that are in place to address your child’s learning needs. If you believe that your child is not responding to the interventions that are in place, you may request an evaluation. Requests for evaluations must be in writing and addressed to your child’s building principal. When you request that your child be evaluated for special education this is called a referral.

CONTINUUM OF SERVICES – Part 200 (200.6)

Sections 200.1(mm), 200.1(zz)

Evidence of a significant delay or disorder in one or more functional areas indicating:

• 12-month delay in one or more functional area(s) – cognitive, language and communication, adaptive, socio-emotional, motor
• 33% delay in one functional area or 25% delay in each of two functional areas; or
• 2.0 standard deviations below mean in one functional area or 1.5 standard deviations below mean in two functional areas

All the evaluations are free to the parent.  In the registration packet is a list of agencies approved to conduct evaluations. The person referring the child will be asked to select two approved evaluators and sign the consent. The reason for choosing two agencies is not for parent’s preference but to be able to meet 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.

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 You should have this evaluation five days prior to the CPSE meeting date. 

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

Section 200.4 (c)

Determine educational disability/ classification based on review of evaluation data:

• Current skill levels including strengths and skill delays
• Impact of disability on participation in general education curriculum
• Supports required in-order for the student to participate in general education/appropriate activities.

Determining factor for classification cannot be:

• Lack of appropriate instruction in reading
• Lack of appropriate instruction in math
• Limited English proficiency

The CSE considers progress monitoring data that describes how a student responded to particular interventions of increasing intensity.

Determining Classification – Students must qualify under one of the following categories:

• Autism
• Deafness
• Deaf-blindness
• Hearing impairment
• Orthopedic impairment
• Other health impairment
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairment
• Speech-language impairment
• Multiple disabilities
• Emotional disturbance
• Learning disability
• Intellectual disability