Special Education

The Committee on Preschool Special Education is appointed by the Board of Education and is responsible for identifying preschool children with disabilities and arranging for the delivery of special education services. Educational programs and services for preschool children with disabilities from the ages of three to five are the responsibility of the school district in which the child resides in accordance with New York State Education Law, Article 89. Mandated committee members of the CPSE include a special education representative from the school district who serves as Chairperson, a parent of a preschool or elementary aged child with a disability who resides in the district, a professional who participated in the evaluation of the child or the child's teacher, the county representative, and, if the child is transitioning from the birth to two program provided by the county of residence, an early intervention coordinator.

The Committee on Special Education is a multidisciplinary team mandated by Commissioner’s Regulations Part 200 that makes recommendations to the Board of Education concerning the classification and special education services that students receive. The responsibilities of the Committee on Special Education include: 

• The determination of whether a student is eligible for special education services or programs;
• The determination of the educational needs of the student relative to the student's academic achievement, learning characteristics, social development, physical development and management needs in the classroom;
• The recommendation to the Board of Education of special education services and/or programs based on the stated needs of the student with a disability