What is the CSE (Committee on Special Education)?

As a parent, if you believe your child is having difficulties in the school setting, the first step is to speak with your child's classroom teacher.  It may be necessary to arrange a conference with your child's classroom teacher, the school psychologist or counselor and your child's school principal to discuss the difficulties your child is experiencing. Together, parents and building educators and specialists may develop a plan of action that will provide additional building level support services.  These may include but are not limited to, support by the reading or learning specialist teacher, speech and language services, program modifications, among others.  Response to Intervention (RTI) is also a key component of supporting a student who's experiencing educational challenges.  

You or the RTI team may feel a referral to the CSE is warranted. The CSE is a multidisciplinary team established by law and regulations, for students’ ages 5 to 21.  The CSE is responsible for conducting evaluations to assess your child's and o determine if your child is eligible for special education services or support.  The CSE will meet formally with you to discuss the referral and evaluation of your child.  Based on the evaluations, the CSE may recommend specific services and programs appropriate for your child.   If your child is indeed eligible for special education services, an IEP (Individualized Education Program) would be developed at the initial CSE meeting.  Thereafter, the CSE would convene annually to review of your child's IEP. 

Requests to the CSE would need to be in writing and delivered to the Director of Special Education, Deborah Dormady.

What is the CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education)? 

The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for evaluating and identifying children ages 3-4) for disabilities and then arranging for the delivery of special education services. A preschool student with a disability is one who, as determined by an individual evaluation, exhibits a significant delay or disorder in one or more functional areas related to cognitive, language and communication, adaptive, social-emotional, or motor development which adversely affects the student’s ability to learn. A broad range of related services and special education programs are available to meet the educational needs of preschool students with disabilities. Preschool students with disabilities are entitled to receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.