How Do I Get My Child Referred?
In grades K-12:
If you suspect your child is having academic difficulty due to a possible handicapping condition, the best place to begin is with your child's classroom teacher. If modifications have been made, remedial services provided and strategies have been attempted, and your child is still experiencing difficulty, the building team (psychologist and social worker) should be contacted. After meeting with the team, including the teacher and other support personnel involved with your child, you may decide to have your child evaluated.
According to the Commissioner's Regulations, you may refer your child to the CSE. The next step is a meeting with the school social worker, who will explain your due process rights. You will be asked to sign a form granting your consent to do the evaluations. Mandated components of the CSE evaluations are: medical, psychological, social history, educational and vocational assessment (ages 12+). Other evaluations may also be requested as deemed necessary to ascertain performance levels and the possibility of a handicapping condition. After testing is completed, the evaluators will contact the parents and invite them to a meeting to review the results prior to the CSE meeting. You will also be invited to attend and participate in the CSE meeting, at which a determination will be made regarding your child's qualification for special education services.
At the Preschool Level:
If you believe your child requires a preschool evaluation these are the steps you need to follow:
1. Contact a preschool intake secretary at 471-1897 in order to set up an appointment to register your youngster.
2. Register your child at this appointment by bringing the child together with:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Two current proofs of residency
3. Advise your school district and evaluator if your child is receiving EI services.
4. Choose an approved evaluator from a Suffolk/Nassau County list provided at your registration/intake.
5. Sign consent to evaluate so the process may begin.
Mandatory Evaluation Components:
According to the Commissioner's Regulations pursuant to Section 4410 of the NYS Education Law "eligibility as a preschooler with a disability shall be based on the results of an individual evaluation which is provided in the child's dominant language, not dependent on a single procedure and administered by a multidisciplinary team".
- Psychological Evaluation: to measure your child's abilities and to describe his/her developmental, learning, behavioral and other personality characteristics
- Social History: a parent interview for the purpose of obtaining background information on family history including medical and birth histories.
- Physical Examination: information from your child's physician or one provided through the evaluation site.
- Observation: the opportunity to see your child's performance and behavior in his/her preschool, daycare or other natural setting.
Additional Evaluation Components:
Additional evaluation components must be completed based on the area(s) of concern. These may include:
- Speech/Language Evaluation
- Physical Therapy Evaluation
- Occupational Therapy Evaluation
- Audiological Evaluation
- Educational Evaluation