Special Education
What should you do if you feel your child needs special education?
EI to CPSE: If your three-year-old child received services from the Early Intervention Program and is in need of special education services, he or she will need to transition (move) from the Early Intervention (EI) Program into the Preschool Special Education program. The Early Intervention official from the county where you live (Westchester or Putnam) must give written notice to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) at the North Salem Central School District that your child may be transitioning from the Early Intervention Program. With your consent, a transition plan must be developed no later than three months before your child’s third birthday. Please call (914) 669-5414, Ext 1061 if you have additional questions.
Preschool: If you have a preschool child and you have noticed that your child is not developing skills such as walking, talking or playing like other young children, you may want to talk to your family doctor. He or she may be able to reassure you that children develop at different rates and your child is within the normal developmental scales. If, however, the doctor is concerned, or you are still not comfortable with your child’s progress, you may make a referral to your school district’s Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). Please call (914) 669-5414, Ext 1061 if you have additional questions.
School Age: If your school-age child is having difficulties in school, first talk to his or her teacher. The teacher can intervene with RTI (Response To Intervention) strategies. RTI interventions, strategies and goals may provide the necessary supports your child needs. It may, however, be possible that additional supports beyond RTI are needed. The student may be offered supports within regular education such as psychological services, speech and language improvement services, curriculum and instructional modifications and Academic Intervention Services. If these supports are still not enough, the Educational Support Team (EST) at PQ or Child Study Team (CST) at the MS/HS will meet and determine if a referral to the Committee on Special Education is warranted.
If you have additional questions and would like to speak with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) Chairperson, Liz Wright, please call (914) 669-5414 Ext 1016 or Ext 1061.