• CSE (Committee on Special Education) Process

    1. What is the special education process?

    • Referral of student
    • Evaluation of student
    • Recommendation of program for student
    • Implementation of program
    • Modifications of program

    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.  The program is IMPLEMENTED based upon Board of Education and parental approval.  The IEP is MODIFIED or adjusted by the CSE at an Annual Review.  The student has a Triennial Evaluation at least every third year to assure that the student continues to require special education programs and services.

    2. Who is on the CSE?

    Required member of the committee include a district representative (chair), the child's parents and teacher, a special education teacher or provider, a school psychologist and a parent representative (a parent of a different child in the district who receives special education services).  Other members may include: the student, a physician, or any others that the parent or school district request.

    3. What is a "multidisciplinary evaluation"?

    The components include:

    • Social history
    • Observation in the classroom
    • Academic achievement
    • Psychological assessment
    • Physical examination
    • Other assessment in all areas related to the suspected disabilitySpecific other assessments may include: social - emotional development, communication skills, and motor abilities. 

    4. Who completes the multidisciplinary evaluation?

    Multiple professionals must evaluate, including, but not be limited to: school psychologist, social worker, school nurse, physician, school administrator, guidance counselor, teachers (special education, regular education. reading, etc), and service providers (Speech/Language Therapist, Audiologist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist). 

    5. How does the CSE determine eligibility?

    The student must meet the qualifications for at least one of the 13 classifications established by the state (Autistic, Deaf, Deaf/Blind, Emotionally Disturbed [ED], Hard of Hearing [HH], Learning Disabled [LD], Intellectual Disability [ID], Multiply Disabled [MD], Orthopedically Impaired [OI], Other Health Impaired [OHI], Speech Impaired [SI], or Visually Impaired [VI]). 

    6. What is meant by "least restrictive environment"?

    Children with disabilities must be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum amount appropriate based on their individual needs.  The CSE must determine that a student cannot be educated even with supports before changing the student's placement to a more restrictive setting (outside of general education).

    7. What is an IEP?

    An Individualized Education Program (IEP) must include present levels of performance, educational needs (including how the disability affects the student's participation in the general education curriculum), student's placement, goals and objectives for the school year, specific programs and services to be provided, program modification and test accommodations (if needed), evaluation procedures to monitor student's progress, and projected date of review of the IEP.

    8. Who sees the IEP?

    The special education teacher has a copy of each student's IEP.  Regular education teachers, special area teachers, related service providers, nurses, bus drivers and other support staff responsible for implementation of the IEP must have ACCESS to the document through the special education teacher.

    9. What happens if the student's IEP needs to be changed?

    Either the student's teacher or parent may refer the student back to the CSE for review of the IEP at any time.

    10. What are test accommodations and how are they implemented?

    Test accommodations are changes in testing procedure or format that enable students with disabilities to participate in state and district testing programs.  The CSE determines if a student’s disability needs to be accommodated during testing and indicates the accommodations on the student's IEP.  Some examples of accommodations include: extended time, administering test in a separate location, directions clarified, and others.

    11. What are the timelines for receiving services?

    The Board of Education must arrange for services and/or programs within 60 school days from the date of parental consent for the initial evaluation.