CSE

Committee on Special Education (CSE)

The district provides a continuum of special education services across school buildings for grades K-12. A student’s need for special education services is assessed through the following process:

Referral Process:

The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is responsible for arranging for the evaluation of any school age student who is suspected of having a disability.

The process begins when a written request for an evaluation is made by either:

- the student's parent or person in parental relationship,
- a professional staff member of the school district in which the student resides, or the public or private school the student legally attends,
- a staff member of a state approved special education program,
- a designee of an education program affiliated with a child care institution
- a licensed physician or judicial officer,
- a professional staff member of a public agency with responsibility for welfare, health or education of children;
- or a student who is 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor, who is eligible to attend the public schools of the district.

The referral must be in writing to either the school principal at the location where the child is educated or to:

Committee on Special Education (CSE)

Office of Special Services

North Rockland Central School District

65 Chapel Street

Garnerville, NY 10923

A referral may also be emailed to the following Chairperson depending on the grade level of your child:

Elizabeth Copas for grade Preschool (CPSE), ecopas@northrockland.org

Elizabeth Dale for grades K-3, edale@northrockland.org

Michele Saunders for grades 4-6, msaunders@northrockland.org

Daniella Birrittieri for grades 7-8, dbirrittieri@northrockland.org

Dustin Smith for grades 9-12+, dsmith@northrockland.org

Dr. Melissa Stack for Boces, mstack@northrockland.org

Evaluations:

Once a referral is received the Special Education Office will arrange for the evaluation which will include the following, at no cost to the parent:

- A Psychological Evaluation,
- An Educational Evaluation
- A Social History report,
- A classroom or school observation,
- Other appropriate assessments or evaluations as necessary to ascertain the physical, mental and emotional factors, which contribute to the suspected disability,
- A review of medical records or information.

Initial Eligibility Meeting:

Once the evaluation process is completed the parents/guardian will be invited to meet with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) to determine if their child is eligible to be classified as a student with a disability and receive special education services. At this time, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be created if the student is determined to be eligible. It is developed in agreement with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. An IEP outlines the modifications, accommodations, placement, goals and/or related services that are necessary to meet the unique educational needs of a student with a disability. All services, accommodations, modifications, and potential educational placements are discussed at the initial eligibility meeting once the student is determined to be classified as having a disability. Click here to see the 13 eligible classifications from the NY State Department of Education.