Special Education

NJ Special Education Process

Step 1: Referral to Child Study Team (CST)

• CST and speech/language referrals can be made by teachers, counselors, or parents.

• CST referrals made by staff are contingent upon student’s progress in the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) program.

Step 2: Identification Meeting - First Child Study Team Meeting

• CST will meet within 20 days of referral to discuss if student is a candidate for CST special education evaluations, and if so, which evaluations are appropriate for the child.

• Written parental consent to begin special education evaluations will be requested.

Step 3: Evaluations (Educational, Psychological, Social History, Neurodevelopmental, and/or Related Services)

• Evaluations will take place during the school day by the appropriate service personnel (School psychologist, Learning Disability-Teacher Consultant, social worker, speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, etc.)

• Evaluations may take up to 90 days for completion.

Step 4: Eligibility Meeting - Follow up meeting to discuss results after evaluations are completed.

• CST will determine if the student is eligible for special education based on all provided data.

IF STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE...

Step 5: Initial IEP (Individualized Education Program) Meeting - Can be combined with the eligibility meeting.

• CST will collaboratively develop an IEP based on student’s needs.

• Written parental consent to implement the initial IEP will be requested.

Step 6: Begin to implement the IEP

Step 7: Annual Review of IEP - IEP’s are reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

Step 8: Triennial Re-Evaluation - The need for special education re-evaluations is considered every 3 years, to determine continued special education eligibility and the need for continued services.