Committee on Special Education (CSE)

The CSE is a multidisciplinary team appointed by the Board of Education. The CSE is responsible for school aged students with disabilities.

The CSE is authorized to identify students in need of services by determining eligibility, developing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), placing the student in the least restrictive environment in which they can succeed, and providing appropriate services to meet the child's educational needs. 

Referral Process

In accordance with New York Education Law Section 4402 and Part 200.2, 200.4 and 200.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations, the Committee on Special Education (CSE) is responsible for evaluating all school-age students suspected of having a disability, identifying a disability or determining that no disability exists, and recommending placement and type of special education programs and/or services within sixty (60) days of the date of receipt of consent for evaluation. Referrals can be made at any time during the year.

A student suspected of having a disability shall be referred in writing to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services or to the building administrator of the school which the student attends or is eligible to attend for an individual evaluation and determination of eligibility for special education programs or services.

The school district must initiate a referral and promptly request parental consent to evaluate the student to determine if the student needs special education services and programs if a student has not made adequate progress after an appropriate period of time when provided instruction within a multi-tiered problem-solving approach that utilizes systematically applied strategies and targeted instruction. 

Within 10 school days of receiving a written request for referral for an initial evaluation, the school district will notify the parents/guardians that a referral for an evaluation has been received and either request consent to initiate the evaluation or provide them with a copy of the request for referral.

The district will inform the parents/guardians of their right to refer the student for an initial evaluation and offer an opportunity to meet to discuss the request for referral. 

The parents/guardians will be provided with information regarding the evaluation, the procedural safeguards notice, sources to obtain assistance in understanding the referral and evaluation process, and a copy of A Parent’s Guide to Special Education.