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Pre-school Referral and Evaluation Process




Referral Process for Special Education Services

If it seems that a pre-school age child has a disability and would benefit from a specialized instruction program, a referral can be submitted for the child to receive preschool special education services.

  • Stage 1: Submitting a Referral
  • Stage 2: After the Referral is Received
    • After the referral is received, the CPSE will mail the parent a package containing consent forms and a list of evaluation sites.
    • The parent should then select an evaluation site and set up an appointment for evaluations.
    • At the first appointment, the parent will be asked to sign consent to have the child evaluated.
  • Stage 3: Evaluation
    • For pre-school students, the CPSE must complete evaluations and hold a review meeting within 60 school days of receiving parental consent.
    • Each student receives a psycho-educational evaluation to assess his/her IQ and academic performance; a social history; and a classroom observation. Parents may request additional specialized evaluations, such as a speech/language evaluation, occupational therapy evaluation and physical therapy evaluation.
    • The Department of Education will set up a meeting to discuss the results of the child’s evaluation with the parent.
    • Parents have the right to get copies of the evaluation before the meeting.
  • Stage 4: Independent Educational Evaluation
    • If the parent feels that the tests administered were inadequate or disagrees with the results, he/she can request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at the expense of the Department of Education (DOE).
    • The DOE must provide the IEE upon request or must file an impartial hearing against the parent to show why an IEE is not necessary.
    • Bring the results of the IEE to the CPSE meeting. The CPSE is required to consider the IEE results when assessing the child’s needs.

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Pre-school Age Eligibility for Special Education Services

  1. After the child has been evaluated, a CPSE meeting will be scheduled to discuss the child’s educational needs. All evaluations will be reviewed to determine the child’s eligibility to receive special education services.
  2. A child will be found eligible for pre-school special education services if he/she has a 12-month delay in one functional area; a 33% delay in one functional area; or a 25% delay in two functional areas.
  3. If the child is found eligible for pre-school special education services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be drafted outlining the child’s disability, needs, and the services to be provided. Click here to see a copy of a blank IEP.
  4. All pre-school students eligible for services are classified as “pre-school student with a disability” regardless of the child’s specific delay or disability.

NOTE: A child’s IEP must be reviewed on an annual basis. Parents, school personnel and other parties may request additional review meetings and need not wait until an annual review meeting to ask for changes to a child’s program.

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Determining Placement for Pre-school Students

The CPSE Administrator will locate a preschool program or service providers who can deliver the services listed on the child's IEP. The Parent will be notified of the recommendation and have an opportunity to accept or decline the placement.

Some key principles to determining the appropriate placement:

  • The child must be placed in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) that can meet his/ her needs. That means that the child must be integrated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible.
  • Placements must be as close as possible to the child’s home.
  • Placements are to be made according to functional grouping, which means that students should be grouped according to the similarity of their needs.

Federal law provides that placement decisions must be reviewed on an annual basis.

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Services and Programs for Pre-school Age Students

Below are the various types of pre-school special education services available on New York City’s continuum from least to most restrictive:

  1. Related Services - These services are provided by a certified or licensed professional. Examples include but are not limited to, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and hearing services. Related services may be provided at any location including a pre-school, head start, day care or in the child’s home.
  2. Special Education Itinerant Teacher Services (SEIT) - This service is provided by a certified special education teacher. It must be provided at least two hours per week. SEIT services may be provided at any location including a pre-school, head start, day care or in the child’s home.
  3. Special Class in an Integrated Setting - This is a state-approved pre-school program that includes both children with disabilities and without disabilities. The classroom usually has at least one special education teacher and one paraprofessional. Services may be provided for a full or half day.
  4. Special Class - This is a state-approved pre-school program exclusively for children with disabilities. The classroom usually has at least one special education teacher and one paraprofessional. Services may be provided for a full or half day.

NOTE: Children recommended for SEIT, special class in an integrated setting, and special class can also receive related services as part of their program.

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