Special Education
Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)
Children between the ages of 3 and 5 years of age may be
referred to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) for an initial
evaluation, if there are concerns about the child’s cognitive, behavior,
articulation, language, fine motor or gross motor development. Referrals may be
made to the CPSE Chairperson by the child’s parent(s). This is a voluntary
process, and the referral may be withdrawn at any time, if the parent wishes to
do so.
Children may also be referred to the CPSE if they have been receiving services
through their county’s Early Intervention Program and are turning three. The
Early Intervention Coordinator will facilitate this transition.
Once a referral is made and consent for the evaluation is signed, the parent
selects an evaluator from a list of preschool providers approved by the county
of residence. At the time of the evaluation, parents will complete a social
history, indicating when developmental milestones were reached. A school
psychologist will evaluate the child’s cognitive functioning and social
interactions. Additional assessments will be completed, depending on motor
and/or language concerns. Also, parents will need to provide documentation from
the child’s pediatrician regarding the child’s health and immunization records.
Following the evaluation, a CPSE meeting is convened to review the results and
determine eligibility for special education services. If a child is found to
have significant delays in one or more areas which negatively affect the child’s
ability to learn, he/she may be classified as a Preschool Child with a
Disability. Services will be determined based on the child’s area(s) of need,
and in accordance with the guidelines established in Section 4410 of the NYS
Education Law. Any services provided will be provided in the Least Restrictive
Environment, and will be reviewed at least annually.
If the committee determines that the preschool child has a disability, the
committee shall first consider the appropriateness of providing: related
services only; or special education itinerant services only; or related services
in combination with special education itinerant services; or a half-day
preschool program; or finally a full-day preschool program.
Prior to recommending the provision of special education services in a setting
which includes only preschool children with disabilities, the committee shall
first consider providing special education services in a setting where
age-appropriate peers without disabilities are typically found. Provision of
special education services in a setting with no regular contact with
age-appropriate peers without disabilities shall only be considered when the
nature or severity of the child's disability is such that education in a less
restrictive environment with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot
be achieved satisfactorily.