Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District

The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is a multidisciplinary team that is approved by the Board of Education.  This committee meets after a referral has been made and a multidisciplinary evaluation has been completed to review the information and determine if a child has a disability.  This committee is responsible for students who are between the ages of 5-21.  The committee determines eligibility, develops and Individualized Education Program (IEP), and places the student in the least restrictive environment.  If a student is eligible for classification, this committee will meet at least once a year to review the student's programs and services.  Every three years a student will undergo a re-evaluation process to ensure that the student continues to require special education services.

Committee on Special Education Members

The CSE may consists of the following people:              

• Chairperson

• Parent(s) of the student

• Regular education teacher

• Special education teacher

• School Psychologist

• Related Service Providers

• School Counselor, if applicable

• Any other people who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the student, as requested by the parent or the school district

• The student, if appropriate

It is important that parent(s) be at their child(ren)'s meetings.  Parents are the key to helping this whole process be successful and we encourage you to be a part of it all.  You are your child's best advocate. Please let us know what we can do to make sure that you are informed and a part of all that we do to help your child. 

Multidisciplinary Evaluation

After a referral has been made, many professionals must evaluate the student to determine his/her strengths and weaknesses.  The professionals include, but are not limited to: School Psychologist, School Nurse, Service Providers (Speech/Language, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, etc.), Guidance Counselors, and School Administrators.

Referral Process

A student suspected of having a disability shall be referred in writing to the CSE Chairperson, Shauna McMahon.  A referral may be made by:

• A student's parent

• A licensed physician

• Building Principal

• The commissioner or designee of a public agency with responsibility for welfare, health or education of the children

• For purposes of referring one's self, a student who is over 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor, who is eligible to attend the public schools of the district

A staff member can make a request for a referral to the Director of Special Education. At this time, the Director will collaborate with various stakeholders to determine if a child should be referred to the Committee on Special Education.

The Response to Intervention Team can also make a request for referral to the Committee on Special Education.

Initial Evaluation

An initial evaluation must be completed within 60 days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation.  This evaluation will include:

• An individual psychological evaluation, except when a school psychologist determines after an assessment of a school-age student, that further evaluation is unnecessary

• A social history

• An observation of the student in the current educational placement

• Other appropriate assessments or evaluations

Eligibility

The student must meet the qualifications for at least one of the 13 classifications established:

1. Autism

2. Deafness

3. Deaf-Blindness

4. Emotional Disturbance

5. Hearing Impairment

6. Learning Disability

7. Intellectual Disability

8. Multiple disabilities

9. Orthopedic impairment

10. Other Health Impairment

11. Speech or Language Impairment

12. Traumatic Brain Injury

13. Visual Impairment