Referral Process (CSE)

Request for Referral Process

A student suspected of having a disability shall be referred in writing to the Chairman of the Committee on Special Education (CSE).  A referral may be requested by:

• A student's parent
• A professional staff member of the school district in which the student resides (Principal)
• A licensed physician
• 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 request for a referral submitted by anyone other than the parent, student, or judicial officer shall:

• State the reasons for the referral and include any test results, record or reports upon which the referral is based that may be in the possession of the person submitting the referral
• Describe in writing intervention services and programs or instructional methodologies used to remediate the student's performance prior to referral [SAT's help in this process- see below]
• Describe the extent of parental contact or involvement prior to the referral
• Be submitted to the BOE approved referral designee; Building Administrators

Initial Evaluation

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

• A physical examination
• 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