Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)

The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) includes:

Chairperson - district representative
Special education provider of the child - or evaluator if it is an initial meeting
Regular education teacher of the child - if the child is attending a preschool and the teacher is available to attend
Parents of the student
Parent representative - the parent of a child with a disability

Others with knowledge or expertise may also be invited. Parents may invite anyone they wish to attend.

The Purpose of CPSE

The purpose of CPSE is to determine if a child is a "preschooler with a disability" as outlined by the state of New York. In order to qualify as a preschooler with a disability the child:

"shall exhibit a significant delay or disability in one or more functional areas related to cognitive, language and communication, adaptive, socio-emotional or motor development which adversely affects the student's ability to learn. Such delay shall be documented by the results of the individual evaluation."

In order to qualify for special education services, a child must exhibit one of the following:

12-month delay in one or more areas
33% delay in one area OR 25% delay in each of two areas
2.0 standard deviations below average in one area OR 1.5 standard deviations below average in each of two areas.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

If the child has been determined to be eligible for special education services, the CPSE develops an Individualized Education Program (IEP). In developing the recommendations for the IEP, the CPSE considers the results of the evaluations, the child's strengths and needs, and concerns of the parent. Recommendations will be made with regard to the type of special education service(s) required along with frequency, intensity, duration and location of service(s). Please refer to the Services and Programs section of this website for more information regarding types of services a child may qualify to receive.

CPSE Anual Review Meeting

The IEP will be reviewed once per year at a CPSE Annual Review Meeting. At this meeting therapists and/or teachers providing services to the child will report on progress and/or continued needs, and an IEP will be created for the following year.

Extended School Year Services

(services during the months of July and August)

At the child's annual review meeting, the determination for extended school year services will also be decided. As stated in New York State regulations, "Extended school year services may be appropriate for some preschool students with disabilities who require a structured learning environment to prevent substantial regression. Substantial regression means a student's inability to maintain developmental levels due to a loss of skill or knowledge during the months of July and August of such severity as to require an inordinate period of review at the beginning of the school year to reestablish and maintain IEP goals and objectives mastered at the end of the previous school year."