Family Guide to Special Education Services

Family Guide to Special Education Services

FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Overview

What is this guide?

The Family Guide to Special Education Services for School-Age Children was created to provide you with information about how the New York City Department of Education (DOE) determines if a student ages 5 to 21 is eligible for special education services and how the DOE provides special education services. If you are interested in learning about preschool special education services for children ages 3 to 5 with disabilities, refer to the Family Guide to Preschool Special Education Services.

Whether your child attends a DOE school, charter school, a private or parochial school, or an approved home schooling program, this guide provides information on the special education process.

What is Special Education?

Special Education includes services, programs, and specially designed instruction to meet the individual needs of a student with a disability. Students with disabilities who require special education services have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The IEP is created by a team that includes you, the parent. It will contain information about your child's interests, strengths, needs, and goals. It is a map that lays out the special education instruction, supports, and services your child needs to make progress and succeed in school. The IEP is a legal document that describes how the DOE will provide your child with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) appropriate to meet your child's needs. LRE means that your child will be in schools and classrooms with peers without disabilities for as much of the day as possible.

If you have placed your child in a private or religious school at your expense, your child is considered a parentally placed student. Parentally placed students who require special education services will receive Individualized Education Services Plans (IESPs) for services only.

How do I use this guide?

This guide provides detailed information about the special education process. It will tell you:

What to do if you believe your child may need special education services SECTION 1;

What to do if you do not agree with the programs and/or services recommended for your child SECTION 5;

How to make a referral for an initial evaluation SECTION 2;

What your child must do to graduate from high school SECTION 6;

How to participate in the evaluation and IEP development process SECTIONS 2 and 3;

How the DOE will arrange services for your child if your child is eligible SECTION 4;

How you can help your child's plan to transition to college, technical school, employment, and/or independent living SECTION 7; and

What resources are available to support you and your child SECTION 8.

What special education supports

and services your child might receive

SECTION 4;

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Table of Contents

At-A-Glance

page iv At-A-Glance

SECTION

1

Does My Child Need Special Education Services?

page 2 Response to Intervention page 2 What's Next? Does Your Child Need Additional Supports?

SECTION

2

Starting the Special Education Process

page 3 page 4 page 5 page 5 page 6 page 6

The Initial Referral Process Consent and the Right to Confidentiality The Initial Evaluation Bilingual Evaluations Independent Assessments Timelines for Evaluations

SECTION

3

The IEP Meeting

page 7 After the Evaluation page 7 Types of IEP Meetings page 9 Eligibility page 9 Disability Classifications page 12 Preparing for the IEP Meeting page 13 IEP Team Members

SECTION

4

The Individualized Education Program (IEP)

page 17 Guidelines for Parentally Placed Students page 17 IEP Overview page 20 Special Education Programs and Services page 23 Related Services page 25 Recommending Related Services page 27 Specialized Programs in District 1?32 Schools page 32 Accommodations and Modifications

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SECTION

5

After the IEP Is Developed: Arranging Services

page 35 Arranging Services page 36 Arranging Transportation page 36 Parent's Consent for Special Education Services page 37 Consent for Medicaid Billing page 37 Placement Timelines

SECTION

6

Graduation for Students with IEPs

page 39 Graduating from High School page 39 Diploma Options page 40 Commencement Credentials page 41 Diploma Requirements

SECTION

7

Life After High School--College, Career, and Postsecondary Planning

page 43 Transition Planning page 44 Overview of Requirements for Transition Services page 44 Transition and Vocational Assessments page 46 Transition and the IEP page 48 Transition Planning Roles

SECTION

8

Getting Support

page 50 Parent Rights page 51 Resolving Concerns page 55 Important Contacts and Resources

SECTION

9

Additional Important Information

page 59 Glossary of Terms page 73 Languages Other Than English

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