Child Study Team

The New Jersey Administrative Code for special education (N.J.A.C. 6A:14) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) are laws that ensure children with disabilities a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. An important part of these laws provides parents with the right to participate in their children’s education.  This is also known as Parental Rights at Special Education, or PRISE.

New Jersey Department of Education regulations require that the basic team includes a school psychologist, a learning consultant, and a school social worker, all of whom must be appropriately certified. For a preschool student, the regulations require the basic team to include a speech/language specialist.

WHO MIGHT REQUIRE CHILD STUDY TEAM SERVICES?

Children, age three (3) to those completing 8th grade, experiencing physical, sensory, emotional, communication, cognitive and/or social difficulties may be eligible for special education and related services. Babies from birth to three (3) years of age, who are thought to have a developmental delay, may receive assistance from the Early Intervention Program. To access this service, parents should contact the Special Child Health Services at 973-948-5239 973-948-5239 FREE x3125 or x3129.

If parents are concerned about their school age child’s progress, they should discuss such issues with their child’s teacher and/or assistant principal. Parents have the option of referring their child to the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) or the Child Study Team (CST). I&RS offers intervention procedures that are provided in a regular education school program. At times, however, more extensive interventions than can be provided in a regular education setting may be necessary to assist the student.

WHO CAN REFER A STUDENT TO THE CHILD STUDY TEAM?

Referrals can come from various sources: 1) The Intervention and Referral Team based at your child’s school. Once the committee has utilized its resources and finds that additional information is required, or feels the student may be experiencing education difficulties, the student may be recommended for evaluation by the Child Study Team. An evaluation may include one or more assessments by the following professionals: learning consultant, psychologist, and/or social worker. 2) Referrals can be made directly to CST by the school principal/504 Officer. 3) Parents may request an evaluation by the Child Study Team by submitting a written request to the Supervisor of Special Education Services.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE ONCE A CHILD HAS BEEN ASSESSED?

Once the evaluation has been completed, the Child Study Team, parents, and teachers meet to determine if the student is “Eligible for special education and related services” or “Eligible for speech-language services.” If the student is found eligible, this group develops an Individual Education Program (IEP) for the student to determine the supports and services necessary to ensure the student receives an education in the least restrictive environment. In some cases, students remain within the regular education class with supports, while in other cases, students may be placed in special education programs within district or in out of district placements. The timeframe from parental consent for evaluation to the development and implementation of the IEP is 90 days.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSIFICATION AND DISABILITY CATEGORIES?

A student shall be found eligible and classified “Eligible for Special Education and Related Services” when it is determined that the student has one or more of the following disabilities which adversely affects the student’s educational performance resulting in the need for services.