Special Education Services
Special Education Services
Students with disabilities are protected under federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as state law. These laws require school districts to provide free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible students.
Referral Process
Students between the ages of 3 and 21 suspected of having an educational disability may be referred to the Child Study Team for an evaluation by a variety of sources. Typically, students are referred by the Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) Team, an outside agency, or parent/guardian.
Evaluation Process
Once a referral has been made to the Child Study Team, a Case Manager is assigned and will schedule an Identification meeting to determine whether a student will be evaluated or not. If evaluations are warranted, decisions will be made as to which areas to assess. The student will be assessed by the appropriate personnel and documented reports will be written and sent home to the parent/guardian for review. The parent/guardian will have ample time to read the written reports prior to the eligibility meeting being scheduled. This meeting will determine if the student is eligible for special education services.
Student Eligiblity
A student shall be determined eligible and classified “eligible for special education and related services” when the student has one or more of the following disabilities as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and New Jersey regulations. The eligible categories include:
- Auditory Impairment
- Autism
- Communication Impairment
- Deaf/Blindness
- Emotional Regulation Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Preschool Child with a Disability
- Social Maladjustment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment
Parental Rights In Special Education (PRISE)
PRISE (Spanish)
This document has been developed by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, in an effort to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information. The document is periodically revised to reflect changes in the law, provide additional information that would be of use, and to provide the information in a more clear and concise manner.