The Board of Education shall appoint a Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) whose membership shall include, but not be limited to, the following members:
a) The parent(s) of the preschool child. To ensure that one or both parents are present at each CPSE meeting, the District and the parent(s) may agree to use alternative means of participation such as video conferences or conference phone calls;
b) Not less than one (1) regular education teacher of such child (if the child is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment);
c) Not less than one (1) special education teacher of the child or, where appropriate, not less than one (1) special education provider (i.e., related service provider) of such child;
d) A representative of the School District who is qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, special education and who is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum and about the availability of preschool special education programs and services and other resources of the District and the municipality (who shall serve as Chairperson of the CPSE);
e) An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results, who may be a member of the team selected from the regular education teacher, the special education teacher or provider, the school psychologist, the School District representative described above, or a person having knowledge or special expertise regarding the student as determined by the District;
f) At the discretion of the parent or the District, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate. The determination of knowledge or special expertise shall be made by the party (parents or School District) who invited the individual to be a member of the committee;
g) An additional parent of a child with a disability who resides in the School District or a neighboring school district, and whose child is enrolled in a preschool or elementary level education program provided that such parent shall not be employed by or under contract with the School District; and provided further that such parent shall not be a required member unless the parents of the child or a member of the CPSE request, in writing at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to such meeting, that the additional parent member attend the meeting. The parents or other person in parental relation shall receive proper
written notice of their right to have an additional parent attend any meeting of the committee regarding the student along with a statement, prepared by NYSED, explaining the role of having the additional parent attend the meeting;
h) For a child’s smooth transition from early intervention programs and services (Infant and Toddler Programs), at the request of the parent/person in parental relation, the appropriate professional designated by the agency that has been charged with the responsibility for the preschool child; and
i) A representative from the municipality of the preschool child’s residence. Attendance of the appointee of the municipality is not required for a quorum.
However, except for the parents/persons in parental relation and the appointee from the municipality (a) and (i) above, a member of the CPSE is not required to attend a meeting of the team in whole or in part if the parent/person in parental relation and the District agree in writing that the attendance is not necessary because the member’s area of the curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed at that meeting.
Additionally, a member as described in letters b) through h) of this subheading may be excused from attending the CPSE meeting, in whole or in part, if the parent/person in parental relation to the student with a disability and the School District agree, in writing to the excusal not less than five (5) calendar days prior to the meeting date, that the attendance of the member is not necessary because:
a) The member’s area of the curriculum or related services is being modified or discussed in the meeting but, not less than five (5) calendar days prior to the meeting, the excused member has submitted to the parents/persons in parental relation and the CSE written input into the development of the IEP, particularly with respect to their area of curriculum or related services; or
b) The committee member is unable to attend due to an emergency or unavoidable scheduling conflict and the District submits the written input listed in a) above to the parents/persons in parental relation within a reasonable time prior to the meeting and prior to obtaining written consent to the excusal by the parents/persons in parental relation.
Training
The training of qualified personnel is essential to the effective implementation of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education regarding the education of all students with disabilities.
The Director of Student Support Services shall be responsible to the Superintendent for establishing administrative practices and procedures for training all District personnel responsible for carrying out the provisions of Part 200 of the Commissioner’s Regulations as well as members of the Committee on Preschool Special Education.
Alternative Means of Meeting
When conducting a meeting of the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), the parent and the representative of the District appointed to the CPSE may agree to use alternative means of meeting participation, such as videoconferences and conference calls.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 20 USC Section 1400 et seq.
34 CFR Part 300
Education Law Section 4410
8 NYCRR Sections 200.2(b)(3) and 200.3
NOTE: Refer also to Policies #7614 — Preschool Special Education Program
#7631 — Appointment and Training of Committee on Special Education (CSE)/Subcommittee on Special Education Members
Adopted April 11, 2017
Amended September 12, 2017
Updated January 23, 2024