The policies, practices, and procedures of the North Shore Central School District represent a commitment by the district to satisfying both the spirit and the letter of the law by assuring due process in evaluation and placement for children with disabilities and by providing an array of special education services. This Two-Year Plan outlines the programs and services that are provided. It will be used as a working manual for staff and parents and will undergo changes as regulations, laws, District policies and programs are modified.

MAJOR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

1. To provide a free, appropriate educational program in the least restrictive environment for all children requiring special education programs and services from age 3 to 21;

2. To assure that policies and procedures for establishing and operating special education programs are clearly defined and make provisions for all pupils with disabilities ages 3 to 21;

3. To continue to provide the resources necessary, human and material, for the implementation of programs and services to meet the needs of resident children with disabilities;

4. To continue to build a close working relationship between the Committee on Special Education (CSE), Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), staff, District administrators, the Board of Education, parents, and community;

5. To continue to provide the structure for delivery of programs and services which foster the individual pupil's educational progress and prepare a sound foundation for post-high school education and/or employment.

COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION (CSE) AND
COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (CPSE):
MAJOR FUNCTIONS, MEMBERSHIP, AND TRAINING

Major Functions

To implement its commitment to the education of children with disabilities the Board of Education annually appoints a Committee on Special Education (CSE), a CSE subcommittee and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). The committees are appointed in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations. Major functions of the CSE, CSE subcommittee and CPSE include:

1. Identifying, evaluating, re-evaluating and recommending placement for pupils and preschool pupils with disabilities, and developing individualized education programs (IEPs) for each qualified student;

2. Assuring that appropriate due process safeguards are provided for each pupil;

3. Maintaining a register, which shall be revised annually, of all students with disabilities who reside in the District and who are entitled to attend preschool or the public schools of the District during the coming school year;

4. Establishing a network for communication and sharing of resources with other educational and community service agencies;

5. Reporting to the Board of Education on the adequacy and status of programs, services and facilities made available to school-aged pupils with disabilities by the District, and, for preschool children, by public and private agencies within the County of Nassau;

-and-

6. Reporting to the State Education Department on the number of preschool and school-age children, if any, within the district who are being served as well as those not receiving appropriate educational services and the reasons for any such lack of service.

Membership of the CSE, Subcommittee, and Their Functions

The North Shore Schools CSE and subcommittee consist of appointed alternate members. When the Committee meets to perform any of its mandated functions, it will include the members from the following list as mandated in Part 200 Regulations:

1. The chairperson of the CSE, or an alternate representative of the District, who is qualified to provide or administer or supervise special education;

2. A school psychologist (attendance is required for initial presentation/classification, whenever a psychological evaluation is reviewed or a change in placement is considered);

3. A parent of a pupil with a disability residing in the school district (provided the parent is not employed by or under contract with the District), except when the presence of the parent member has been declined by the parent of the child;

4. The child's regular education teacher, as defined by applicable federal regulations;

5. The child's special education teacher, as defined by applicable federal regulations;

6. The school physician, provided the physician's presence is requested in writing at least 72 hours prior to the meeting;

7. The parent of the child;

8. The student, if deemed appropriate by the parent/committee;

9. The student’s guidance counselor will be a member of the committee for students in the district’s secondary schools. The counselor is a person knowledgeable about the programs and services available to the student. The counselor’s presence is not required to hold the CSE meeting;

10. Such other persons as the Board of Education may designate or who have special knowledge of the child.

The committee shall invite the appropriate professional most familiar with a child's disability or disabilities to attend any meeting concerning the educational program for such child. If the child attends a school or agency outside the District, a representative of such program shall be invited to the meeting. Parents of the child being reviewed and other knowledgeable persons are encouraged to share information, outside evaluations, and reports with the committee.

The CSE meets to determine eligibility for special education, to recommend services for the first time or whenever a special class or more restrictive placement is under consideration. The CSE will also meet to consider declassifying a student; whenever there is a disagreement between school personnel and a parent regarding placement, services or the contents of an IEP; and, whenever the parent of a child receiving services requests a CSE meeting with all its required members.

The Subcommittee
The subcommittee is established to conduct annual reviews and IEP modifications throughout the year. Whenever a subcommittee meeting is convened the special education office will follow the same procedures used in arranging for a regular CSE meeting. Records will be kept and the parent of the child will be invited to the meeting and informed, in writing, of the outcome of the meeting. The subcommittee will consist of the following members:

1. The school psychologist or building administrator shall act as the chairperson of the subcommittee.

2. The special education teacher of the child.

3. The regular education teacher of the child.

4. The parent of the child.

5. The Counselor of the child (secondary students), though not required to hold the subcommittee meeting.

The subcommittee will meet at the building of the student and will include, at the High School and whenever deemed appropriate by the parent, the student. The subcommittee may meet only on students who have already been classified and placed in special education. The subcommittee may conduct annual reviews of students remaining in the same type of placement and with the same or similar level of service. The subcommittee may never recommend a special class for an initial placement or a placement more restrictive on the continuum. The subcommittee may recommend transitional services, trial mainstreaming and decreases in service, but may not recommend declassification. Prior to the subcommittee meeting the parent will be informed of the nature and purpose of the meeting and the right to request a full CSE meeting.

The CSE
Meetings of the CSE are held in the Sea Cliff Elementary School Special Education conference room as needed, or at the District's schools throughout the calendar year. If a number of students attend a BOCES school or private day school in Nassau County, the CSE may convene at that site to facilitate communication with the staff involved. It should be noted that CSE meetings are held during the summer months, when necessary, as well as during the school year. Meetings will be held annually to review the progress of each student and notice of CSE meetings must be received by the parent at least five days prior to the meeting. The parent is invited to participate in the development of recommendations and has the right to be accompanied to committee meetings by such individuals as the parent desires.

Membership of the CPSE
The North Shore Schools CPSE includes:

1. An appropriate professional employed by the District who shall be the chairperson of the CPSE;

2. A parent of a child with a disability who resides in the 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 District or municipality. The presence of the parent member may be declined by the parent of the child;

3. An appropriately certified or licensed professional appointed by the chief executive officer of Nassau County, whose attendance is not required for a quorum;

4. An appropriately licensed or certified professional designated by the agency, if any, which served or is serving the child as an infant or toddler pursuant to federal laws prior to preschool eligibility, who must attend all meetings conducted prior to the child's initial receipt of services through the District.

5. A certified teacher, either of the child, or one qualified to provide special education services within the District.

6. A regular education teacher if the child is being considered for regular education placement.

7. The parent of the child.

The child's teacher and other knowledgeable persons are invited to meetings to share information, outside evaluations, and reports with the Committee.

Meetings of the CPSE are held in the Special Education conference room as needed or at preschool program sites in Nassau County throughout the school year and during the summer months. The CPSE will review annually the status of each preschool child with a disability. Notice of meetings of the CPSE shall be given to each committee member and the parent of the preschool child at least five business days prior to the meeting in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile, or by personal service.

Training

The District is committed to training all appropriately qualified personnel, including the members of the CSE, subcommittee, CPSE, and the chairperson, to carry out the functions identified in Parts 100 and 200 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education as well as other applicable laws and regulations. All members periodically review procedures and responsibilities to ensure that the Committees function in an ethical, confidential, and effective manner. The chairperson of the CSE routinely informs members of the Board of Education, CSE, subcommittee, CPSE, District staff and administrators of any changes in the regulations relevant to the education of children with disabilities.