Committee on Preschool Special Education

Each local school district maintains a Committee on Preschool Special Education. The Committee on Preschool Special Education or CPSE must include:

• the parent of the child
• a regular education teacher (if the child is or may be participating in the regular education environment)
• a special education teacher or related service provider
• a representative of the local school district who serves as the chairperson of the CPSE
• an individual who can interpret evaluation results, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise about the child
• an additional parent member (unless the parent(s) of the child request that this person not participate)
• a licensed or certified professional from the Department of Health's Early Intervention Program (for a child in transition from the Early Intervention Program). A certified or licensed preschool representative from the municipality must be notified of scheduled meetings; however, the CPSE meeting can be held whether or not the municipal representative attends.

When you refer your child to the CPSE, you will be given a list of agencies approved by the State Education Department to provide preschool special education evaluations. You will be asked to select one of the approved evaluators, then sign a consent form for your child to be evaluated at no cost to you or your family.

The CPSE will also give you a copy of the due process procedural safeguards notice. If your child's evaluation is not timely or, if you disagree with the evaluation results or the recommendation of the CPSE, you have the right to ask for an independent evaluation, mediation or an impartial hearing.

A copy of the evaluation report, including a summary of the evaluation, will be provided to you and the other CPSE members. You will be asked to meet with them to talk about the evaluation results. If the CPSE finds your child is not eligible for special education programs and/or services, you will be given the reasons for the decision in writing.