Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)

• Parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student
• Regular education teacher
• Special Education teacher of the child or, if appropriate, special education provider of the child
• School district representative who is qualified to provide or supervise Special Education and is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and the availability of preschool special education programs and services and other resources of the school district and the county (this person is the Chairperson of the Committee on Preschool Special Education)
• An individual who understands and can talk about the evaluation results and how these results effect instruction (could include the school psychologist, Special Education teacher, CSE Chairperson,  or someone that the school district determines has knowledge or special expertise regarding the student)
• Parent member if requested in writing by parents at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
• An Early Intervention Coordinator
• Other people that have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate (as requested by the parent or school district)
• An Albany County representative will be notified of scheduled meetings; however, the CPSE meeting can be held whether or not the county representative attends

If your preschool child is not developing skills such as walking, talking or playing like other young children, talk to your family doctor. He or she may be able to reassure you that children develop at different rates and your child is within the normal developmental scales.

If, however, the doctor is concerned, or you are still not comfortable with your child’s progress, you may wish to make a referral to our district’s Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).

If your three-year-old child received services from the Early Intervention Program and is in need of Special Education services, he or she will need to transition (move) from the Early Intervention Program into the preschool Special Education program. The Early Intervention official from Albany County must give written notice to the City School District of Albany CPSE that your child may be transitioning from the Early Intervention Program. A transition plan must be developed 120 days before this transition and included in your child’s last Individual Family Service Plan.

If your school-age child is having difficulties in school, first talk to his or her teacher. There are many supports for students within regular education such as psychological services, speech and language improvement services, curriculum and instructional modifications and Academic Intervention Services. Each school has a Multi-Tiered System of Support Team (MTSS) that can develop a plan for the child utilizing the supports mentioned above and others.

If you, the teacher and principal have not been able to help your child, your child may have a disability that affects his or her learning. To find out, you can make a referral to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).

Initial referral notification process

The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) office will provide notice to the parent and request consent.

Consent process for initial referrals 

Within the next 30 school days, the following steps will take place:

• The parent/guardian has 30 days to grant consent to evaluate following the receipt of referral date (three attempts will be made to obtain consent).
• The CPSE Multidisciplinary Team of the parent’s choice will conduct an individual evaluation as appropriate. The City School District of Albany has a CPSE Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) for conducting evaluations. 
• Meeting notice or invitation will be sent five days prior to the CPSE meeting.
• The CPSE will conduct a meeting and make recommendations. 
• Notify parent and Board of Education (BOE).
• BOE may remand the recommendation back to the CPSE for reconsideration.
• If your preschool child is being evaluated for the first time to decide whether he or she has a disability, the CPSE must provide a recommendation to the Board of Education within 30 school days of the date the district received your consent for evaluation.

CPSE Meeting and Recommendations

• A meeting to review the evaluation will occur no later than 30 school days from the receipt of parent consent. 
• The CPSE will determine initial eligibility at the meeting or review the requested reevaluation. 
• The CPSE will arrange for services and/or programs as recommended at the meeting. 
• The Board of Education must arrange for the preschool student with a disability to receive the recommended special education services or programs starting with the July, September or January starting date of those approved programs or no later than 30 school days from the date the CPSE made its recommendation.
• There may be no delay in implementing a preschool or school-age student’s IEP, including any case in which the payment source for providing or paying for special education is being determined.