Committee on Preschool Special Education

What is it?

The Special Education Preschool Program is a federally mandated and funded service. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) makes a range of educational opportunities available to children with moderate to severe disabilities who are three and four years old. The program is managed by the Galway Central School District with financial oversight provided by the Saratoga County Youth Bureau. The district does not operate nor supervise any preschool services. Children are served at any one of several county-approved private agency sites in the area, or through home-based and community-based programs. Saratoga County arranges transportation through private providers.

Who is eligible?

Any child age between the ages of 36 months (3 years) and 60 months (5 years) residing in the school district who is experiencing significant difficulties or delays in development, whether physical, mental, or emotional, can be referred for service. Areas of concern can include difficulties in developing speech and language skills, thinking skills, motor skills or social skills. An assessment is conducted by a state approved evaluation agency to determine if your child qualifies for the Special Education Preschool Program.

What services are available?

CORE Assessment: A developmental evaluation of your child's language skills, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive ability, social/emotional skills and adaptive skills is conducted. Parents are interviewed to assess family needs. Screening and evaluation procedures include a review of relevant social, economic, cultural, medical and nutritional factors that affect the child's growth and development. The preschool assessment will identify your child's strengths and weaknesses.

Committee On Preschool Special Education: A multidisciplinary team consisting of evaluators, parents, teachers, and other professionals with knowledge of the child who review the evaluations, determine eligibility for services and programs. This committee reviews each student referred for special education services.

Home-Based and Agency Services:
An individualized education plan (IEP) for children and their families is written at the CPSE meeting. Services are then provided either in the child's home or at an approved agency. Planned curriculum is provided as a guide for parents and caregivers in educating the child. Certified practitioners in specialized areas may provide home-based services. Specialized services may also be provided at an agency approved to provide specialized services to a child. These services include Special Education Itinerant Services, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy.

Community-Based Services: The providers listed above may travel to home or childcare centers, Head Start centers, or other community settings to provide services to the child, consult with the staff, and modify curriculum or materials.

Classroom-Based Services: The child's total program is provided in a special education preschool class. Classes are located at approved agencies in the area.

Transition Services: Program staff work to ensure a smooth transition from the early intervention program sponsored by the Department of Health to the pre-school system and from the preschool program into the school-aged classroom.

What does it cost?

All services provided through the Special Education Preschool Program are offered at no charge. Funding is provided through federal, state, and local funding sources.

How do I access services for my child?

Parents, medical practitioners or community agencies may refer a child to this program. A referral form signed by the parent is required to begin the referral process. To obtain a referral, or for additional information, contact the Pupil Services Office at 518-882-1033 extension 3249.

To determine if your child is a candidate for assessment, ask yourself these questions:

Is my child's learning delayed, or does he/she seem to learn more slowly than other children?
Does my child have trouble walking or using his/her arms?
Does my child have trouble seeing?
Does my child not talk or talk very little?
Is my child difficult to understand when he/she speaks?
Does my child often not respond when you talk to him/her, or do I have to repeat things frequently?
Does my child get upset easily, cry a lot, have temper tantrums, sleeping problems or other behaviors that concern me?

Galway Central School District

The Galway Central School District does not discriminate in its programs and activities, including employment and admission as applicable, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, economic status, marital status, veterans' status, political affiliation, domestic victim status, use of a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog, disability, or other classifications protected under federal or state law, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The designated district compliance officer(s) will coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, and the New York State Human Rights Law. The BOCES Civil Rights Compliance Officer is: Jennifer Hall, Galway Central School District, 5317 Sacandaga Road, Galway, NY 12074. phone: (518) 882-1033, email: [email protected]. Complaints may also be filed with the Office for Civil Rights, New York Office, U.S. Department of Education, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005-2500, phone (646) 428-3800, fax (646) 428-3843, email: [email protected]