Transitioning to Kindergarten

What is transitioning?  

Transitioning is the process of moving from one service system to the next system.

• At age 3 years’ students who receive Early Intervention transition to CPSE.
• At age 5 years, students transition from CPSE to CSE. The CSE is responsible for school age children with disabilities ages 5-21.   A child classified as a “preschooler with a disability” must meet different criteria as a school age child.

 Who are the Members of the CSE?

• Chairperson
• General Education Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Related Service Providers- Speech, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist (when appropriate)
• School Psychologist
• Parents

Why a classification?

 As a preschool student, your child was designated as a “preschooler with a disability” on the IEP.   For school-age (ages 5-21) special education, your child must meet the specific eligibility criteria for one of 13 disability classifications required by the New York State Education Department. 

Classifications include:

• autism
• deafness
• deaf-blindness
• emotional disturbance
• speech language impaired
• visual impairment
• hearing impairment
• learning disability
• intellectual disability
• multiple disabilities
• orthopedic impairment
• traumatic brain injury
• other health impaired

What evaluations are performed and who conducts the evaluations?

Prior to the meeting, the district will contact providers/preschools to discuss your child’s progress. In some cases, district representatives may visit preschools to observe your child’s skills and needs.

The evaluations that were conducted to qualify a student for CPSE will be reviewed and a determination will be made as to whether additional testing is necessary.

The CSE will examine closely a student’s skills, strengths and weaknesses to determine current levels of functioning. It includes the following areas:

• Adaptive behavior-dressing, eating, toileting
• Cognitive functioning-reasoning, readiness skills, problem solving
• Social emotional –interaction with others n
• Physical-fine motor skills and gross motor skills
• Communication- articulation, receptive and expressive language
• Physical examination is conducted by a medical professional.
• Psychological evaluation and social history is conducted by a psychologist.
• Classroom observation if conducted.
• Progress reports and/or recent testing is performed by service providers, such as speech, occupational therapy or physical therapy.

The Annual Review and Transition Meeting:   

The CPSE Annual Review is a meeting that takes place Early Spring, by the committee, to discuss progress made during the year by the student.  If data supports significant regression of skills without the service, then summer services may be recommended by the CPSE. 

The transition meeting to CSE may follow the CPSE Annual Review.

Eligibility for CSE is based on the following sources of information: parent report, observation, evaluations, progress reports and teacher reports.  All members of the committee make important decisions and necessary changes to the student’s program.  

If the student is deemed not eligible for CSE, then s/he will be declassified.  Strategies and/or support under academic intervention services (AIS) may be warranted.

Individualized Education Program (IEP):   

If the Committee decides your child is eligible for special education services, an IEP is developed to meet your student’s needs. The IEP is a document that includes:

• strengths and weaknesses
• testing accommodations
• special equipment
• goals and objectives
• current abilities and needs
• program modifications
• results of evaluations
• transportation services
• assistive technology
• support for classroom teacher

Each teacher and service provider will have a copy of the student’s IEP and be aware of specific accommodations, modifications and support, to which they are responsible for addressing. The IEP has annual goals that are developed and implemented for the school year. The IEP is kept confidential. IEPs may be amended at any time during the year.

What programs are available?

For school-age students, special education services and programs may include specially designed instruction and supplementary services.  The continuum of services is as follows:

• Consultant Teacher services (direct/indirect)
• Resource Room
• Integrated Co-Teaching Class (ICT)
• Special Class 12:1:1
• Related Services Services may include: speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or counseling services as needed by each child. Therapists work with the student in a specific location for a specified amount of time each week as determined by the CSE.  Services may be “pull out” or “push in” to the classroom which can be delivered in either on an individual or group basis.

The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE):

The school district is responsible for providing an appropriate education for each student.  The location of where services will be provided must be in the least restrictive environment, which is determined by the CSE.  School age students with a disability will receive services typically in the general education class with necessary supports and services.    Some students, due to their intensive needs, may need programs or services that occur out of the general education curriculum.  Students with disabilities are placed in the least restrictive setting and integrated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible, based on each student’s individual needs.  Kindergarten placements may include:

• General Education Kindergarten with no supports
• General Education Kindergarten with related services
• Resource Room
• Consultant Teacher
• Special class Special - in district
• Special Class – BOCES
• Special Class – Agency School