What is the Committee on Preschool Special Education? (CPSE)
The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for coordinating the special education process for preschool children ages three to five.
CPSEs work with families in the district where a family lives, regardless of where children receive services or go to preschool. To find your home district, search your address in Find a School.
There are 10 CPSEs in different areas of the city. Each CPSE is part of a larger Committee on Special Education (CSE) office. A chairperson oversees the office, including the CPSE in it.
The 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)
- and 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 meetings can be held whether or not the municipal representative attends.
Information partly from Advocates for Children of New York