Specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children, determined to be eligible, from age 3 to age 21. Our public schools are responsible for evaluating and providing services for all children living in our school district.

Children from birth to age 3 may be eligible for Early Intervention Services. You may contact the Somerset County Special Child Health Services at (908) 725-2366 to request an evaluation of your child.

If your child is already in school, speak to his/her teacher. You may also speak with the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC) in your school. If you would like to have your child evaluated for eligibility of special education services, you will need to notify the LDTC in writing. To find out who the LDTC is in your child’s school, click here for Special Education website page.

There are many different ways a child could be identified. A parent, teacher, physician or an agency could recommend that a child be evaluated by the school district. The request must be made in writing. Click here to see sample letters.

If the recommendation comes from anyone other than a parent, the parents must be contacted in writing to attend a meeting to decide whether an initial evaluation should be conducted.

Eligibility is decided at a collaborative meeting by the entire Child Study Team. In order to be eligible for special education and related services:

• A student must have a disability according to one of the eligibility categories;

• The disability must adversely affect the student’s educational performance; and

• The student must be in need of special education and related services.

No. All placement decisions require written parent consent prior to placement.

The group of people who evaluate your child’s eligibility for classification in order to receive special education services. The team writes, monitors, and reviews the IEP (Individualized Education Program) for each classified child. The core CST members include the Parents, Teacher, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC), school Psychologist, and the school Social Worker. If your child receives related services, those teachers and/or therapists will also be members of the team.

An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a detailed written plan with measurable goals and objectives designed to meet your child’s specific education needs. It describes the special education and related services that will be provided to your child. It is a legally binding agreement between the district and the parents.

This program can be revised throughout the school year as your child’s needs change. At minimum, it is updated once a year during the annual review process.

Depending on your child’s specific needs as outlined in their IEP, the district will provide services that include, but are not limited to: curriculum modifications, in-class support, use of a resource center, a classroom or personal aide, assistive technology, adapted physical education, extended school year services, social programming, and special education training for regular education teachers.

Related services are any service a student needs in order to benefit from special education. These are services are based upon the IEP and include, but are not limited to: transportation, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, assistive technology and medical support.

Federal Law mandates, that a child be placed in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The district will provide a full continuum of services and a range of placement options. The first option that needs to be considered is placement in their regular education classroom in their home school with accommodations.

Other options to be considered could be placement in a regular education classroom with resource center pullout or push-in, a special education class in the district, out of district private school for special needs, and individual instruction at home.

Yes, to the extent that he/she can be successful.

As long as the Child Study Team agrees that your child requires services, up until age 21.