Office of Student Services
Margaret Crisafulli
(609) 806-4206
SPECIAL EDUCATIONÂ
Special education is distinguished by the following characteristics:
• Comprehensive evaluation of a student's learning and behavioral characteristics.
• Instruction by teachers trained and certified in the education of children with special needs.
• Instruction tailored to students' capitalize on students' strenghts while addressing learning needs.
• Use of specialized methods, materials, and equipment, if necessary.
• Ongoing monitoring of student's progress and program with modifications, as necessary.
• Provision of related services as needed (e.g. speech/language services).
Special education is provided by teachers certified in the education of children with disabilities. These teachers may be assisted by classroom aides. Children may receive services by such professionals as a speech-language therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or adaptive physical education instructor.
Special education can take place in a variety of educational settings, including the general education classroom and is also not limited to a particular academic focus. Children eligible for special education may receive instruction in any area, which contributes significantly, to his or her education. Thus children may receive special education in such diverse subjects as math, health, vocational skills, self-help skills, organization and study skills, and physical education.
Getting Started: Child Find
"Child find" refers to the process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children with disabilities to ensure that they receive services to which they are entitled. Children and youth, 3 to 21, living in the Princeton Regional School District, who are suspected of having a disability may be referred for a possible evaluation to determine if they are eligible for special education services.
Whom to Contact
Preschool children: If you are aware of a preschooler, from birth through 5 years old, who has or may have a developmental disability, please call 609 806-4206.
School age children and youth: If you have a child already in a Princeton Regional School who may be in need of special education services, please call the school directly and ask to speak with the Child Study Team Coordinator assigned there or express your concern to your child's teacher, counselor, or principal.
Transfer students: If your student is transferring into Princeton Regional School and has received special education from another district, please report this information to the staff at the Child Study Team Coordinator at the building your child will attend.
Students in private schools: If a student attends a private school and resides in the Princeton Regional School District’s boundaries, he or she may be referred for a possible evaluation and, if eligible, receive special education services at a public school site. If you suspect a private school student is in need of special education services, call (609) 584 -1114.
Programs and Services
• General Education Class: Students eligible for special education may be able to learn effectively in a general education class if the teacher(s) modifies the instruction or the materials. Special equipment (for example, a Braille typewriter, phonic ear, or tape recorder) may be available which allows children to perform adequately in a regular class. This may require the consultation of a special education professional.
• Supplementary Instruction: A certified teacher works either with one student or a small group of students (no more than five) to help with regular subjects. In some cases, the supplementary instructor may go into the regular classroom to help the student(s).
• Resource Center Program: The Resource Center Program is an alternative way of providing services to an educationally disabled child. It is usually appropriate for the child who does not need as much as a full day of instructional time in a special setting, i.e., in a special class. The Resource Program teacher is certified in special education. He or she may provide individual or group instruction outside the general education classroom (a "pull-out" model) and/or in the general education classroom. The Resource Program teacher can provide replacement instruction in a subject (in lieu of receiving it in the regular classroom) or support instruction to reinforce what a child receives in
the classroom.
• Special Class (In District): Often called a self-contained class, this is a special education class for children whose disability makes it difficult for them to perform successfully in most or all regular academic classes. Teachers of special classes are often assisted by classroom aides. Children assigned to this class stay there for most academic subjects. The age span of children in the class cannot exceed four years. In some cases, children in special classes can be included in general education classes for particular subjects. These special classes are organized by classification and are small in size. Thus there are classes for students classified as Perceptually Impaired,
Communication Handicapped, and so on. Where the appropriate class is not available in your child's home school, an effort is made to place your child in the Princeton school closest to your home.
• Special Class (Out of District): This class is for children whose educational needs cannot be met in one of the special education programs available in the Princeton schools. The class is provided either at the Mercer County Special Services School District, a special class in another nearby public school system, or an approved private special education school at no cost to parents.
• Vocational School: Special education students are eligible to attend a half-day vocational school program, typically beginning in tenth or eleventh grade. This program is located at the Mercer County Vocational-Technical School at the Arthur R. Sypek Center in Ewing or the Assinpink Center in West Windsor.
• Home Instruction: Instruction at a student's home by a certified teacher is provided temporarily while the student is recuperating from an illness or while a special education placement is being arranged.
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• Preschool Handicapped Programs: School districts in New Jersey are obligated to provide educational programs to children from ages 3 to 5 who demonstrate developmental delays. These children are evaluated by a Child Study Team, and if special education is warranted, the child is recommended for a classification of Preschool Handicapped. There are a number of program options for these young students including in-district programs (e.g. integrated preschool classes, preschool disabiliites classes). Other options can include services provided to students who are not included in our in-district programs (e.g. Mercer County Special Services School District). Children under the age of 3
who demonstrate delays in development are eligible for free services through another Mercer County program called the Project Child Early Intervention Program. Parent training is also provided.
• Related Services: A student may be found to need related services to reinforce or make beneficial their educational program. A specialist outside the classroom typically provides related services, either individually or in small groups. The specialist may also consult with your child's teacher to coordinate the services with classroom lessons. The following are examples of related services:
- Counseling
- Speech and language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Adaptive physical education
- Special transportation
The decision regarding what related services a student will receive and the frequency of service will be made by the IEP team (parents, teacher and Child Study Team).
Transportation
An effort is made to provide special education students with programs in their home schools. Where the program is not available in the home school or where students' physical problems prevent them from walking or taking the regular bus, special transportation is provided by the school district to and from the student's home. An aide will be assigned to the bus, if necessary.
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District Testing Program
The High School Proficiency Test (HSPA) is given to students in high school and must be passed in order for the student to graduate. This test is administered in October and April of their junior and senior years. Students in third through eighth grade take the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (ASK) .
All classified students must participate in state testing. Most take the same tests in the same manner as other students unless they are exempted from passing one or more sections because the IEP does not contain the full range of proficiencies tested. Other classified students may take the state testing with modifications. These modifications may include extended time and small group administration. A classified student can be exempted from passage of the HSPA. Some students may be exempted from testing itself but, must participate in the Atlernative Proficiency Assessment (APA).
Graduation Requirements
Most special education students in Princeton graduate with their class. In order to receive a high school diploma from the Princeton Regional Schools, a student must take and pass required courses, accumulate 120 credits, and pass the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). Exemptions from these requirements can be made for students who because of their disability cannot meet these requirements. Again, this is a matter to be addressed at the IEP meeting and in the IEP document. Most special education students are required to meet these requirements. Any special education student who graduates by meeting either the standard graduation requirements or the alternate requirements detailed in the IEP will receive the same high school diploma given to any other student and can participate in the regular
high school graduation exercises and related activities. Neither the high school diploma nor the school transcript makes any reference to special education classification, courses, or services.
Student Records
Student records are confidential to protect the rights and privacy of both students and parents. You are permitted to review your child’s records and have copies of any document in your child’s file. Throughout the special education process you will be provided with copies of evaluations, Individual Education Plans (IEP), and other documents that pertain to your child. If you would like to review or obtain copies of your child’s records, please contact the school principal to make an appointment to review the records with a staff member.
Federal and state laws require parental permission, or the student’s if 18 or older, before disclosing information, other than directory information, from student educational records. In most cases, parents have the right to refuse to permit a school to release information about their children. In the event that another professional or school needs to review your child’s records, you will be asked to provide written permission to release specific information. If you would like to have copies of your child’s records sent to another agency or professional, please provide this request in writing to the principal or Child Study Team case manager.
Some of the educational records maintained by the school include:
Cumulative File ~ records of the student’s school history, including documents such as report cards, district assessments, progress reports, and state or other mandated testing results
Health Records ~ information on the student’s health, immunization, and medical status
Discipline Records ~ documents pertaining to student behavior that required disciplinary action
Child Study Team Records ~ documents pertaining to the identification, evaluation, classification, and special education placement of a student
Records of Students Eligible for Special Education
All records of students eligible for special education shall be maintained in accordance with administrative code and established procedures that will ensure proper accessibility and confidentiality. A special confidential file shall be maintained listing the code numbers assigned to special education students on whose behalf the board of education must take public action. Motions concerning disabled students shall be anonymous and refer to this confidential file. This shall be maintained in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6:3-6.1
Parents/adults students or designees shall be permitted to inspect and review the contents of the student's record maintained by the district without unnecessary delay and before any meeting regarding the student's IEP. Any consent required for disabled students under N.J.A.C. 6:3-6 shall be obtained according to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3 "Consent" and N.J.A.C. 6A:14-2.3.
If you have any questions regarding these regulations, or your child’s records, you should contact the school principal, your child’s case manager, or the Office of Student Services.
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