Child Find

 

Clinton Public offers a wide range of services and educational programming for special education students.  Parents or other appropriate persons may refer children who are experiencing significant difficulties to their local school district. Beginning at age 3, children experiencing physical, sensory, emotional, communication, cognitive, and/or social difficulties may be eligible for special education and related services. Parents should contact Dr. Jenine Kastner, Director of Special Services, at 908-735-8512 for further information if they have concerns about their child’s development.

 

Students may be referred for determination of eligibility for special education services or for a speech/language evaluation by instructional staff, school administration, parents/guardians, and/or state agencies, including the Department of Education and agencies concerned with the welfare of students. N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.3(a)3.

 

Residents of Clinton and Glen Gardner who suspect their preschool-age child may have special needs may obtain  assistance from the Clinton Public School Child Study Team.

 

Through Child Find, the district locates and provides services for those children ages three to five who may have physical, cognitive, language, social, or emotional difficulties.  Evaluations, professional guidance, and an educational program, if needed, are all available free of charge through the public schools' Child Study Team.

 

Children under 3 may be served by early intervention programs.  

If parents are concerned about their school-age child’s progress, they should discuss such issues with their child’s teacher, guidance counselor and/or principal. Parents have the option of making a referral to the school’s Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Committee or to the Child Study Team (CST).

The Response to Interventions Services offers intervention procedures that are provided within the general education school program. At times, however, more extensive interventions than can be provided in the general education setting are necessary to assist the student. If the decision is made to undertake a full Child Study Team evaluation, the child’s social, emotional and academic and cognitive abilities may be assessed through comprehensive evaluations. Other specialized assessments may be included in the evaluation plan. If, as a result of evaluation, a child is determined to be eligible for special education and related services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed.

 

 

Step 1: Child is referred to the Child Study Team

 

Step 2: Case manager assigned and identification meeting scheduled within twenty (20) calendar days (excluding holidays). Information is collected regarding the child’s educational progress.

 

Step 3:Participants include parent/guardian, all CST members, related service providers (when appropriate) and at least one of the child’s general education teachers. A decision is made as to whether a CST evaluation is warranted.

 

Step 4: Evaluation Plan needed. If a CST evaluation is warranted, an evaluation plan is written describing the required evaluations and parental consent is obtained. The process begins.

Evaluations will be completed and copies of the evaluations will be mailed to parents/guardians prior to our initial eligibility determination meeting.

 

Step 5: Initial Eligibility Determination Meeting

This meeting will be held within 90 days of the evaluation plan meeting. At this meeting, all information will be reviewed and eligibility will be determined. If a child is considered eligible, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be developed.

 

NJ CHILD FIND BROCHURE   Child Find Brochure