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Evaluations & IEPs

Child Study Team Overview The Child Study Team (CST) is comprised of school psychologists, school social workers, learning disabilities teacher-consultants, and speech-language specialists. The primary function of the CST is to evaluate and design appropriate programs for students who are experiencing learning, health, and/or behavioral difficulties. Some children may qualify for special education services.

Who is Eligible?

Any child between the ages of 3 and 21 whose parents are legal residents of Jefferson Township may be a potential candidate for services.

What is the Process?

Students facing challenges in school are initially referred to the school-based Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Team to explore solutions. If these general education efforts do not resolve the issues, the I&RS Team may recommend a referral to the Child Study Team. Parents or guardians can also submit a signed written request for an evaluation; this will be considered a referral and should be directed to either the Director of Special Services or the principal of their child's school. Throughout this process, parents play an integral role. When a referral is made, a meeting is organized with parents/guardians, CST members, teachers, and others who have knowledge about the child’s difficulties in order to review all available information. A determination will then be made regarding whether or not there may be an educational disability present. If there is consensus on this point, discussions regarding the nature and scope of evaluation follow. Written parental consent is required for conducting multidisciplinary evaluations aimed at determining eligibility for special education services; these evaluations are provided at no cost to Jefferson Township residents. A typical CST evaluation includes:

  • A social history collected from parents/guardians by the school social worker.
  • An assessment of learning potential and characteristics conducted by a school psychologist.
  • An academic achievement assessment performed by a learning disabilities teacher-consultant.
  • If necessary, an evaluation of expressive and receptive language skills carried out by speech-language specialists.

Additional specialists such as physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, neurologists, or school nurses may also contribute insights as needed. A comprehensive written report will be prepared following these evaluations and sent to parents ahead of an Eligibility Meeting where findings will be discussed along with recommendations from the Child Study Team. If it’s determined that a student qualifies for special education services based on their needs identified during evaluation processes outlined above, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will then be developed tailored specifically around those unique requirements. The IEP document remains confidential; its contents can only shared with educational officials who have legitimate interests related directly toward enhancing that student's educational experience, per guidelines established under Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act. Placement options consider various environments, prioritizing Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). While maximizing opportunities isn’t mandated, providing appropriate educational experiences certainly must occur. The Child Study Team oversees case management responsibilities associated specifically within individualized service plans, ensuring consistent monitoring concerning each student's progress & placement throughout their academic year.

For additional information or inquiries please contact your building principal or reach out directly via our Office of Special Services at 973-663-5782 ext. 3.