Special Services
The Special Services department consists of a team of professionals who provide consultations and evaluations using a holistic approach to support teachers and parents for students who present with school-related disabilities. The members of the Child Study Team, as determined by the New Jersey Department of Education, are a school psychologist, a learning disability teacher consultant, a school social worker, and if appropriate, a speech-language specialist. Related service providers include speech-language specialists, occupational and physical therapists, board-certified behavior analysts, and school-based mental health clinicians.
Referral procedure:
What is a referral?
A referral is a written request to for an evaluation when a child is suspected of having a disability and may need special education services. The referral letter must have parents/guardians signature and include the following: child's name, date of birth, grade level, home address, reason for concern, and parents/guardians information.
- Parents
- School personnel
- Agencies concerned with the welfare of students.
Dr. Sandy Vazquez
Director of Special Services
1 Haines Avenue, Emerson, NJ 07630
Please note that the district's Board of Education policies do not permit requests for Child Study Team evaluations to be submitted via email.
What happens when a referral is made?
A designated team member is assigned as a Case Manager and within 20 calendar days of the date the request is received by the district, a meeting will be convened with the student's parents and /or guardians, child study team, a general education teacher or if the child does not have a teacher, a teacher knowledgeable about the district's programs. If an evaluation is deemed appropriate, a decision is made about the types of testing and other procedures that will be used to determine if the student needs special education services. If the team determines an evaluation is not warranted, they may refer to the school’s Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Committee, requesting that the I&RS Committee amend the current I&RS Action Plan and/or refer the child to the 504 Committee.