CHILD STUDY TEAM PROCESS
Director of Special Services: Diana Gutierrez
The Carlstadt Public School Department of Special Services, in compliance with New Jersey Administrative Code, provides high-quality education in the least restrictive environment to its students with disabilities who require special education services. Emphasis is placed on facilitating inclusion in general education settings to the fullest extent possible. Programs are assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that students’ individual needs are met.
Special Services Staff is comprised of experts in their fields who are dedicated to developing education plans and delivering services vital to meeting each student’s needs.
Child Study Team Members:
|
Staff |
Title |
Extension |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Diana Gutierrez |
Director of Special Services |
3111 |
|
|
Susan Kiely |
School Social Worker |
3122 |
|
|
Melissa Simon |
School Psychologist |
3123 |
|
|
Therese Kearns |
Learning Disabilities Teacher - Consultant |
3040 |
|
|
Allison Gorelick |
Speech and Language Specialist |
3041 |
|
|
Keith Martell |
Occupational Therapist |
3018 |
|
|
Catherine Storer |
Secretary for the CST |
3139 |
cstorer@carlstadtps.org
|
Child Study Team FAX: 201-939-2015
A student may be referred to the Child Study Team for evaluation by teachers, parents/guardians, counselors, and/or building administrators. Parents/guardians may request consideration for evaluation of their child by writing a request to the Director of Special Services.
Child Study Team Process
The process begins with a written request for evaluation to the Child Study Team (CST). Parents/Guardians will be notified by the CST and receive a copy of Parental Rights in Special Education, a booklet prepared by the NJ Department of Education advising parents of their basic rights and responsibilities in the process.
The first meeting is a planning meeting at which time all available information is reviewed with the parents, the CST, the child's teacher, and others who might have knowledge of the child and his or her difficulty in school. Following review of the material, a decision is made whether or not the child potentially has an educational disability. If there is agreement that an evaluation should be conducted, the nature and scope of the evaluation is discussed and written parent consent for the evaluation is required.
Each document that is prepared and/or signed is copied for the parents, and they are reminded throughout the process of their parental rights.
Members of the CST conduct individual evaluations based on their specialties. A written report is prepared and sent to the parents in advance of an Eligibility Meeting, held to discuss all of the evaluations and to receive the recommendations of the Child Study Team. Again, parent input is an important part of this process. Parents may bring others to any meeting if they wish.
Who is Eligible
Any child between the ages of 3 and 21, whose parents are legal residents of Borough of Carlstadt, is a potential candidate for services. Services are for students (age 3 - 21) with educational disabilities or believed to have such disabilities.
Becoming Eligible
A child between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5 can be evaluated by the Child Study Team (CST) to determine if there exists an educational disability. Parents are encouraged to phone the Special Services Department to request further information at (201) 672- 3000 x 3111.
Any child who is having difficulty in school should be referred to the Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) Team, where interventions will be developed to address those difficulties. If school-based, general education efforts do not resolve the difficulty, the I&RS Team may make a referral to the Child Study Team. Each step of the way, parents are part of the process and are informed before any action is taken.
Parents have the option of making a direct written referral to the Child Study Team, but working with the school-based I&RS Team is recommended as an appropriate first step in most situations.