734 Broad Street, Salamanca, New York 14779
Telephone: (716) 945-5142 OPTION 2
Fax: (716) 945-2148

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Director of Special Education: for all CSE/CPSE related questions (email is best mode of communication)
Mr. Jerry J. Parisi
JParisi@salamancany.org

Office Support for CPSE/CSE: for questions regarding CPSE/CSE services and referrals
Mrs. Debbie Woodworth
DWoodworth@salamancany.org

Special Education: A Guide for Families

Special Education provides specially designed services and programs to children with educational disabilities. It is intended to meet the individual needs of the student and enhance his/her strengths. Special education programs and services are designed to assure that children receive appropriate and equal opportunities for educational growth up to age 21, if necessary.

How do Special Education and Regular Education Interact?
All program and services in public schools must be available to students with disabilities. It is the goal of special education programs to include students in as many regular education programs as appropriate, dependent on the nature and degree of the disability.

What is the Special Education Process?

• The need for special education services is determined in the following manner:

• Parental consent is obtained at all stages so that parents are fully informed and involved in the referral process.

• Students thought to be educationally at risk are first reviewed by building child study teams to determine what regular education programs and services might be employed to improve a student’s performance. If more intervention is believed to be necessary, students are then referred to a team called the Committee on Special Education (CSE).

• The CSE arranges for appropriate professional evaluation of a student using a variety of measures to determine strengths and weaknesses.

• The CSE reviews the psychological evaluation to determine whether the student qualifies for the provision of special education services.

• If the student qualifies, the CSE recommends an appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP) based upon evaluation results and classroom performance.

• The program is implemented upon Board of Education approval.

• The IEP is modified or adjusted by the CSE when necessary or at an Annual Review.

• Parents have the right to challenge school decisions through Mediation, Impartial Hearings, and Appeal Processes.

For more information, please contact the Committee of Special Education Office at 716-945-5142 option 2

School Psychologists:

Mr. Christopher Myers: 716-945-2400 ext. 6018 – Grades 7-12 and 504 Chair for the Salamanca HS **

Ms. Rachel Crawford: 716-945-5140 ext 5269 – Grades kdg - 6 and 504 Chair for Prospect Elementary and Seneca Intermediate **

** Both psychologists assist with CPSE evaluations – please contact Debbie at 716-945-5142 option 2 with specific questions