The Committee on Special Education is the NYC Public Schools team that evaluates school-age students, determines eligibility for special education, and develops the IEP. There is a CSE office in every district. The CSE handles students ages 5–21.

The CSE serves students ages 5 through 21. Children under five are handled by the CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education), and children under three go through Early Intervention.

Submit a written referral to your child’s school principal and IEP team, or to your district CSE if your child is not enrolled in a public school. State clearly that you are requesting an evaluation for special education services. You must give written consent before the evaluation can begin.

Students enrolled in a NYC public school receive an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students attending a private or religious school in New York City receive an Individualized Education Services Program (IESP) instead, which describes the services provided while the child attends that school.

For school-age students in public school, the meeting is held at the child’s school. For students enrolled in religious, private, or charter schools — or not enrolled in school — the meeting is held at the district CSE.

Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and other supports the IEP team determines the student needs to access their education. Frequency, duration, and group size are specified on the document.

The school provides them where it can. When the school cannot deliver a mandated related service, the DOE authorizes the family to obtain it from an approved independent provider.

If your child attends a DOE school, the IEP tab of your NYC Schools Account shows a summary of IEP recommendations along with where and when services are being provided.

Request a review meeting in writing through the school or your district CSE. Services can only be added, reduced, or removed by the IEP team at a meeting — not informally.

Only if the IEP team recommends Extended School Year services. ESY is determined at the IEP meeting based on whether the student would experience substantial regression without them.