SEIT Services in NYC | CPSE Preschool Support
(Special Education Itinerant Teacher)
Omni Childhood Center

A SEIT — short for Special Education Itinerant Teacher — is a New York State–licensed teacher with a master’s degree in early childhood and special education. SEITs work one-on-one with preschool children (ages 3–5) who have an IEP, providing individualized support right inside the child’s regular classroom. At Omni Childhood Center, our SEITs are part of a DOE-contracted CPSE agency serving families across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

A SEIT works individually with a preschool child inside their regular classroom — a model called “push-in” support. This is the least restrictive and most inclusive approach, helping the child build skills and confidence while staying alongside their typically-developing peers. The SEIT follows the goals outlined in the child’s IEP and adapts instruction to fit the classroom environment.

SEIT services are delivered in the child’s preschool classroom, daycare, or community-based early childhood program. The SEIT collaborates closely with the classroom teacher to align on each child’s IEP goals and the appropriate group size, so support feels seamless within the child’s regular school day.

SEIT services are typically delivered in your child’s preschool, daycare, or community-based early childhood program. In some circumstances, services may also be provided at home if determined appropriate. The location is determined through the CPSE process based on what’s outlined in your child’s IEP.

A child receives SEIT services when the CPSE evaluation process determines that individualized special education support is needed during the preschool years. The need is identified through evaluations and outlined in the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

If you have concerns about your child’s development — communication, behavior, social skills, motor skills, or learning — it’s better to start with support than to wait. The CPSE process can begin as early as the year your child turns 3. Early identification often leads to better outcomes, and you can always decline services later if they’re not needed.

Qualification happens through the CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) process. There are a few paths depending on your situation: • If you have concerns about your child’s development, you have the right as a parent to request an evaluation subsidized by the NYC Department of Education (DOE) https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/special-education/the-iep-process/making-a-referral • If your child already has an IEP but has not yet been assigned to a SEIT or SEIT agency, email us at info@omnichildhoodcenter.com and we’ll coordinate with the DOE to help your child receive their mandated services. • If your child has not yet been evaluated and you’d like to request one, use our CPSE Evaluation Referral Form to get started https://www.omnichildhoodcenter.com/special-education-cpse-3-5/cpse-3-5-evaluation-referral-form

To start the CPSE process, a parent submits a written referral to the CPSE office in the district where you live. If you’re in NYC, line up with the DOE CPSE office that serves your address.  You can also email specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov or call the NYC Special Education Hotline at 718-935-2007. Once the referral is submitted, the CPSE will arrange evaluations and schedule an IEP meeting to determine eligibility. If you’d like help getting started, complete our CPSE Evaluation Referral Form.

At the CPSE meeting, you’ll sit down with a CPSE chairperson, evaluators, and any other relevant team members to review your child’s evaluation results. Together, the team determines whether your child is eligible for preschool special education services. If eligible, the team develops an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines goals and recommended services — which may include SEIT, related services like speech or OT, or other supports. As a parent, you are an essential member of this team.

The number of SEIT hours is determined by the CPSE based on your child’s evaluations and individual needs, then written into the IEP. Some children receive a few hours per week, while others receive more intensive support. The CPSE makes this recommendation at the IEP meeting.

SEIT services are provided at no cost to families when delivered through a DOE-contracted agency under a CPSE-issued IEP. Omni Childhood Center is a DOE-contracted CPSE agency serving families across all five NYC boroughs.

SEIT services are not billed through health insurance. When delivered through a DOE-contracted CPSE agency under an IEP, SEIT services are provided at no cost to families — funded directly by the New York City Department of Education.