Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)

Every school district has a CPSE that decides a child’s special education needs and services.  The CPSE is responsible for students with disabilities ages 3-5.  The CPSE meets together to: 

• review a student’s evaluations and reports about his or her current levels of performance;
• determine a student’s eligibility for classification as a "preschool student with a disability";
• make recommendations of appropriate services and/or programs; and
• develop a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). 

Following is the list of CPSE mandated members.

Committee on Preschool Special Education

• Parent(s) of the student
• Regular education teacher of the student whenever the student is or may be participating in the typical education environment
• Special education teacher of the child or, if appropriate, special education provider of the child (i.e., speech/language therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc.)
• School district representative who is qualified to provide or supervise special education and is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and the availability of preschool special education programs and services and other resources of the school district and the municipality (This person is the Chairperson of the Committee.)
• An individual who understands and can talk about the evaluation results and how these results effect instruction (This person may also be the special education teacher/provider, regular education teacher, school psychologist, school district representative or someone that the school district determines has knowledge or special expertise regarding the student.)
• Parent member (A parent of a student with a disability who resides in the same or neighboring district.  Parents may request that the parent member not participate.)
• A licensed or certified professional from the Department of Health’s Early Intervention Program (for a child in transition from the Early Intervention Program-only at the parent’s request)
• Other people who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate (as requested by the parent or the school district)
• A county representative (A certified or licensed preschool representative from the municipality must be notified of scheduled meetings; however, the CPSE meeting can be held whether or not the municipal representative attends.)

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