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FAQ

What is an IEP?

Individualized Education Program. The IEP is a written plan that describes in detail your child's special education program. The IEP describes how your child currently performs and your child's specific instructional needs. The IEP includes detailed and measurable goals and short-term objectives or benchmarks.

How is eligibility for Special Education services determined?

To be considered eligible for special education and related services:

  • A student must have a disability according to one of the eligibility categories;
  • The disability must adversely affect the student's educational performance; and
  • The student must be in need of special education and related services.

What is a referral?

A referral is a written request for an evaluation that is given to the school district when a child is suspected of having a disability and might need special education services.

Who can make a referral?

  • Parents
  • School Personnel
  • Agencies concerned with the welfare of students, including the New Jersey Department of Education

If you believe that your child may have a disability, you may refer your child for an evaluation by submitting a written request to your school district.

What happens when a referral is made?

Within 20 calendar days of receiving a referral, the school district must hold a meeting to decide whether an evaluation will be conducted. If an evaluation is warranted, another decision is made about the types of testing and other procedures that will be used to determine if your child needs special education services. If an evaluation will not be conducted, recommendations my be made with respect to interventions or services to be provided the student in general education.

How can I refer my child for an evaluation?

For your child to be evaluated for special education services, the parent/legal guardian must write a letter to the Director of Special Education. This letter should briefly explain your concerns and the reasons why you feel your child needs to be evaluated.

The letter must include:

  • Child's home address
  • Child's full name and date of birth
  • Parent/Guardian names
  • Phone number where the parent/guardian can be reached during the day
  • Parent/Guardian signature

You can mail or drop off the letter to:

Director of Special Education
East Brunswick Board of Education
760 Route 18
East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Commonly Used Terms

Evaluation - The tests and other assessment procedures, including a review of information, that are used to decide whether a child is eligible for special education services.

FAPE - Free, Appropriate Public Education - Special education and related services that are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge; meet state and federal requirements; include preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education; and are provided according to an IEP.

Functional Behavioral Assessment - The process of coming to an understanding of why a student engages in challenging behavior and how student behavior relates to the environment. The purpose of the functional behavioral assessment is to gather information to better understand the specific reasons for the student's problem behavior.

Identification - The decision to evaluate a child to determine whether special education services are needed.

LRE - Least Restrictive Environment - To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from regular educational environment occurs only when the nature and severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

ESY - Extended School Year - ESY is a summer program for students with disabilities that is determined annually on an individual basis by the IEP team. Students are deemed eligible for ESY when an interruption in their educational programming would cause the student's performance to revert to a lower level of functioning and recoupment cannot be expected in a reasonable length of time.

Transition Planning - Transition planning is a formal, long-range cooperative process that will assist your child to successfully move from school into the adult world. New Jersey regulations require that transition planning begins to be addressed in the IEP that will be in place for the school year in which your child reaches 14 years of age, or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP team. Transition planning continues to be addressed in your child's IEP each year until graduation or exit from high school.

CBI - Community-Based Instruction - CBI is a research-based practice involving sustained and repeated instruction that takes place in the community rather than in a school building. It promotes independent living, social skills, and vocational skills that help students succeed in adulthood.

SLE - Structured Learning Experience - An SLE is a school-supervised, community-based work program that gives students with disabilities the opportunity to explore careers and develop skills that can enable them to secure employment upon graduating high school.

PRISE - Parental Rights in Special Education - A document created by the New Jersey Department of Education that describes the state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education to help parents understand their rights in the special education process. A copy of the PRISE can be found on this website under Special Education Documents.