Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS)
WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION |
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Important phone numbers to know:
* RVC Behavioral Health Center - 516-927-1630 | * Center for Hope - 516-216-5194 |
* Mineola Behavioral Health Center - 516-321-5770 | * National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or Text 988 |
* Commack Behavioral Health Center - 631-775-3280 | * Northwell Crisis Support 631-608-5885 |
* South Oaks Hospital Admissions - 631-608-5885 | * Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 800-662-HELP |
* Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care - 718-470-3148 | * Nassau County Helpline 516-227-TALK |
* Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department - 718-470-3768 | * If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255 [tel:8002738255], text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. |
* Long Island Crisis Center - 516-679-1111 | |
A Message from Our Director
Special Education
The East Meadow School District is committed to supporting the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs of all students in an inclusive environment where every child can reach their highest potential.
Our dedicated team of educators collaborates closely with families to provide comprehensive services to students from Pre-K through 12th grade, ages 3 to 22. In accordance with federal and state regulations, the district offers a full continuum of special education services to support the individual needs of students who have been evaluated and identified as students with disabilities.
If you suspect your child may have an educational disability may, you may refer them to the appropriate committee:
For children ages 3-5, contact the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
For children ages 5-21, contact the Committee on Special Education (CSE).
To initiate a referral for your school-age child, please reach out to your school psychologist or principal for more information.
We encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in the CPSE/CSE process and to utilize the resources and support available through the East Meadow Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) and our monthly parent training workshops. We recognize that maintaining strong partnerships with families and the school district community is essential to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive both in school and beyond.
Meet the Department of Special Education
Joane Vincent
Danielle Betz
Kathleen Hannan
Parent Resources
Child Find
Under IDEA and New York State regulations, each school district is required to establish procedures to locate and identify students who may need special education or Section 504 services. The district is responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating all children aged 3 to 21 who are suspected of having a disability and may be eligible for special education services, including children who reside within the East Meadow School District but are not currently enrolled in our programs.
If you know of a child living in the East Meadow School District who may have a disability and require Special Education or Section 504 services, please contact the building principal or the Office of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services at 516-478-5541.
Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)
The Preschool Special Education Committee oversees the identification and delivery of services to children needing specialized education before entering kindergarten, covering ages 3 to 5. Eligibility is decided based on a comprehensive assessment that comes at no cost to families. The East Meadow School District's Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for determining eligibility, suggesting suitable special education or related services, and crafting an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each qualified child. The administration of the Preschool Special Education Programs for 3 to 5-year-old children with disabilities in New York State is managed by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) through local school districts. The Nassau County Department of Health collaborates with providers and funds these services alongside NYSED.
If you have any questions concerning special education support services for a pre-school aged student, please contact:
Ms. Carrie Kelsey
CPSE Chairperson
Please see the link below to register your child in the East Meadow School District.
Special Education Programs
Please note that all services are recommended by the Committee of Special Education (CSE) and are done so in consideration of the least restrictive learning environment (LRE).
Related Services:
Related services are recommended and offered via the Committee of Special Education (CSE) based upon individual student needs. Such services may be speech and language, vision, hearing, orientation and mobility, counseling, parent training, skilled nursing, occupational therapy (OT), or Physical Therapy (PT).
Resource Room:
The resource room program provides students with focused supplemental instruction in a group of five students to one teacher. The resource program teacher, working with the classroom teachers, gives specific instruction to help with instructional strategies in correspondence to the student’s IEP goals.
Integrated Co-Teaching Services (ICT):
Integrated Co-Teaching Services refer to a method where students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) get their specialized instruction alongside other students in regular education settings. This approach involves two certified educators working together: a general education teacher and a special education teacher. Both teachers actively contribute to teaching by delivering content, encouraging student participation, and supporting learning. ICT is two teachers equally responsible for the delivery and instruction of all students within their classroom.
Consultant Teacher Program:
The Consultant Teacher Program supports students with disabilities by allowing them to remain in regular education classes while receiving guidance from a special education teacher or related service provider. This service enables school districts to offer support directly or indirectly to students with disabilities. Through this approach, regular education teachers receive guidance from consultant teachers to adapt the learning environment and teaching methods to cater to the needs of students with disabilities in their classrooms.
Special Classes:
Teaching within the specialized class aligns with the teaching methodology employed in the general education environment. These special classes offer foundational instruction within a setting that caters to students with disabilities. Special classes are offered for subjects such as English, Social Studies, Science, and Math. The curriculum and standards maintain consistency with those of regular education courses but are tailored to accommodate each student's unique requirements. The specialized classes are conducted with a size ratio determined by the CSE (Committee on Special Education), which could be either 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, 12:1 or 15:1 depending on the individualized needs of the student.
Suicide Prevention Resouces
