Parents

Preschool special education services are available to children ages 2.9 to 5.9 who are found eligible through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). To contact the CPSE, you can call the CPSE office and ask for the CPSE administrator for your district. Referrals for evaluation must be made in writing.

A parent may refer his/her child to the CPSE or Children's Services may request a referral. The CPSE will either discuss with the parent whether s/he wishes to refer the child, or the CPSE will make the referral itself. In either case, informed consent will be required. Consent for services is needed by the birth parent, unless rights have been terminated or whereabouts are unknown.

Additional Resources

Sample Referral Letters Special Education Consent Summary Chart CPSE Process Chart Parents' Bill of Rights
How It Works

Acquiring SEIT Services For Your Child

1. Request CPSE Evaluation

A parent may refer his/her child to the CPSE or Children's Services may request a referral.

2. CPSE Evaluation

The child is evaluated for eligibility for preschool special education. His/her social history, educational evaluation, psychological evaluation, etc. are taken into consideration.

3. IEP Created

If the child is found eligible for preschool special education services, the CPSE team will develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

4. SEIT Assigned

If SEIT is recommended on the child's IEP, CPSE will assign a SEIT agency. The agency will assign a SEIT provider to work with the child at a specified location.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) is a special education professional who provides one-on-one assistance to a student who has a learning disability, behavioral issue, or needs special education assistance. SEITs travel to different schools to provide different levels of support and development aid to students in need. They discuss student progress with their teachers, meet with students' parents, and assess students in a classroom setting in order to develop strategies to help address the child's education needs. SEITs also visit students' homes when they are unable to attend a school or need additional support in the home environment. SEITs can be hired by individual parents or be assigned by our agency.

  • Provide one-on-one instruction to children ages 2.9 to 5.9 in our CPSE program
  • Educate family members and caregivers on different intervention strategies to facilitate active involvement and carry-over
  • Provide services in diverse settings such as patient homes, family daycare homes, daycare centers, and/or other community settings
  • Maintain accurate records of services provided, submit evaluations and progress reports in a timely manner
  • Ensure adherence to program compliance and service authorizations
  • Maintain confidentiality of information regarding childen and families (in accordance with HIPAA and State and Federal Regulations) and submit records to the agency within established deadlines

A SETSS teacher can teach any student K-12 while a SEIT works primarily with preschool children ages 2.9 to 5.9. Educational and professional qualifications are often very similar, however.

SEIT services are for children ages 2.9 to 5.9 who are classified by their school district's Committee on Preschool Educational (CPSE) as a preschooler with a disability. To determine a child's eligibility for SEIT services, the CPSE conducts an evaluation which includes:
  • A psychological evaluation that looks at what the child knows and at his or her cognitive abilities
  • A social history intervention, which provides background on the child’s developmental and family history
  • A physical evaluation, which is a health examination form often completed by the child’s doctor
  • An observation of the child in his or her current school or childcare location
  • Any other assessments needed to determine the physical, mental, behavioral, and emotional factors that contribute to the child’s suspected disability