The annual American Printing House for the Blind census program is administered by the New York State Resource Center located in Batavia, New York. A memorandum and form from Dr. Rebecca Cort relating to the annual registration of all students classified as legally blind for procurement of special media materials is available.
Jan 30 2012
Annual Registration of Legally Blind Students
Jan 27 2012
NYASP Comments Regarding Proposed Amendments to Part 200 Regulations
The New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP) is pleased to have the opportunity to offer comments around recommended amendments to the Regulation of the Commissioner of Education relating to preschool and school-aged individual evaluations. As you are aware, NYASP has been an active participant in the discussions regarding Special Education Mandate Relief, as we place significant value on established protections and services to children with disabilities.
NYASP understands the Department’s concerns regarding the timeline for preschool evaluations and provision of services. In discussion with school psychologists involved with the preschool system, difficulties in completing the evaluations within the thirty school day timeframe are apparent. However, a deeper analysis of some of the barriers to completing this evaluation reveals inherent problems within the evaluation system and not necessarily the timeframe. Frequent problems include that in some counties, there are delays in parents contacting approved evaluators after signing initial consent, parents waiting for a specific evaluator to have availability to conduct the evaluation, shortages in approved providers, and administrative delays on the part of district chairs. NYASP supports the evaluation and provision of services to preschool children in a timely manner. However, extending the timeframe for the completion of evaluations to sixty days for these young children seems excessive, especially given the impact of even a short delay in the provision of services. A month in the development of a three year old is not the same as a month delay in an older school-aged child.
Instead, NYASP suggests that the Department address some of the identified barriers to completing the evaluations within established timelines. We would offer to the Department that a significant number of school psychologists are limited in their capacity to provide preschool evaluations as a result of current credentialing requirements for preschool evaluators, which contributes to shortages in available evaluators, especially in New York City. Over the past several years, preschool agencies have released non-licensed school psychologists due to the requirement for licensure in many of these settings. Legislation to provide licensure for these professionals is currently under review by the NYS Legislature. Passage of this legislation would increase the workforce available to conduct preschool evaluations, as well as the provision of related services to these children.
NYASP is also concerned with the rationale presented by the Department regarding the removal of the requirement for the school psychologist to provide a “written report of his/her determination of the need to administer an individual psychological report as part of a reevaluation of a school age student.” The written report represents the culmination of an important review process that is appropriately undertaken for every student with a disability. The written report is more than a simple confirmation that “no further data or testing is needed.” The report documents the process of reviewing existing data to determine the individual needs, educational progress, and ability to participate in instructional programs of the student. While the Regulations indicate that the CSE and “other qualified professionals” would conduct the review of existing data, we are concerned with the lack of specificity as to which professionals would review the data. The school psychologist is the only trained and qualified professional within the schools to administer, score, and interpret psychological data. Therefore, removal of the requirement for a written report from the school psychologist jeopardizes the protections and benefits provided by these professionals. NYASP suggests that if the Department removes the requirement for the written report from the school psychologist when no further assessment or testing is required for reevaluations, regulations should specify that the school psychologist is the professional on the CSE that will review and interpret the psychological data.
NYASP appreciates the deliberate and considered manner in which the Department has conducted the gathering of information and feedback from professionals within the field. As in the past, our Association would offer our services, expertise, and guidance to the Department as you engage in this important process.
Jan 19 2012
Revised Procedural Safeguards Notice
The Office of Special Education has revised the mandatory New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21. References to the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) were replaced with the Office of Special Education, the mailing address for filing of a State complaint was updated and website links were updated. None of the changes are substantive, and therefore districts are not required to replace any previously duplicated copies to disseminate to parents, but should use this version when making new duplications of the notice. More information is available at
Jan 06 2012
One-to-one Aide Guidance
A new memorandum to provide guidance to assist Committees on Preschool Special Education and Committees on Special Education in determining a student with a disability's need for a one-to-one aide is now available.
Dec 19 2011
Mandate Relief Clarification from NYSED
A policy memorandum from the Office of P-12 Education providing clarification regarding actions taken related to mandate relief and special education is now available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/mandaterelief-dec2011.htm
Please see this important memo and share with all interested parties. Please note the emphasis on the fact that while recommendations have been approved by the Regents, NOTHING has changed. In addition, changes in language related to written reports regarding the determination of additional data for re-evaluations only will be presented for public comments. Any other changes will require legislative action by the NYS Legislature. This is exactly what NYASP has been reporting.
The 45 day public comment period will open January 4, 2012. NYASP will provide information regarding comment submission.