Student Services

Child Find Notification

  The Panama Central School District Child Find Policy requires that all children below twenty-one (21) years of age residing within the district, who have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability, and who are in need of special education and related services be identified, located and evaluated in accordance with all federal regulations and state standards.

  Children might have deficits in behavior, communication, cognitive abilities, physical development, sensory development, hearing and social- emotional abilities.  If you suspect that your child might have a disability, please contact the Student Services office at 782-4423. 

Please click on the following for more information:  

New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21.

What is CPSE?  

Together We Make Learning A Way of Life 

PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

 Committee on Pre School Special Education

(CPSE)

 

All Children with disabilities ages 3-5 are eligible to receive special education services as determined by the Committee on Preschool Education.  The CPSE is a decision-making committee who determine eligibility and the appropriate level of services for preschool children.  The committee is made up of individuals from:

  • The school district
  • The evaluating agency
  • Chautauqua County
  •  The child’s parents
  • A parent representative 

The committee determines the appropriateness of services for preschool children, which may include:

  • LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)
  • Home, day care or preschool where a child currently attends
  • In a special education classroom at an approved State Education Preschool Program
  • Full and half-day center-based programs
  • Integrated programs
  • Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy

All preschool children suspected of having a disability must be given an evaluation that is very detailed (even if the only concern is speech).  The evaluation includes:

  • A social history
  • A psychological assessment
  • A medical history assessment
  • An educational assessment/ observation
  • Other appropriate assessments as defined by New York State Education Department Guidelines


Who is eligible:  A preschool student having a significant delay in one or more functional areas related to:

  • Cognitive skills
  • Communication skills
  • Social-emotional skills
  • Motor skills which adversely affect learning

Available Services:

  • Related Services such as Speech, Occupational or Physical Therapy
  • SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher) emphasis is placed on child’s growth and development within the child’s regular environment.
  • Related Services in combination with SIET.
  • Special Class in an integrated setting
  • Special Class comprised of students with disabilities based on similarities of needs.

 

Frequently asked questions:

Is it possible for my child to receive related services (Speech, OT or PT) while attending Panama’s UPK Program?

Since the UPK program is only two and a half hours a day, it would be more beneficial for your child to receive his/her services at a time that does not conflict with preschool.

Why can’t the Panama School staff (speech, OT and PT) evaluate and provide services for my preschool child?

Preschool Special Education Services are under the direction of both the County of Chautauqua and the Panama Central School District.  A child’s services are paid for by the county and arranged for by the school district.  The county provides the district with an approved list of evaluators and providers.  Our PCS providers do not work for the county and therefore are not on this list.