1. Contact the Student Support Team (SST) or principal at your school.
2. Discuss concerns and try and arrive at solutions.
3. If you feel an initial evaluation to Special Education of your child is necessary, you can submit a written referral to the SST Chairperson or the Principal at your child’s school to request an evaluation.
   • A referral is a written statement asking that the BPS evaluate your child to determine if they need special education services. This written statement addressed to the Chairperson of the CSE at your child’s school, or the building principal. The referral to the committee should include your contact information, the child’s name and date of birth and your concerns regarding why your child is experiencing academic, behavioral or medical concerns. You may also request related services evaluations such as Speech and Language, Occupational, Physical, Vision or Hearing.

1. You will have an opportunity to meet with the school principal in order to discuss what additional supports may be offered in general education. If you and the principal agree to the additional services offered or if the additional services that are offered provide the supports that your child needs in order to be successful in school, you will have the opportunity to withdraw the referral for special education. If you do not agree to the additional supports or if your child does not respond successfully to what is provided, you always retain the ability to keep the referral for special education in place, and the process moves forward.
2. The CSE (Committee on Special Education) will arrange for evaluation(s) of your child’s abilities & needs. You will receive a form entitled a Prior Written Notice, that will indicate what specific evaluations will be given to your child. You need to sign consent for a Committee on Special Education. You may withdraw consent at any time.

1. Contact the Student Support Team (SST) at your child’s school to discuss your concerns.
2. If unable to resolve your concerns following consultation with the SST, you may submit a written request for a re-evaluation to the educational or related services needs, including improved academic achievement and functional performance of your child. This written request for a reevaluation should be submitted to the SST Chairperson or building principal.
3. Contact Parent Services at 1-716-816-4747 for further assistance.

1. The Committee on Special Education (CSE) has several types of meetings
   1. Initial Eligibility Meeting: Occurs after evaluation(s) are completed and information is collected, the CSE which includes parents / guardians of the child, special education teacher(s), general education teacher(s), and other professionals, (CSE Chairperson, social worker, psychologist) meet to determine if and what special education services your child is eligible to receive.
   2. Annual Review: The CSE must review the IEP at least once a year (annual review) to see if goals are being met and progress is being made. You should receive a written invitation at least 5 days before the Annual review meeting. You can find the Annual Review Date can be found on the students Individualized Education plan.
   3. Re-Evaluation meeting: A student with an Individualized Education Plan must be formally reevaluated every three years. However, a request can be made by the parent / guardian if they have concerns over academic achievement, behavioral, or program concerns.

If your three-year-old child received services from the Early Intervention Program and is in need of special education services, they will need to transition or move from the Early Intervention Program into the preschool special education program. The Early Intervention official from Erie County must provide written notice to the Buffalo Public Schools CPSE that your child may be transitioning from the Early Intervention Program. With your consent, a transition plan must be developed no later than 3 months before your child’s 3rd birthday.

Yes, please contact your preschool teacher to relay your developmental concerns regarding your child.

• A referral by a parent or guardian may be submitted in writing to the Committee on Preschool Special Education. The office is located at 33 Ash St Rm. 209 Buffalo, NY 14204 716-816-4745.

Yes, a student who is unable to tolerate a mask may submit medical documentation asking for a mask exemption to the Medical Exemptions Team at medicalexemptions@buffaloschools.org. 

The information should include the following: 

1. Up to date (medical note dated after July 1st) signed medical documentation on a doctor’s letterhead stating the specific diagnosis.
   
   
2. The signature must be from a practicing: Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) including a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physician Assistant (PA) or a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP).
   
   
3. Include the length of time for the medical exemption request. Please be advised that all exemptions expire three months from the approval date; an updated medical note PRIOR to the expiration date is required to consider an extension. Parent/Caregivers will be notified of the decision.

1. Communicate your concerns to your Committee on Special Education Chairperson first so that you may express concerns and decide on a resolution.
   
   
2. If your concerns are not addressed Parents / Guardians can also contact the District CSE Team located at 33 Ash St. Rm. 203 Buffalo NY 14204. Coordinator of Parent Services; Heather Paluch 716-816-4723 & Michael Ippolitto 716-816-4722

Parents may request a Parent Member to attend with them. A Parent member is a parent who already has a child with disability and also attends a Buffalo Public School. Please contact your CSE Chairperson so that they can support your request.

Contact or visit the Special Education Placement Office 816-4746 to submit a Transfer Application or CSE Central Office 816-4647

Yes, your child is eligible for special education services if attending a charter or non-public school. These schools, however, do not provide a full continuum of special education services, and therefore are not always able to fully implement a student’s IEP. At particular schools the services are provided by the Buffalo School District. It is the responsibility of the Buffalo School District Committee on Special Education to determine if your child is eligible for special education services.

You should contact:

1. The Main Office or Coordinator for Special Education at your child’s school.
2. You may also contact Central CSE at 33 Ash St, Buffalo, NY, 14204, Room 203; or call 716-816-4746.

Special Education follows the same timeline that the Student Placement Office follows. It varies from year-to-year depending on when the application is released from the district.

Complete a transfer application and submit the supporting documentation required on the application for the specific transfer type requested to SPEDPlacement@buffaloschools.org.

The goal of a CSE meeting is to determine your child's current level of need, what services he/she will receive and discuss how they learn best. They will talk about specific goals your child will obtain and how he/she will receive support towards those goals. 

The CSE meets annually for a review (called an Annual Review), every three years for a more comprehensive update with possible testing (called a re-evaluation) and upon parent request.

It is your right as a parent to bring anyone to your child's meeting who has relevant knowledge of your child’s needs. It is recommended that you let the school know ahead of time who you plan to bring in case room accommodations need to be made.

CSE stands for the Committee on Special Education and CPSE stands for Committee on Preschool Special Education. 

Contact the Student Support Team (SST) at your school.