CSE Process
3 guidesCSE Meeting Guide
Master the Annual Review and Initial Eligibility meetings. Everything you need to know before, during, and after your Committee on Special Education meeting.
CSE Meeting Hub: A Survival Guide
Who must be in the room, your pre-meeting checklist, and red flags to watch for. Don't walk in without reading this first.
What Is a CSE Meeting?
The plain-English explanation of what CSE stands for, what happens at the meeting, and why the resulting IEP is a legally enforceable contract.
Evaluations
2 guidesRequesting an Evaluation in NY
Step-by-step instructions for initiating the 60-day evaluation timeline — what to say, how to say it in writing, and how to hold the district to its deadline.
Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
When the school's testing isn't enough — how to get an outside expert to evaluate your child at the district's expense, and what an IEE can uncover.
Preschool & Transition (CPSE)
2 guidesCPSE: Preschool Special Education
Navigating the Committee on Preschool Special Education — from the initial referral through services, timelines, and your rights as a parent at every step.
The "Turning 5" Transition: CPSE to CSE
Why services often look different after the move to kindergarten, how to protect your child's supports, and what to expect at the Turning 5 meeting.
Private Placement (Carter Cases)
2 guidesPrivate Placement (Carter Cases)
When the public school can't meet your child's needs — how to seek district-funded tuition at a private special education school and what you need to prove.
Unilateral Placement: The "Nuclear Option"
What happens when parents pull their child out of public school without district approval — the three-part legal test, the risks, and the potential reward.
NYC-Specific
1 guideRights & Advocacy
3 guidesParent Advocacy Guide
Practical strategies for becoming your child's most effective advocate — from documenting everything to knowing exactly when and how to escalate a situation.
Bilingual & ELL Rights in New York
How to secure bilingual assessments, native language support in the IEP, and the specific rights that apply to English Language Learners in New York State.
Dispute Resolution in New York
Mediation, Impartial Hearings, and state complaints — when to use each option and how to pursue them when the district isn't holding up its end of the IEP.