Child Study Team

Child Study Team Members  

Child Study Team Descriptions

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE CHILD STUDY TEAM?
New Jersey Department of Education regulations require that the basic team includes a school psychologist, a learning consultant, and a school social worker, all of whom must be appropriately certified. For a preschool student, the regulations require the basic team to include a speech/language specialist. 

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST?
The school psychologist has expertise in determining a child’s level of intellectual development. In addition, the psychologist is concerned with the social and emotional status of school children and how these factors may affect behavior and performance in school. The school psychologist consults with regular classroom and special education teachers and parents to maximize each child’s potential and to create a supportive and enriching instructional environment.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEARNING CONSULTANT?
The learning consultant is trained to determine the learning styles of children and to recommend specific teaching methods/materials which will best accommodate a child’s needs. The learning consultant also determines whether a child who has been referred to the Child Study Team has the academic knowledge and skills necessary for school success.  In addition, the learning consultant provides consultative services to the regular and special education teachers and parents to develop strategies and techniques to enhance the students’ academic performance.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER?
The expertise of the school social worker lies in assessing the student in relation to the family, school and community. In this role, the school social worker gathers information concerning the student’s developmental milestones and health status.   Family and school histories, as they pertain to the child’s current school progress, are also obtained.  The school social worker also is the primary specialist who coordinates community resources on behalf of students.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SPEECH / LANGUAGE SPECIALIST?
The Speech and Language Specialist assesses a student’s communication abilities.  This may include evaluation in articulation, phonology, fluency, voice, or any combination, that is unrelated to dialect, cultural difference or the influence of a foreign language adversely affecting a student’s educational performance.  This individual determines if a student is eligible for speech-language services
Parental Rights in Special Education

• State of New Jersey Department of Education Parental Rights in Special Education (nj.gov)
• Spanish (Revised May 2023)

New Jersey Department of Education
Office of Special Education Programs
Short Procedural Safeguards Statement
 
As the parent of a student who is or may be determined eligible for special education services or as an adult student who is or may be determined eligible for special education services, you have rights regarding identification, evaluation, classification, the development of an IEP, placement and the provision of a free, appropriate public education under the New Jersey Administrative Code for Special Education, N.J.A.C. 6A:14. A description of these rights, which are called procedural safeguards, is contained in the document, Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE). The document is published by the New Jersey Department of Education.
 
A copy of the PRISE is provided to you one time each year, upon request by you, upon referral for an initial evaluation, when a disciplinary action that constitutes a change in placement is imposed, when a due process hearing is requested, and when a request for a complaint investigation is filed by you.
 
For help in understanding your rights, you may contact any of the following:
 
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) at (800) 654-7726
New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc. at (800) 922-7233
New Jersey Department of Education through its County Office.