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Special Services/Child Study Team

A few years ago, the name of the Child Study Team Office was changed to the Special Services Department. This was done to encompass the many and diverse services offered through this office. Currently, all special education and related services are offered through our office. This includes Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and counseling for classified students. In addition, the services, accommodations, modifications, and interventions made through the Intervention Referral Service and/or Section 504 Officers are coordinated through the Special Services Department. We also assist families who experience homelessness and collaborate with various community organizations to meet their needs.

Pitman's Child Study Team and Special Education Services

The Pitman Child Study Team consists of a Learning Consultant, a School Social Worker, a School Psychologist, an Occupational Therapist, and a Physical Therapist. Also, the Speech/Language Specialists and our Social Worker/Counselors work in conjunction with the basic Child Study Team. The team has a number of responsibilities including, but not limited to: consultation, identification, diagnosis, classification, and formulation of recommendations for remediation of learning and/or behavior problems. Team members also serve as Case Managers for classified students working closely with both general education and special education teachers to develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs (IEP). The Pitman Child Study Team provides services for students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21 in preschool, elementary, middle and high school programs.

The Child Study Team works collaboratively with the building-level intervention team known as the Intervention and Referral Services Committee (I&RS). A child experiencing learning or behavioral difficulties in school is brought to the attention of the I&RS team through the building administrator. The I&RS referral process is a necessary prerequisite to a referral to the Child Study Team. When I&RS meetings are scheduled, a Child Study Team member may attend and/or consult with the team in order to develop strategies, which will assist students with various modifications, services, and resources.

If interventions have been tried over a sufficient amount of time and documented to show their impact, the I&RS Team may refer the student for evaluation. This request is communicated to the Child Study Team through the principal. The Child Study Team then must follow the statutory procedures stipulated in NJAC 6A:14 (this document, along with other important documents pertaining to Special Education, can be accessed through the Department of Education link found below).

If the Child Study Team recommends classification and the parent agrees, there are several types of special education services available within the district. Please see the program descriptions available on our website.