Child Study Team
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Special Services Educational Programs
The Department of Special Services provides assistance to students with disabilities between the ages of three through twenty-one. There are a variety of services available including Child Study Team diagnostic services, special education, transition, and related services. All personnel servicing students with disabilities are appropriately certified and licensed, where a license is required.
Child Study Team services are conducted by members of the Child Study Team, which include a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant, a School Psychologist, and a School Social Worker.
All students with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of the severity of their disability, are located, identified and evaluated according to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.3. Decisions regarding the child are collaboratively made by Child Study Team Members, the parent(s)/guardian(s), and any other individuals having knowledge of the child.
A full continuum of alternative placements shall be available to meet the needs of students with disabilities, ages three through twenty-one, for special education and related services. Educational options include placement in general education with supplementary aides and supports, and special class programs in district and out-of-district.
Related and support services include speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and adaptive physical education.
If you have a child with a suspected or known developmental delay or disability, contact the Department of Special Services at 856 662-8505.
Child Study Team Case Managers
| Case Manager | Building Served |
| Tajuddin Abdullah | Pennsauken High School (Mental Health) |
| Julie Kotran | Pennsauken High School |
| Dana Oppenheimer | Pennsauken High School |
| Stefany Rojas | Pennsauken High School |
| Erin Whitescarver | Pennsauken High School |
| Mary Hanley | Phifer Middle School (Mental Health) |
| Courtney Haslam | Phifer Middle School (8th Grade) |
| Holly Taylor | Phifer Middle School (7th Grade) |
| Lisa Mailley | Phifer Middle School (6th Grade) |
| Alexa Fisher | Intermediate School (5th Grade) |
| Rachel Hartnett | Intermediate School (4th Grade) |
| Thomas Cox | Carson Elementary (Mental Health) |
| Shayna Auerbach | Carson Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Karen Scheidemann | Delair Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Christine Caruso | Fine Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Maria Skowronek | Fine Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Arielis Reyes | Franklin Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Taylur Warthen | Franklin Elementary (Grades K-3) |
| Christine Caruso | Roosevelt STEM |
| Azucena Calderon | Baldwin ECLC (Pre-K) |
| Sarah Dallas | Baldwin ECLC (Pre-K) |
| Mitzi Gilleto | Baldwin ECLC (Pre-K) |
| Shannon Ratajski | Baldwin ECLC (Pre-K) |
Child Study Team Referrals
What is a referral?
A referral is a formal written request to the Child Study Team for evaluation of a student to determine eligibility for special education and related services, or to the speech/language specialist to determine whether a student is eligible for speech services.
Who can make a referral?
- School Personnel
- Parents
- Community Agencies
When should a student be referred?
In general, students who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties are first referred to the Intervention and Referral Services Committee (I&RS). The purpose of this committee is to provide support and guidance to school staff through the creation of strategies and interventions that address educational difficulties in the general education setting.
If the I&RS process exhausts all of the available school-based regular education interventions with minimal success, the student may then be referred to the Child Study Team.
A direct referral to the Child Study Team may be made when it can be documented that the nature of the student's educational problem(s) is such that evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services is warranted without delay.
What are the next steps following referral?
Once a referral is received, the Child Study Team will schedule a meeting with the parents and the student's teacher within 20 calendar days (excluding school holidays, but including summer vacation). The purpose of this meeting will be to determine the need for a comprehensive evaluation, based on a review of available information regarding the student's educational progress. If an evaluation is warranted, the nature and scope of the Child Study Team or speech evaluation will be discussed and an Evaluation Plan created. Upon receipt of parental consent, the evaluation will begin.
What are the timelines?
Once parental consent has been obtained, the district has ninety (90) days to complete the entire evaluation, eligibility and placement process.
How is eligibility determined?
After completing the evaluations, the Child Study Team will conduct a meeting with the parent(s) and student's teacher(s) to review findings and determine eligibility for special education and related services. If the student is found eligible, then an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed. Parental consent is required for implementation of services on all initial evaluations.
Child Study Team assessments, specialized evaluations where appropriate (such as speech, hearing, neurological, psychiatric, etc.), and all pertinent information provided by other school personnel or from the parent(s) will be considered in determining eligibility.
To be eligible for Special Education and Related Services:
- A student must be identified as having a disability that meets the criteria of eligibility categories, as defined by NJ 6A:14-3.5c (1-14).
- The disability must adversely affect the student's educational performance; and
- The student must be in need of special education and related services.
The school district must provide a copy of the evaluation report(s) and documentation of eligibility to the parent(s) not less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the eligibility meeting.
Section 504
The Pennsauken School District Board of Education to provides a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students within its jurisdiction who are handicapped, consistent with the definitions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. No student, solely by reason of his or her handicap as defined in these Acts, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity operated by the Pennsauken School District.
Any student who needs or is believed to need special accommodations, related services, or programs under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, may be referred to the school’s 504 Building Coordinator for determination of eligibility under Section 504.
If you have a concern, please contact your building Principal.