Student Services
MISSION
LaFayette Central School District’s Special Education Department’s mission is to develop students’ growth mindset while providing equal access to the general education curriculum.
VISION
LaFayette Central School District’s Special Education Department’s vision is to provide guidelines and strategies that will increase the school community’s ability to prepare students to be contributing members of society.
Student Services
Abigail Lerch, Director of Student Services
5957 US Route 20
LaFayette, New York 13084
P: 315-677-5506
Fax: 315-677-3372
Stephanie Lenhart, Secretary to the Director of Student Services
5957 US Route 20
LaFayette, New York 13084
P: 315-677-5506
Fax: 315-677-3372
Special Education Services
The district offers a full continuum of special education programs and related services tailored to current student needs, provided directly or in collaboration with OCM BOCES. Services include:
- Teacher Consultant Services, Direct or Indirect
- Resource
- Counseling
- Speech Language Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy (BOCES)
- Special Education Programs- 8:1:1, 12:1:1, 15:1 (BOCES)
- Teacher of the Visually Impaired (BOCES)
- Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (BOCES)
- Audiological Services (BOCES)
What is Special Education?
Special education provides specially designed instruction, programs, and support services tailored to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. These services and programs are provided at no cost to families.
In New York State, special education supports are available for both preschoolers (ages 3–5) and school-age students (ages 5–21).
Who Qualifies for Special Education?
Services are available to any student with a physical, mental, or emotional impairment that adversely affects their learning and school performance.
Under New York State guidelines, school-age eligibility falls under 13 qualifying classifications:
- Autism
- Deafness
- Deaf-Blindness
- Emotional Disability
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Learning Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment (including blindness)
How Are Services Provided?
Services may be delivered individually or in small groups with peers who have similar learning needs. Each school district has two official committees responsible for guiding this process:
- CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) — for children ages 3–5
- CSE (Committee on Special Education) — for students ages 5–21
The Process:
- Referral & Evaluation: If a parent or teacher suspects a student needs additional support, a referral is submitted to the special education office. The committee on special education arranges comprehensive evaluations at no cost to the family.
- Eligibility & Recommendation: The committee, working directly with parents, reviews the results to determine eligibility and recommend appropriate programs.
- The IEP (Individualized Education Program): If eligible, a customized written plan (IEP) is created. It outlines the child's specific classroom accommodations, specialized instruction, related services, and annual goals.
- Ongoing Review: Every IEP is reviewed at least once a year to track progress and update goals. Students are re-evaluated at least once every three years to confirm continued eligibility.
Referral Process
CPSE & CSE Parent Referral for Evaluation templates:
Parent Referral for Preschool Special Education Evaluation (CPSE)
Parent Referral for Special Education Evaluation (CSE)
All Referrals must go through the Special Education Office.
Abigail Lerch
Director of Student Services
LaFayette Central School District
5957 Route 20 East LaFayette, NY 13084
alerch@lafayetteschools.org
 |
School Team Referral:
To ensure every student gets the right support:
-
General Education Supports: All students receive general education interventions prior to any special education referral.
-
Data-Driven Referral: If progress-monitoring data shows a student is not meeting grade-level standards despite receiving Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports, a formal referral will be made to determine eligibility for special education.
Parent Referral:
If you suspect that your child may have a disability, please contact the special education office to start the referral process. Suspected disability areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Speech/ Language/ Communication concerns
- Fine and/or Gross Motor concerns
- Sensory Processing concerns
- Social/ Emotional/ Behavioral concerns
All referrals must be submitted in writing.
Please submit a letter/email requesting a preschool (CPSE) evaluation -or- a school-age (CSE) evaluation to the Special Education Office.
You may use the template provided or write your own.
Letter of referral MUST include:
Today’s Date
Parent Name & Contact Information
Child’s Name, DOB, and Grade
Request for evaluation statement & why
Specific areas of concern
Resources
A Parent’s Guide to Special Education
Continuum of Special Education Services for School-Age Students with Disabilities
Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities
New York State Education Department, Special Education- Parent Resources
Blueprint for Improved Results for Students with Disabilities
A Parent’s Quick Guide to the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)
Academic Assessments and Students With Disabilities | ESSA Fact Sheet
Assessments for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities | ESSA Fact Sheet
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
If you have any questions regarding your child's Individualized Education Plan, the Committee on Special Education process or related services provided by the district please Student Services Office at 315-677-5506.
Jr./Sr. High School
3122 US Route 11 North
LaFayette, New York 13084
315-677-3131
Grimshaw Elementary
5957 US Route 20
LaFayette, New York 13084
315-677-3152
Onondaga Nation School
3285 State Route 11A
Nedrow, New York 13120
315-469-6991