Welcome to Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education
The Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education Department makes available an array of quality instruction and support services designed to provide an appropriate educational experience for students. It offers support to individuals and groups of students outside of the regular education program in the areas of: Community Liaison, Family Resource Support, Guidance & School Counseling, Nursing, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Speech & Language Services and Education Services. These services are available to all students in our schools. While some of these services are provided only upon recommendation by the Committee on Special Education, parents, students and teachers often need advice on how to deal with social, educational or personal problems which arise. To this end each of our schools maintains a staff of professional personnel for this express purpose. To learn more about pupil personnel services and special education, please scroll down and click on available information pages.
Si le hace falta información traducida en español, llame a Yesenia Polanco al 353-7042.
Si ou bezwen enfòmasyon tradui an kreyòl,rele Jocelyne Abraham al 353-7044.
Contact Us
Leo Macias
Director of Pupil Personnel Services & Special Education
845-353-7046
lmacias@nyackschools.org
Sara Donohue
Secretary to the Director
845-353-7046
sdonohue@nyackschools.org
Denise Hogg
Secretary of Special Education
845-353-7036
shogg@nyackschools.org
Pam Hickey
Secretary of the Committee on Special Education (CSE)
845-353-7035
phickey@nyackschools.org
Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act Accomodations
Students with disabilities, who do not meet the criteria for services under the Committee on Special Education, may meet the criteria for receiving accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
In order to receive a 504 Accommodation Plan, a student must have a documented disability that impacts on the students education.
The 504 Accommodation Plan is a legal document and accommodations can include, but are not limited to: testing accommodations, program modifications, and a related service.
Parents who suspect that a student may have a disability requiring a 504 Accommodation Plan are encouraged to first explore these issues with appropriate pupil personnel/professional staff (i.e., teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, school social workers) who will attempt to remedy academic difficulties on the building level.
If exhaustive and pre-referral interventions do not succeed in helping the student to improve his/her academic standing/progress, parents/guardians are encouraged to proceed with a referral to the Committee on Special Education.
Family Support Services
District Liaison for Foster Care & Displaced Families: Jeanine Rufo, MSW
(845) 353 - 7238
Family Support Resources
- Talking to Children about COVID-19 Coronavirus
- COVID-19 Coronavirus - Stress and Coping
- A Parent's Guide to Special Education in New York State
- ARC of Rockland
- Child Find Ad
- CSE and CPSE Information
- Community Liaison
- NYS Procedural Safeguards Notice
- Foster Care Memo 12-2-16.pdf
- New York State Special Education Web Site
- Nursing Services
- Occupational & Physical Therapy Services
- School Psychology
- Services for the Hearing and/or Visually Impaired
- Social Work Services
- Speech & Language Services
- Web Resources
- HOUSING QUESTIONNAIRE
- CUESTIONARIO DE VIVIENDA
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who will be testing my child?Your child will be evaluated by district professional personnel.
- Do I get the chance to see the reports before the meeting?Reports are to be shared with Parents prior to the Committee meeting.
- Who will be at the CSE meeting?The Committee is comprised of the Chairperson, a School Psychologist, a General Education Teacher, a Special Education Teacher, Parent(s), Parent Member and other people who possess knowledge or special expertise regarding the student- including related services personnel as appropriate.
- What if I don't agree with the Committee's decision?Should your concerns not be resolved through the Committee, or informally through discussions with the District, Special Education Mediation, a voluntary process is available. You have a right to request, in writing, timely mediation run by a qualified and impartial mediator. Should mediationfail to resolve the issue, you have the right to request an Impartial Hearing. Additional information on Mediation and Due Process Proceedings can be found in "Special Education in New York State for Children Ages 3-21: A Parent's Guide" which is provided to all parents of students referred to the CSE. This publication is available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/parentguide.htm
Nyack SEPTSA
Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association
- We bring together parents, teachers, administrators, service providers, relatives, and friends in an effort to promote understanding and support of our children with special needs.
- Nyack SEPTSA is designed to help parents advocate for children with special needs. It is a place for parents and teachers to exchange information on various programs, funding, ever-changing state and federal laws and to support each other on many problems of adjustment, growth and development our members face.
- Nyack SEPTSA has regular meetings just like any other PTA, with speakers to run lectures or workshops on many pressing issues for our children.
Membership form: Membership form- SEPTSA
Email us: nyackseptsa@gmail.com
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nyackseptsa