The Special Services department is available for students who are experiencing academic, behavioral or social/emotional issues. Working in conjunction with the District’s New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS) team Links For Parents / New Jersey Tiered System of Support (garwoodschools.org) the Special Services department offers suggestions and support to students who are not succeeding in the school setting. If supports have been implemented and a student is still not succeeding a referral to the Special Services department will be made. Parents/Guardians may also make a direct referral to the department.  

Once a referral is received by the department, a meeting is scheduled within 20 days from when the referral was received. The participants of the meeting are the parents/guardians, the classroom teacher, and the members of the Child Study Team. The Child Study Team consists of a learning disability teacher-consultant (LDT-C), school psychologist, and social worker. Related service providers may be part of the Team and include speech and language specialists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. When a student between the ages of three and five is referred, a speech therapist will be included in the meeting. A case manager is assigned upon the written request for an evaluation, and an evaluation plan is developed. During the evaluation process, the student is considered to be potentially educationally disabled. The evaluation process may take as long as 90 days, involving the collection of data, test results, observations, interviews, and any other pertinent information that was agreed upon in the evaluation plan. During the evaluation process student interventions will remain in effect. The process concludes with an eligibility determination meeting. If eligibility criteria have been met, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed with the parent/guardian and the Child Study Team Members within the allowable timeframe.