Commonly Used Terms

 

 

 

 

CST: Child Study Team; consists of a School Psychologist, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC), School Social Worker, and if needed Speech Therapist who are responsible for conducting evaluations to determine eligibility for Special Education and Related Services for students with disabilities

 

ESY: Extended School Year; Special Education and Related Services provided to a student with a disability beyond the normal school year in accordance with the student's IEP and at no cost to the parent/guardian

 

Evaluation: the test(s) and other assessment procedure(s), including a review of information, that are used to decide whether your child is eligible for special education services

 

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA): the process of coming to an understanding of why a student engages in challenging behavior and how student behavior relates to the environment. The purpose of an FBA is to gather information to better understand the specific reasons for the student's problem behavior(s)

 

IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is the federal statute that mandates free and appropriate public education for students with a disabilities. In New Jersey, students age 3 through 21 are included

 

IEP: Individual Education Program; the written plan developed at a meeting that includes appropriate school staff and parent/guardian(s). This determines that special education programming for a student with disabilities through individually designed instructional activities constructed to meet goals and objectives established for the student

 

LRE: Least Restrictive Environment; this sets the standard that students with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled to the maximum extent appropriate. It means that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of students with disabilities from the general education environment should only occur when the severity of the disability is such that general education classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily