Community Resources & Family Support
Dear Families,
This comprehensive list of community resources is designed to support your family’s well-being. Here you will find a variety of helpful organizations offering food assistance, counseling referrals, addiction recovery services, and much more. We hope this resource serves as a valuable guide to connect you with the support and services you may need. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help navigating these options.
🔗 Click here for the Community Resource List
The Family Room (Ellis Medicine)
Located at 1023 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12307. Supports the mental health needs of youth ages 10–17 by offering immediate help without an appointment.
📞 24/7 Crisis Hotline: (518) 243-4000 | Visit Website →
District Counseling & Clinical Services
District K-12 Counseling
Our school counselors, psychologists, and social workers support student social, emotional, and academic well-being. We address school avoidance, anxiety, stress, bullying, depression, and family dynamics.
Parents or staff can initiate a counseling referral by contacting the building principal or classroom teacher.
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Saratoga Center Partnership
Clinical services provided in district buildings before, during, or after school, continuing through the summer. Includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Referrals can be made by families or staff via the building principal or teacher.
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Suicide Prevention & Immediate Crisis Support
District mental health staff receive specialized training to recognize warning signs and connect youth to immediate support, fostering a safe school environment.
☎️ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 nationwide support.
Transition & Special Education Provisions
Transition Services (Age 15+)
Collaborative planning between family, student, district, and community agencies to facilitate movement to post-school activities (post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment, and independent living).
Updated annually starting at age 15, IEPs detail statements of needed transition services, vocational assessments, and participating agency responsibilities.
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Homeschool & Nonpublic Requests
Parents requesting special education services for homeschooled students (with an approved IHIP) or nonpublic school students within the district must submit written requests to PPS by June 1 for the upcoming school year.
Deadline Notice: Requests received after June 1 will not be considered. The district reserves the right to determine service delivery locations.
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Section 504 Accommodations
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. It ensures students with qualifying physical or mental impairments that substantially limit major life activities receive necessary accommodations to access the general education curriculum (does not require an IDEA special education classification).
Referrals may be submitted in writing to the school principal or Section 504 Coordinator. Plans are reviewed annually.
⚖️ View 504 Procedural Safeguards →
Glossary & Frequently Used Terms
Click to Expand/Collapse Special Education Terminology ▼
The special education process involves many specialized terms. Below is a list of the most commonly used terms and their definitions:
- ACCES-VR
- Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation. NYS office providing employment and independent living services for individuals with disabilities.
- Alternate Assessments
- Non-standardized methods to assess student knowledge (e.g., portfolios, projects, demonstrations). CSE determines NYSAA eligibility.
- Annual Goals
- Specific, observable, and measurable skills an individual student is expected to achieve by the end of the school year in an IEP.
- Annual Review
- Yearly meeting by CPSE/CSE to review progress and recommend continuation, modification, or termination of programs and services.
- Assistive Technology & Services
- Devices, equipment, or direct services recommended by CSE to assist a student in selecting, acquiring, or using technology to access the curriculum.
- Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
- An individualized plan of positive behavioral interventions for a student whose behavior interferes with learning.
- CPSE / CSE
- Committee on Preschool Special Education (ages 3–5) / Committee on Special Education (ages 5–21) appointed by the Board of Education.
- Consent
- Written, voluntary permission given after being fully informed in your primary language. May be withdrawn at any time (non-retroactive).
- Disciplinary Change in Placement (DCIP)
- Removal of a student from setting for more than 10 consecutive school days or a pattern of short removals totaling over 10 days in a school year.
- ENL (English as a New Language)
- Instructional programs helping non-native English speakers study and master the English language.
- Extended School Year (ESY)
- Summer special education services recommended based on documented substantial regression and skill recoupment timelines.
- FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)
- Federal requirement under IDEA guaranteeing free, tailored public education for children with disabilities ages 3–21.
- FERPA
- Federal law regulating student record management, privacy, and information disclosure.
- Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
- Assessment process used to identify the function of challenging behaviors and formulate positive interventions.
- Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
- Evaluation conducted by an independent examiner outside the district, which may be requested at district expense under BOE policy.
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Legal document outlining learning goals, accommodations, and recommended special education programs and related services.
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- Educating students with disabilities alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, as close to home as possible.
- Manifestation Determination Review
- IEP meeting convened when suspensions exceed 10 days to determine if behavior relates directly to the student’s disability.
- OPWDD
- NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; coordinates family support, respite, housing, and employment services.
- Parent Counseling & Training
- Assisting parents in understanding child development and acquiring skills to support IEP implementation.
- Prior Written Notice (PWN)
- Written notification sent to parents prior to district proposals or refusals regarding identification, evaluation, or placement.
- Procedural Safeguards Notice
- Formal document provided at least annually outlining legal rights regarding mediation, due process, and evaluation procedures.
- Reevaluation (Triennial)
- Updated testing conducted at least once every three years by CSE to evaluate ongoing special education eligibility.
- Related Services
- Developmental and supportive services (speech, PT, OT, counseling) required to assist a student with a disability.
- Specially-Designed Instruction (SDI)
- Adapting instructional content, methodology, or delivery to address unique needs and ensure access to general education standards.
- Substantial Regression
- Inability to maintain skill levels over July/August requiring an inordinate review period (8–10+ weeks) to recoup IEP goals.
- Surrogate Parent
- Person appointed to make educational decisions when parents are unknown, unavailable, or rights have been subrogated by a court.
