To request a developmental screening for your child, a referral can be made by calling “311” and requesting the NYC Early Intervention Program, or by calling the “Growing Up Healthy” 24-Hour Hotline – 800-522-5006.

For a full description of the early intervention program, read The Early Intervention Program: A Parent’s Guide.

If your child attends a public pre-K and is showing signs of ongoing difficulty at school, the school has a legal responsibility to initiate an evaluation for your child. For a complete guide, download the NYC Department of Education’s Family Guide to Special Education Services.

If not initiated by a teacher, social worker or principal at your child’s school, a parent can file a formal request for evaluation. The request letter should be sent to your child’s school principal and the NYC Department of Education’s Committee on Pre-School Special Education assigned to your zoned school district.

To find your zoned Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) office: 

1. Input your home address in the School Search function on the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) website. The search results will show the zoned public elementary school for your residence.
2. Note the school name, address, phone number, and district number.
3. Go to the Committee on Pre-School Special Education “Contacts” webpage. Locate the district number to find the CPSE office address, telephone number and name of the contact person who would oversee your child’s case.
4. Call, and send a letter, to this person requesting an evaluation for your child, and keep a copy of the letter for your files.

Within 10 days, you should receive a Notice of Request for Initial Referral in your preferred language, verifying your request for an evaluation. After you sign consent to begin the evaluation for your child, the NYC DOE is mandated to complete all evaluation testing within 60 calendar days (assuming you do not delay the process.)

If your child’s evaluation is not completed within 60 days, you should receive an Assessment Authorization Letter. This letter states that the NYC DOE will pay for an independent evaluation, according to its payment guidelines, and how to find an independent evaluator licensed with the NYC DOE.

If you do not receive this letter after 60 days, you should call your local Committee on Pre-School Special Education administrator for assistance. You may also reach out to a local Family Support Coordinator or Community and Superintendent Office responsible for schools in your district.

If your child attends a non-public pre-K and is showing signs of ongoing difficulty at school, you can send a letter requesting an evaluation of your child to the NYC Department of Education’s Committee on Pre-School Special Education assigned to the district in which your child attends school. For a complete guide, download the NYC Department of Education’s Family Guide to Special Education Services.

To find the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) assigned to the district in which your child attends school: 

1. Input your child’s school address in the School Search function on the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) website. The search results will show the zoned public school in the district where your child’s school is located.
2. Note the school name, address, phone number, and district number.
3. Go to the Committee on Pre-School Special Education “Contacts” webpage. Locate the district number to find the CPSE office address, telephone number and name of the contact person who would oversee your child’s case.
4. Call, and send a letter, to this contact person requesting an evaluation for your child, and keep a copy of the letter for your files.

Within 10 days, you should receive a Notice of Request for Initial Referral in your preferred language verifying your request for an evaluation. After you sign consent to begin the evaluation, the NYC DOE is mandated to complete all evaluation testing within 60 calendar days (assuming you do not delay the process.)

If your child’s evaluation is not completed within 60 days, you should receive an Assessment Authorization Letter. This letter states that the NYC DOE will pay for an independent evaluation, according to its payment guidelines, and how to find an independent evaluator licensed with the NYC DOE. If you do not receive this letter after 60 days, you should call the Committee on Pre-School Special Education administrator for assistance.

Note: Evaluation reports cannot be shared with a non-public elementary school without parental permission. However, once your child turns 5 years old, any future government-funded assessments may be shared with both public and non-public ongoing schools.

If your child attends a public elementary school and is showing signs of difficulty at school, the school has a legal responsibility to initiate an evaluation to ensure your child’s full engagement and success at school. Under the law (IDEA and FAPE), any child ages 5 – 21 years old attending public school is entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. For a complete guide, download the NYC Department of Education’s Family Guide to Special Education Services.

If not initiated by a teacher, social worker or principal at your child’s school, you can send a letter requesting an evaluation for your child to your child’s school principal and the NYC Department of Education’s Committee on Special Education assigned to your zoned school district.

To find your zoned Committee on Special Education (CSE) office: 

1. Input your home address in the School Search function on the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) website. The search results will show the zoned school for your residence.
2. Note the school name, address, phone number, and district number.
3. Go to the Committee on Special Education “Contacts” webpage. Locate the district number to find the CSE office address, telephone number and name of the contact person who would oversee your child’s case.
4. Call, and send a letter, to this contact person requesting an evaluation for your child, and keep a copy of the letter for your files.

Within 10 days, you should receive a Notice of Request for Initial Referral in your preferred language, verifying your request for an evaluation. After you sign consent to begin the evaluation for your child, the NYC DOE is mandated to complete all evaluation testing within 60 calendar days (assuming you do not delay the process.)

If your child’s evaluation is not completed within 60 days, you should receive an Assessment Authorization Letter. This letter states that the NYC DOE will pay for an independent evaluation, according to its payment guidelines, and how to find an independent evaluator licensed with the NYC DOE.

If you do not receive this letter after 60 days, you should call your local Committee on Special Education administrator for assistance. You may also reach out to a local Family Support Coordinator or Community and Superintendent Office responsible for schools in your district.

If your child attends a non-public pre-K and is showing signs of ongoing difficulty at school, you can send a letter requesting an evaluation of your child to the NYC Department of Education’s Committee on Special Education assigned to the district in which your child attends school. For a complete guide, download the NYC Department of Education’s Family Guide to Special Education Services.

To find the Committee on Special Education (CSE) assigned to the district in which your child attends school:

1. Input your child’s school address in the School Search function on the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) website. The search results will show the zoned public school in the district where your child’s school is located.
2. Note the school name, address, phone number, and district number.
3. Go to the Committee on Special Education “Contacts” webpage. Locate the district number to find the CSE office address, telephone number and name of the contact person who would oversee your child’s case.
4. Call, and send a letter, to this contact person requesting an evaluation for your child, and keep a copy of the letter for your files.

Within 10 days, you should receive a Notice of Request for Initial Referral in your preferred language, verifying your request for an evaluation. After you sign consent to begin the evaluation for your child, the NYC DOE is mandated to complete all evaluation testing within 60 calendar days (assuming you do not delay the process.)

If your child’s evaluation is not completed within 60 days, you should receive an Assessment Authorization Letter. This letter states that the NYC DOE will pay for an independent evaluation, according to its payment guidelines, and how to find an independent evaluator licensed with the NYC DOE. If you do not receive this letter after 60 days, you should call the Committee on Special Education administrator for assistance.

Note: Government-funded evaluation results for children 5+ years may be shared with both public and non-public ongoing schools without approval from parents.