Child Study Team
The Child Study Team is composed of specialized, professional staff members who are trained to study and evaluate a child's present levels of performance and to recommend strategies and interventions that could improve the child's school progress. Prior to a formal Child Study Team evaluation, interventions and strategies in a General Education classroom setting should be developed and implemented with their effectiveness documented over a period of time. If a Child Study Team evaluation is indicated, it may consist of a social, developmental and medical history of the child conducted by the School Social Worker, an assessment of the child's learning strengths, weaknesses and academic achievement by the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, and an appraisal of the child's potential for learning and social/emotional status by the School Psychologist. Based on information gathered from General Education interventions/ strategies and the Child Study Team evaluation, additional assessments such as a neurological, psychiatric, vision/hearing, behavioral or speech/language evaluation may be recommended. In addition, a Behavior Specialist is available on a daily basis to provide behavioral support services for teachers and parents. The Behaviorist supports our school district's instructional program by highlighting the behavioral social and emotional growth of students with Special Needs.A referral to the Child Study Team should be initiated by the Intervention & Referral Services committee of your child's school, especially when an educational disability is suspected. Public schools are required by law to develop a process for identifying students with disabilities. A student with a disability is one who may be experiencing difficulties of a physical, behavioral, emotional, academic, intellectual, or social nature to the extent that the student is not able to function effectively in a General Education program. A Child Study Team evaluation may be necessary to determine the basis of the difficulties and whether the student is eligible for special services. When a student is determined to be eligible for special services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed for that student with a disability. With federal passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) in December 2004, parents/guardians have an integral part of the Child Study Team that plans an appropriate school program and an IEP for their child with a disability. The complete rules and regulations pertaining to Child Study Team procedures and students with disabilities are contained in the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 6A, Chapter 14, Special Education. Parents/guardians may obtain this document by contacting the Child Study Team Office at (609) 738-2637 or by accessing the website at:
http://www.nj.gov/education/code/current/title6a/chap14.pdf
The North Hanover Township School District Child Study Team includes:
Harry J. Finlayson, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Deb Irvin, Secretary
Neil Steinert, School Social WorkerKaren Krusen, School Social WorkerMegan Thompson, School PsychologistAnna Cali, Learning Disabilities Teacher ConsultantThara Srikanth, Behavior Specialist Gail Costantini, Speech and Language Specialist
Wendy Sagot, Speech and Language Specialist
Shirley Stevens, Speech and Language Specialist
Kerri Pirrera, Speech and Language Specialist
Yosefa Rosen, Speech and Language SpecialistLinda Sexton, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Marla Kennedy, Occupational Therapist
Alice Major, Reading Specialist
Colleen Welling, Physical Therapist
Student Support Team
The Student Support Team is composed of specialized professional staff members who offer supportive services to students outside the Child Study Team. Some of the supportive services include individual and group counseling services for students with social, behavioral and school adjustment challenges. The Student Support Team works cooperatively with The Child Study Team by providing direct services to students in the General Education environment.
The North Hanover Township School District Student Support Team includes:
Noelle Schappell, Student Support Counselor
Helen Verity, Student Support Counselor
Brunella DeMarco, Student Support Counselor
