RCS Special Education Department

Welcome to the RCS Special Education Department in Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District.  We are committed to providing a full continuum of programs and services to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. In accordance with the student’s Individualized Education Plan, programs and related services are provided by NY State certified special education teachers, speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, social workers, and other specialists.

Special Education services are available for students with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21, or until they receive their high school diploma. Preschool-age students with an Individual Education Plan receive services from Albany County approved providers. School-age students with an Individual Education Plan receive services from District staff, or through approved agencies, other school districts, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), or NY State-approved private schools.

Our goal is to provide students with different learning needs with equal access to education. We welcome your feedback as we strive to continually improve our programs and services to meet the diverse, yet unique, needs of each of our students.

RCS Special Education

Upcoming Events

Both of these events are presented by the NYS Education Department Office of Special Education and are free to attend:

EI to CPSE Transition for Families - Thursday, March 14 - 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
This Zoom presentation will guide parents through the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention (EI) to the Committee on Preschool Education (CSPE). Registration is required. Click here to register.

CPSE to CSE Transition for Families - Thursday, April 11 - 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
This workshop will help participants understand the difference between services in CPSE and CSE and the purpose of an IEP. Registration is required. Click here to register.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES & UPDATES

Deadline for requesting Special Education Services if NOT attending Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD:

Home Schooling: Home Instruction Guidance

Parents or legal guardians must request special education services in writing to the school district by June 1, at the district of the location where the private school is located, (i.e.; NOT Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD) preceding the school year for which the request for services is made, except that when a student is first identified as a student with a disability after the first day of June preceding the school year for which the request is made and prior to the first day of April of such current school year, the parent must submit the written request for services within 30 days after the student was first identified.

Privately Placed:

Parents or legal guardians must request special education services in writing to the school district of location by June 1, at the district of the location where the private school is located, (i.e.; NOT Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD) preceding the school year for which the request for services is made, except that when a student is first identified as a student with a disability after the first day of June preceding the school year for which the request is made and prior to the first day of April of such current school year, the parent must submit the written request for services within 30 days after the student was first identified.

CSE Meetings Updates for Snow Days – cancelled and rescheduled.

  • Delays – those scheduled AFTER the one or two hour delay will be held and the meetings during the delay will be rescheduled.

  • Early Dismissal – those scheduled BEFORE the dismissal will be held.

The Special Education Office will make every attempt to notify families when meetings need to be cancelled.

Key

  • Committee on Special Education (CSE)

  • Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)

  • Out of District (OOD)

Parent Resources & Helpful Links

Community Resources

Contact Information

Colleen Agostinoni
Secondary/Out of District Chairperson
cagostinoni@rcscsd.org
(518) 756-5200, ext 3033

Kate Thibault
Preschool/Elementary Chairperson
kthibault@rcscsd.org
(518) 756-5200, ext 3082

Janet Wilkins
CSE/Grades 6-12, Out of District
jwilkins@rcscsd.org
518-756-5200 x3033

Karyn Perez
CPSE, CSE/Grades K-5
kperez@rcscsd.org
518-756-5200 x3082

Amanda Shader
Budget, Contracts, Medicaid
ashader@rcscsd.org
518-756-5200 x 3025