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Welcome to Northvale Child Study Team!
The Northvale School District provides the services of its Child Study Team to assist in the identification, evaluation, determination of eligibility, and development and monitoring of special education programs and placements.
The Child Study Team consists of a school psychologist, a learning disabilities teacher-consultant, a school social worker, and in some cases a speech & language specialist.
- The School Psychologist determines a child's intellectual and emotional functioning.
- The Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant assesses a child's academic levels, learning strengths and needs, and helps develop instructional strategies.
- The School Social Worker evaluates a child's developmental history and home environment, and acts as a liaison between the school, the home and the community.
- The Speech & Language Specialist assesses the child's communication abilities and provides services in the appropriate areas.
- Other specialists such as physicians, psychiatrists, neurologists, counselors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school nurses can be called
upon, as needed, to assist in the evaluation and planning process.
The Child Study Team also provides preventative and support services to non-disabled students. Team members act as consultants to the general education staff regarding techniques, materials, and programs for students experiencing difficulties in learning.
A Child Study Team member is designated and serves as the case manager for each student with a disability. The case manager is knowledgeable regarding the student's educational needs and program. He/She coordinates the development, monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Individualized Education Program. The case manager helps facilitate communication between home and school and coordinates the annual review and reevaluation process.
Currently, the Northvale Child Study Team is comprised of the following professionals:
What is a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant?
The Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant is a master teacher who functions in the school environment as an educational diagnostician, instructional programmer, Child Study Team member, educational consultant and instructional leader. The LDT-C must have the professional preparation to make assessments, analyses, and classifications of students’ learning differences; understand and implement special education law; plan and facilitate delivery of programs for children with learning differences; transfer specific and successful instructional techniques to classroom teachers through consultation, collaboration, and in-service education; and effectively communicate with parents, teachers and administrators. An educational assessment shall be the responsibility of a learning disabilities teacher consultant employed
by the district board of education. It shall include observations of the student in other than a testing session, review of the student’s educational history, conferences with the student’s teacher(s), and an evaluation and analysis of the student’s academic performance and learning characteristics.
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There are six major functions of a School Psychologist, all of which relate to working with students, parents, and teachers to promote academic, emotional and behavioral success of students who attend the Northvale Public Schools.
- Assessment and Interpretation of psychological testing results.
The School Psychologist identifies and assesses the learning, development and adjustment characteristics and needs of students. We also assess the impact of environmental factors that affect learning and adjustment. We use assessment data about the student and his/her environment in developing appropriate interventions.
- Direct Intervention for Students.
The School Psychologist provides interventions needed by students to support the teaching process and to maximize learning and adjustment. Crisis intervention services are available as needed.
The School Psychologist provides consultation to parents, teachers, and other school personnel to enhance the learning and adjustment of students.
- Assist with Program Development.
The School Psychologist assists in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of programs to meet identified learning and adjustment needs of students.
The School Psychologist applies ethics and standards of professional practice in the delivery of school services.
School Social Worker
School Social Workers provide unique services to students and their families, helping the students attain maximum benefits from their educational programs. The School Social Worker's knowledge of social, emotional, cultural and economic differences among children and families enable them to be the link between school, family and community. As a member of the educational team, School Social Workers promote and support students' academic and social/emotional well-being. Through sound school social work practice, the School Social Worker is able to enhance the full educational and individual potential of all students and eliminate barriers to learning by being pro-active within the academic community and providing early intervention, prevention, consultation, counseling, crisis management, and support services. A social assessment shall
be the responsibility of a school social worker employed by the district board of education. The social assessment shall include observation of the student and communication with the student's parent(s)/guardian(s). It shall also include an evaluation of the student's adaptive social functioning and emotional development and of the family, social, and cultural factors which influence the student's learning and behavior in the educational setting.
Speech-Language Specialist
Speech-Language Specialists are experts in all areas of communication who make assessments, analyses and classifications of students' communication competencies and characteristics. As a member of the educational team, the Speech Language Specialist participates in the planning of educational programs for children with communication disorders. Speech Language Specialists plan, prepare and deliver treatment programs for children with speech and language deficiencies. They also serve as resource persons in the area of speech and language development and disorders to classroom teachers, parents, administrators and the child study team. A speech and language assessment shall be the responsibility of a Speech Correctionist or Speech-Language Specialist employed by the district Board of Education. The assessment shall include observations
of the student in other than a testing session, consultation with the classroom teacher, communication with the parent(s)/guardian(s), and an evaluation and analysis of speech and language development.
Occupational therapy is a health profession in which therapists and therapy assistants help individuals to do and engage in the specific activities that make up daily life. A common manifestation of difficulties in school involves handwriting, in many cases because this is a key “occupation” that students must master to succeed in school. A teacher might notice that a student cannot write legibly or has serious problems in other motor tasks. The occupational therapy practitioner can work with the teacher to evaluate the child to identify the underlying problems that may be contributing to handwriting difficulty. The occupational therapy practitioner looks at the child’s skills and other problems (including behavior), in addition to his or her visual, sensory, and physical capabilities.
Below are some links we feel may be helpful:
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