Special education in New York

What New York calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in New York

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting; CPSE for preschool

Eligibility team

CSE / CPSE

Evaluation timeline

60 calendar days. Initial evaluation within 60 days of consent; recommended services in place within 60 school days of consent (8 NYCRR 200.4). A secondary source lists 60 school days for the evaluation; not adopted

IEP timeline

Services within 60 school days of consent

Transition planning starts

15 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 4 (preschool student with a disability; no school-age DD)

Dyslexia law

no: No statewide dyslexia screening mandate

State categories

Preschool student with a disability (CPSE)

Find your district and schools

1,110 districts and charter districts. 287 special education schools and 344 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in New York Services for children in New York (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education (518) 473-0170

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Advocates for Children of New York
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), New York
(212) 947-9779
Community Inclusion & Development Alliance, Inc.
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), Bayside
(718) 224-8197
INCLUDEnyc
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), New York
(212) 677-4650
INCLUDEnyc
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), New York
(212) 677-4650
Long Island Advocacy Center, Nassau County
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), New Hyde Park
Serves: Nassau County; Suffolk County
(516) 248-2222
Long Island Advocacy Center, Suffolk County
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Hauppauge
(631) 234-0467
Parent Network of Western New York
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), Buffalo
(716) 332-4170
Sinergia/Metropolitan Parent Center
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), New York
(212) 643-2840
Starbridge
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Rochester
(585) 546-1700
United We Stand of New York
Parent Center (type not stated on CPIR list), Brooklyn
(718) 302-4313

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights New York
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Albany
(518) 432-7861

Advocacy groups in New York

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

New York Medicaid

CHIP

Child Health Plus

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes (KFF 2026: state plan option or comparable waiver); program not named in sources checked

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

Autism insurance law

yes. no visit limits; caps not listed

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

none

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How New York scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

D+

Rank 46 of 51

State of Support

B-

Rank 15 of 51

Combined

Rank 25 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	F
Learning together	D-
Results	C
School funding	A
Family protections	F
Options and transition	D+

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Intervention. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.