Please click on the links below to access the appropriate document.
The Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) - English
The Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) - Spanish
The Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) - Portuguese
Bethlehem Township School District Office of Special Education
280 Asbury-West Portal Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
908-537-4044 ext.1234
Sally Klemm
Director of Special Education/District Homeless Education & Missing Children Liaison
sklemm@btschools.org
Vanessa O’Keefe
CST Secretary
vokeefe@btschools.org
Debra Baumann
School Social Worker
dbaumann@btschools.org
Alison Ciocon
Speech and Language Therapist
aciocon@btschools.org
(Click above to access)
The Bethlehem Township School District offers a wide range of services and educational programming for special education students. Parents or other appropriate persons may refer children to their local school district who are experiencing significant difficulties. Beginning at age 3, children experiencing physical, sensory, emotional, communication, cognitive, and/or social difficulties may be eligible for special education and related services. Parents should contact Mrs. Sally Klemm, Director of Special Services, at 908-537-4044 ext 1233 for further information if they have concerns about their child’s development.
Students may be referred for determination of eligibility for special education services or for a speech/language evaluation by instructional staff, school administration, parents/guardians, and/or state agencies, including the Department of Education and agencies concerned with the welfare of students. N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.3(a)3.
Send referral letter to:
Sally Klemm
Director of Special Services
Bethlehem Township School District
940 Iron Bridge Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
Residents of Bethlehem Township who suspect their preschool-age child may have special needs may obtain assistance from the Bethlehem Township Child Study Team.
Through Child Find (link above), the district locates and provides services for those children ages three to five who may have physical, cognitive, language, social, or emotional difficulties. Evaluations, professional guidance, and an educational program, if needed, are all available free of charge through the public schools' Child Study Team.
Email the CST Secretary, Vanessa O’Keefe, at vokeefe@btschools.org
Include the child's name, date of birth, parents' names and contact information. Please describe areas of concerns and request to meet with the Child Study Team to discuss these concerns.
Children under 3 may be served by early intervention programs.
Contact New Jersey Early Intervention System, (888) 653-4463; www.njeis.org
School Age Students
If parents are concerned about their school-age child’s progress, they should discuss such issues with their child’s teacher, guidance counselor and/or principal. Parents have the option of making a referral to the school’s Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Committee or to the Child Study Team (CST).
The Response to Intervention framework offers intervention procedures that are provided within the general education school program. At times, however, more extensive interventions than can be provided in the general education setting are necessary to assist the student. If the decision is made to undertake a full Child Study Team evaluation, the child’s social, emotional and academic and cognitive abilities may be assessed through comprehensive evaluations. Other specialized assessments may be included in the evaluation plan. If, as a result of evaluation, a child is determined to be eligible for special education and related services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed.
Step 1: Child is referred to the Child Study Team
Step 2: Case manager assigned and identification meeting scheduled within twenty (20) calendar days (excluding holidays). Information is collected regarding the child’s educational progress.
Step 3: Participants include parent/guardian, all CST members, related service providers (when appropriate) and at least one of the child’s general education teachers. A decision is made as to whether a CST evaluation is warranted.
Step 4: Evaluation Plan needed. If a CST evaluation is warranted, an evaluation plan is written describing the required evaluations and parental consent is obtained. The process begins.
Evaluations will be completed and copies of the evaluations will be mailed to parents/guardians prior to our initial eligibility determination meeting.
Step 5: Initial Eligibility Determination Meeting
This meeting will be held within 90 days of the evaluation plan meeting. At this meeting, all information will be reviewed and eligibility will be determined. If a child is considered eligible, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be developed.