7121 - Screening of New School Entrants
| Policy: Screening of New School Entrants | Policy Number: 7121 |
| Date of Original Policy: 07/14/2005 | Date Revision Adopted: 01/19/2022 |
| Reviewed by Policy Committee: 10/17/2018 | Date of Next Review: 01/20/2024 |
| Replacement of Policy Number: |
The Board of Education shall provide for the screening of every new entrant to school to determine which students may have disabilities, may be gifted or may be of limited English proficiency. A new entrant means a pupil entering the New York State public school system for the first time, or re-entering a New York State public school with no available record of a prior screening. Such diagnostic screening shall be conducted:
a) By persons appropriately trained or qualified
b) In the student’s native language if the language of the home is other than English
c) In the case of new entrants, prior to the school year, if possible, but no later December 1st of the school year of entry or within fifteen (15) days of transfer of a student into a New York State public school should the entry take place after December 1st of the school year
d) In the case of student who score below the state reference point on New York State assessment tests, within 30 days of the availability of the test scores.
Such screening shall include, but not be limited to the following:
a) A physical examination by a physician, nurse practitioner or submission of a health certificate in accordance with Sections 901, 903 and 904 of Education Law, including proof of immunization as required by Section 2164 of the Public Health Law. Vision screening services will be provided to all new admissions within six months of enrollment or by such other date prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.
b) An assessment of motor development, of receptive and expressive language development, articulation skills, and cognitive ability in the student’s native language, if the language of the home is not English.
No screening examination for vision, hearing or scoliosis condition is required where a student, parent or person in parental relation objects on the grounds that such examination conflicts with their genuine and sincere religious beliefs.
If such screening indicates a possible disability, a referral shall be made to the Committee on Special Education (CSE) no later than 15 calendar days after completion of such diagnostic screening.
If such screening indicates a possibly gifted child, the name and finding shall be reported to the Superintendent of Schools and to the parents/guardians no later than 15 calendar days after completion of such screening. The term gifted child is defined as a child who shows evidence of high performance capability and exceptional potential in areas such as general intellectual ability, special academic aptitude and outstanding ability in visual and performing arts. Such definition shall include those children who require educational programs or services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their full potential.
If such screening indicates a child indentified as possibly being of limited English proficiency, such child shall be referred for further evaluation in accordance with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to determine eligibility for appropriate transitional bilingual or free-standing ESL programs.
Reporting to Parents
Parents/guardians of children to be screened shall receive information in advance regarding the purpose of screening, the areas to be screened and he referral process. The information shall be communicated either orally or in writing in the parents’ primary language (s). This information will be provided during the registration interview.
Parents/guardians have the right to request information regarding their child’s performance during screening. They shall have access to the screening results and obtain copies upon request.
Confidentiality of Information
The Board of Education’s policy and administrative regulations in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93-380, shall apply to all information collected about a child through the screening program. In accordance with the policy and regulations, parents shall be informed of their right to privacy, their right to access to the records and their right to challenge those records should they be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
20 United States Code (USC) Section 1232(g)
Education Law Sections 901,903,904,905,914 and 3208(5)
Public Health Law Section 2164
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Parts 117, 14.2 and 154