Role of Child Study Teams (CST)

The Old Bridge School district employs Child Study Teams (CST) in sufficient numbers to evaluate and determine eligibility for special education and related services for students between the ages of three and twenty-one. Child Study Teams consist of school psychologists, learning disabilities teacher-consultants, and school social workers. For students age three to five, the Child Study Team also includes a speech-language specialist. Child Study Teams develop, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of individualized education programs, and deliver appropriate related services to students with disabilities. They can also provide preventative and support services to non-disabled students.

For students experiencing difficulty in learning, Child Study Teams will provide services to the general education staff that include techniques, materials, and programs. Services include, but are not limited to, consultation with school staff and parents as well as the design, implementation, and evaluation of techniques to prevent and/or address educational difficulties. Members of Child Study Teams will also serve as consultants to Administrators and staff who are engaged in the school-based Intervention and Referral process though they will not serve as members of the Pupil Assistance Committee.

Related Services

Speech-Language Specialists provide therapy for students whose difficulties with articulation, fluency, and/or voice has a significant impact on their performance in school. These students are Eligible for Speech-Language Services, and the Speech-Language Specialist plans and monitors a program for each child, meeting with parents and teachers at least once a year to review progress and make further recommendations. If a student demonstrates difficulty understanding or using language, the Speech-Language Specialist evaluates the student’s skills in conjunction with the Child Study Team to determine if there is or is not a defined disability that accounts for this struggle. If no other disability is identified as a result of comprehensive assessments, the student might be eligible to receive speech-language therapy for language difficulties as an Eligible for Speech-Language Services student or, if there is a disability and the student also needs special education services, the student can receive language therapy as a student identified as Eligible for Special Education and Related Services.

Students who are Eligible for Special Education and Related Services might also need occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, nursing services, special transportation, or other extra services to benefit from their special education program. Evaluations and services are provided according to the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Early Intervention Program and Services

Special Child Health Services of Middlesex County provides programs and services for infants and toddlers from birth through two years of age who have disabilities. These programs and services are free. Contact the Middlesex County Case Management Unit at (732) 745-4582.

Preschool Disabled Program

Old Bridge Township School District will assess for student eligibility for preschool disabled programs. A parent/guardian of a child with a suspected disability, between the ages of 3 years and 4 years, 11 months before October 1, should write a request for an evaluation to:

Department of Special Services at John Glenn School
185 Cindy Street
Old Bridge, NJ 08857

The Director, Supervisor, and Child Study Teams have offices at Glenn School