Thu, May 8, 2025

Applying to Special Education Schools

By Chantal Aflalo, Parents League School Advisor

The process for applying to special education schools is as nuanced as each of the special education programs and the children they serve.  Special education schools follow their own application process and deadlines. We are lucky to be in the NY/NJ/CT area, which is filled to the brim with specialized education schools (private day, non-public schools [NPS], integrated co-teaching [ICT] and special classes within the public community schools); as well as many private mainstream day and boarding schools, with offer additional support programs. Although there are many specialized school options, it is likely you will only be considering a handful of them which are aligned with your child’s learning, social and emotional profile. 

While each special education school has its own admissions process, most of the schools have similar requirements to apply.  Below, are the core elements and general steps for applying to special education schools.

1. Special Education Evaluation

Before considering special education schools, it is best to have your child evaluated to understand their learning, social and emotional profile.   You can either get a private evaluation, a Neuropsychological Evaluation; or a Psychoeducational Evaluation provided by the DOE’s – Committee on Preschool Education (CPSE) or Committee on Special Education (CSE) for school age children.  A Neuropsychological Evaluation is a comprehensive test (which covers more domains than a Psychoeducational evaluation); it is typically administered over a few testing sessions which is advantageous to the student; and the evaluator also provides a diagnosis and recommendations at the end of the evaluation.  The CPSE and CSE provide a Psychoeducational Evaluation, which is free of charge; usually administered in one session; covers fewer domains; and does not provide a diagnosis or recommendations regarding whether a mainstream or special education program is more appropriate for a child.

For application purposes, the above testing must be current – conducted within 2-3 years (and sometimes within 1 year for younger students).

It is important to note that if considering a tuition settlement from the DOE for a private special education or mainstream program with an additional support program, it is recommended you seek the support of an education attorney before sharing your evaluation with schools.

2. School List

Once testing is completed, you will have a better understanding of your child’s learning, social and emotional needs – i.e.,  if they need a school for learning disabilities like Dyslexia, or other language based learning disabilities; if they have attention and/or Executive Function challenges; if they present with self-regulation or behavioral challenges;  if they are a 2e (twice exceptional) learner; if they need a program which offers social and emotional, as well as academic supports, to develop socialization and/or pragmatic language skills, etc. 

You will want to identify the special education schools which offer the supports that correspond best to your child’s abilities and needs.  There are hundreds of private and Non-Public School (NPS) special education schools in NYC alone.  Help with curating this list can be provided by seeking support from a School Advisor at the Parents League (we assist with private supportive mainstream, special education and boarding schools); retaining a private consultant; and accessing web sites of school lists like the one below:

https://www.nysed.gov/special-education/approved-special-education-programs-preschool-and-school-age

In addition, the Parents League hosts a yearly Virtual Special Education School Fair each year, as well as special education family support groups every few months.  Please check our web site for more details.  www.parentsleague.org

3. Visit Special Education Schools:

Many schools will allow you to visit before applying.  When visiting a school, it is helpful to consider such important factors as:

• class and school size
• number of transitions (especially for younger students)
• related services and learning support provided (and if support is pushed in during various classes or if the students are pulled out of class to receive 1:1 or small group support)
• multi-sensory methodologies used for reading, writing and math
• specials and co-curricular classes like arts and music

In addition, are the teachers engaging the students?  Is it a calm learning environment? Take note of the displayed student work samples, the class schedule; and if the classrooms are well organized and materials and visuals neatly presented. 

It is important to note – most private special education schools often provide more related services and supports than are outlined in a student’s IEP or IESP.  In addition, since private special education programs are typically in self-contained environments, the language used to communicate with students is typically consistent throughout the program; and there are consistent learning supports and methodologies weaved throughout the curriculum.

4. Apply

Some schools request you complete an inquiry form or have a phone conversation with their admissions office before provided a link to the application. Other schools will invite you to apply directly on their web site’s admissions portal.

Special Education applications cover a variety of topics to better understand your child’s learning, social and emotional profile.  There will be questions / short essays regarding:

• developmental history and when milestones were met 
• your child’s strengths, challenges and self-esteem
• your feelings about your child’s challenges and goals for your child
• how your child responds to frustration / academic challenge and can they problem-solve
• if there are social and emotional regulation challenges (what is frequency and intensity)
• what is your child’s relationship like with his parents, siblings, friends
• does your child socialize easily with other children

Along with your application, you will be asked to provide your most current Neuropsychological or Psychoeducational Evaluation; as well as Related Service Reports and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or an Individualized Education Services Program (IESP), if it exists.  Some schools require teacher recommendations as well.

You may be asked to provide the names of all the professionals on your child’s team and permission for the school to contact those individuals for additional information.

5. Schedule Tour and Interview 

Once a school has reviewed your application package, you and your child will be invited in for a family visit.  Sometimes the student visit will consist of a 20-30-minute interview with admissions (and perhaps other school personnel), and some short academic assessments for placement purposes.  Most often, students will also participate in a half or full day class visit to determine if the student is a proper fit with the existing student cohort.

Parents will be provided a school tour, and they will interview with admissions and possibly other school personnel.  Parent interviews, for both special education AND mainstream schools, are used to determine appropriate fit.  I recommend both parents attend the school interviews, when possible.  The interviewer wants to get to know your family, your hopes and aspirations for your child, and to determine if the school mission aligns with your values.  They are also trying to ascertain if a family embraces the concept of special education, so  perhaps it is not the best idea to ask a question like “How long would my child have to stay at this school?”, but rather, “Once our child has made adequate progress and has integrated the supports and strategies provided at this school, can you explain the process for assisting with a transition to a less restrictive environment?”

6. Feedback and Decision

It is typical for special education schools to review applications on a first-come, first-served basis.  I would recommend applying in the fall (i.e. by early November, 2025, for an application for September, 2026).  Often, this will allow your child to be considered in the first round of applicants.  Many schools will provide a response to families within 2-3 weeks after the completion of family’s school visits and application.

The tricky part … if you remember, I said at the top of this article, each special education school has their own application process … they also have their own schedule for notifying families of their decision, as well as the amount of time you are given to respond to a placement offer and sign a contract.  Therefore, it is helpful to try and time your application process accordingly.  Schools will also be somewhat flexible if they understand you may need a week or so more to provide a decision so you can thoroughly complete your application process.  If you cannot respond with the allotted time, schools might put your application in a wait pool for re-consideration later (if an opening still exists). 

This can feel like a daunting process, but it does not have to be.  Start early, stay organized, visit schools to better understand the students they serve and supports they provide; remember to balance your child’s challenges with their strengths; and reach out to the Parents League – we will help guide you. 

Chantal Aflalo offers families advice and guidance with their school search for special education schools and supportive mainstream preschools, ongoing and boarding schools. She leads and facilitates our special education workshops, a support group for families with children who require the support of special education schools and programs.

An independent special needs advisor since 2005, Chantal has developed a vast information network that enables families to navigate the special education process. Chantal received a B.A. from Marymount Manhattan College and an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at NYU.