Family Resources

Special Education

Supporting students with disabilities and partnering with families.

District 5 is committed to supporting students with disabilities and partnering with families to help students access the services, programs, and supports they need.

Families with questions about their child's IEP, related services, classroom supports, or specialized programs should begin by contacting their child's school. The student's IEP team and school-based staff are the first point of contact for individual questions.

On this page

What families can find here

  • General information about special education support
  • Guidance and contact at the school level
  • Information about specialized autism programs
  • Links to official NYCPS special education resources
  • Links to school search tools for verified specialized program tags
  • Related family learning recordings and resources

Specialized autism programs

Some District 5 schools may have specialized autism programs. Families can use the school search filters to identify schools with verified program tags, where applicable. Specialized autism program tags may include:

  • Nest
  • Horizon
  • AIMS
Note: Program availability and placement are determined through official NYCPS processes. Families should consult their child's school, IEP team, or NYCPS guidance for individual placement questions.

Start here

Who to contact first

Families should begin with:

  • Their child's teacher
  • IEP teacher, case manager, or service provider
  • Parent coordinator
  • School counselor or social worker
  • School administrator