NY S05954

Allows private special education providers to employ or contract with licensed professionals to conduct evaluations and provide related services for preschool children with disabilities, provided they obtain a waiver from the Department of Education.

Permits approved programs to be formed as education corporations, business corporations, limited liability companies, not-for-profit corporations, or professional services organizations under specified business law provisions.

Requires special education schools and early intervention agencies to obtain waivers by July 1, 2012, with applications submitted within 120 days of the Commissioner prescribing the application form, and grants existing approved entities deemed waiver status until that date.

Establishes waiver requirements including disclosure of officer and director names, scope of services, attestations regarding good moral character and fiscal resources, and mandatory re-application every three years.

Exempts certain center-based programs from licensing requirements for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, teachers of the speech and hearing impaired, teachers of the deaf, and school psychologists employed in those programs.