Qualifications of Psychologists Employed by Preschool Special Education Multidisciplinary Evaluation Programs Approved Pursuant to Section 4410 of the Education Law

This memorandum is in follow up to an advisory issued in October 2014 regarding the responsibility of multidisciplinary evaluation programs (MDEs) approved pursuant to section 4410 of the Education Law to ensure that they employ appropriately qualified psychologists to conduct evaluations of preschool students with disabilities in MDE programs.

This issue has now been addressed in State law.  Chapter 217 of the Laws of 2015 (amended April 2024), a copy of which is attached, authorizes a certified school psychologist who is employed by a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Program or center-based program approved pursuant to section 4410 of the Education Law to conduct evaluations of preschool children having or suspected of having a disability.