Early Intervention Program — COMING SOON! Comprehensive services for children from birth to age 3. Email infoei@ocservices.org for details.

SEIT Services

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Building Foundations for Lifelong Learning

The preschool years are a time of wonder, discovery, and rapid growth. Children learn through play, through friendships, and through exploring the world around them. When a young child needs extra support to participate fully in preschool activities, our Special Education Itinerant Teachers are there to help.

What is SEIT?

A Special Education Itinerant Teacher is a licensed special education teacher who works oneon-one with young children ages 2.9 to 5.9 who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). On behalf of the New York City Department of Education, Optimal Care Services provides SEIT services in preschool classrooms, at home, and in community settings across all five boroughs.

From our Early Intervention program for babies and toddlers, SEIT is often the next step in your child’s educational journey. Our SEIT teachers build on the progress your child has already made, helping them prepare for kindergarten and beyond.

What Does a SEIT Teacher Do?

Our SEIT teachers work with your child in their natural learning environment—their preschool classroom or your home—helping them build skills in many areas:

  • Communication and language development
  • Social skills like making friends, sharing, and taking turns
  • Early learning skills such as counting, colors, letters, and problem-solving
  • Following directions and participating in group activities
  • Behavior, self-help, and motor skills

SEITs also work closely with your family, classroom teachers, and other service providers like occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physical therapists to make sure your child gets coordinated support.

Additional Resources

NYC DOE Guidance on Preschool Special Education Itinerate Teacher (SEIT) Services Special Education in NYC - Moving to Preschool NYC DOE Family Guide to Preschool Special Education Services
How It Works

Acquiring SEIT Services For Your Child

1. Request CPSE Evaluation

A parent may refer his/her child to the CPSE or Children's Services may request a referral.

2. CPSE Evaluation

The child is evaluated for eligibility for preschool special education. His/her social history, educational evaluation, psychological evaluation, etc. are taken into consideration.

3. IEP Created

If the child is found eligible for preschool special education services, the CPSE team will develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

4. SEIT Assigned

If SEIT is recommended on the child's IEP, CPSE will assign a SEIT agency. The agency will assign a SEIT provider to work with the child at a specified location.

Who Benefits from SEIT Services?

SEIT services support preschool children who have been evaluated by the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and found eligible. Your child might benefit from SEIT if they:

  • Have delays in speech, language, or communication
  • Struggle with social interactions or making friends
  • Need help with early learning skills
  • Have difficulty following directions or participating in group activities
  • Have been diagnosed with autism, developmental delays, or other disabilities

Why Families Choose Optimal Care Services

For more than seven years, we have been connecting preschool children with expert SEIT teachers who truly care. Our teachers bring not just training and skill, but warmth, patience, and a genuine love for helping young children grow. We provide bilingual services in all languages and serve all five boroughs of New York City.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) is a special education professional who provides one-on-one assistance to a student who has a learning disability, behavioral issue, or needs special education assistance. SEITs travel to different schools to provide different levels of support and development aid to students in need. They discuss student progress with their teachers, meet with students' parents, and assess students in a classroom setting in order to develop strategies to help address the child's education needs. SEITs also visit students' homes when they are unable to attend a school or need additional support in the home environment. SEITs can be hired by individual parents or be assigned by our agency.

  • Provide one-on-one instruction to children ages 2.9 to 5.9 in our CPSE program
  • Educate family members and caregivers on different intervention strategies to facilitate active involvement and carry-over
  • Provide services in diverse settings such as patient homes, family daycare homes, daycare centers, and/or other community settings
  • Maintain accurate records of services provided, submit evaluations and progress reports in a timely manner
  • Ensure adherence to program compliance and service authorizations
  • Maintain confidentiality of information regarding childen and families (in accordance with HIPAA and State and Federal Regulations) and submit records to the agency within established deadlines

A SETSS teacher can teach any student K-12 while a SEIT works primarily with preschool children ages 2.9 to 5.9. Educational and professional qualifications are often very similar, however.

SEIT services are for children ages 2.9 to 5.9 who are classified by their school district's Committee on Preschool Educational (CPSE) as a preschooler with a disability. To determine a child's eligibility for SEIT services, the CPSE conducts an evaluation which includes:
  • A psychological evaluation that looks at what the child knows and at his or her cognitive abilities
  • A social history intervention, which provides background on the child’s developmental and family history
  • A physical evaluation, which is a health examination form often completed by the child’s doctor
  • An observation of the child in his or her current school or childcare location
  • Any other assessments needed to determine the physical, mental, behavioral, and emotional factors that contribute to the child’s suspected disability

  • NY State certification in Special Education (Birth–Grade 2 or Students with Disabilities)
  • Experience with early childhood or preschool special education is often preferred

OThe number of hours depends on the IEP. It can range from a few hours per week to more intensive daily support.

A SEIT is a certified teacher who designs and delivers instruction based on IEP goals. A paraprofessional provides support but does not typically design instruction.

No. SEIT provides specialized instruction. Related services include therapies like speech, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.

Parents can select from DOE-approved agencies that offer SEIT services, depending on availability.

SEITs collect data, track progress toward IEP goals, and provide regular reports. They may also participate in CPSE meetings to update the child’s plan.

The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a public program funded by New York State, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, and the NYC Department of Mental Health, and is for children less than three years of age, who have or are suspected of having a developmental delay and/or disability. Eligibility for EIP can be determined only by State aproved evaluators under contract with the municipality. If a child is found eligible for the EIP, all services are identified in collaboration with the family and must be authorized by the municipality.The municipality will arrange for service providers to deliver services authorized by the municipality. All services under the EIP are approved at no out-of-pocket costs for families, but health insurance may be accessed, without affecting your family's benefits. For services provided in community settings that require a fee, the parent is responsible for paying those costs. To access EI services, contact the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-853-3100. To access EI services within New York City, contact the NYC Help Line at 311. Optimal Care Services is an approved provider of Early Intervention services under contract with New York State Department of Health; a New York State Education Department-approved Special Education Itinerant teacher (SEIT) service provider, including bilingual SEIT, Special Education Teacher Support and Services (SETSS); Pendency; and a Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) sponsor. The committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) program is funded and regulated by the NYS Education Department, county, and your local school district for children 3-5. Services are provided at no direct cost to families for children who meet eligibility guidelines.