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New York State Education Department Office of Special Education

Educational Partnership

The Educational Partnership is a coordinated and cohesive network of support focused on enhancing services and supports for students with disabilities from early childhood and school-age education to engagement in post-school opportunities.

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The Educational Partnership offers free events for families, educational professionals, and other interested parties

Specialists within the Educational Partnership offer assistance and training on a variety of topics including special education, transition, early childhood, culturally responsive-sustaining education, academic and behavioral supports, and family engagement. These events are free and open to the public.

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The Educational Partnership

Regional Teams within the Educational Partnership serve local communities, and Technical Assistance Partnerships provide support to the Regional Teams

Regional Teams

Each Regional Team consists of two Centers that provide direct training and support to families, approved preschool and school-age programs, public schools and districts, and community partners.

  • 1. Regional Partnership Centers (RPCs) are comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of Specialist groups that engage in systems change work, providing a variety of supports to families, education professionals, and other interested parties.

  • 2. Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Centers engage in systems change work providing support and training to families, education professionals, and other interested parties. Each center has an Early-Childhood and School-Age team. Early-Childhood serves birth through third grade and School-Age serves ages 5 to 21.

diagram of 12 partnership regions in new york state

New York State is divided into 12 Educational Partnership regions that contain two Centers each. New York City has two Centers in each of its boroughs.

Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs)

A TAP is a funded contract located within an institution of higher education that provides tools and resources for families and professionals, and provides direct support to the Regional Teams.

  • The TAP for Academics at the University at Albany, SUNY, provides instruction to Regional Teams on literacy and specially designed instruction.

  • The TAP for Behavior at the University at Albany, SUNY, provides instruction to Regional Teams on behavior theory and concepts.

  • The TAP for Equity at New York University provides instruction to Regional Teams on bilingual special education and culturally responsive-sustaining education.

  • The TAP for Data at Cornell University’s ILR School provides instruction to Regional Teams on data-based decision making.

  • The TAP for Transition at Cornell University’s ILR School provides instruction to Regional Teams on transition services.

new york state map with markers indicating TAP locations

Technical Assistance Partnerships are located at the University at Albany, SUNY, in Albany, Cornell University’s ILR School in Ithaca, and New York University in New York City.