SETSS
Certified special-education teachers for SETSS mandates.
If SETSS is on the plan, your child is entitled to it
Eligibility for SETSS is determined by the IEP or IESP, not by us. When the plan mandates it, we work within that framework to fill it with a qualified, background-checked provider.
When SETSS is mandated and DOE-authorized, families pay nothing.
SETSS is a publicly funded service. When it is mandated on a student’s plan and authorized by the DOE, there is no cost to the family. We coordinate within that framework so families aren’t out of pocket for a service their child is entitled to.
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Students we support
Our certified special-education teachers support students across the full range of disability categories, in the least restrictive setting, with the aim of building independence and steady academic progress.
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities
- Emotional & behavioral disorders
- Multiple disabilities
Four areas of targeted instruction
Instruction is matched to the goals in the student’s plan and monitored with regular data collection and progress reports.
Academic skills
Reading, writing, mathematics, and subject-area support tied to grade-level standards.
Life skills
Daily living, self-care, and community participation that build everyday independence.
Social skills
Communication, peer interaction, and emotional regulation across school settings.
Executive functioning
Organization, planning, and problem-solving: the skills that support independent learning.
How SETSS gets authorized, and who pays
SETSS is publicly funded. Here is what each authorization term means. Under every one of them, the family pays nothing.
IEP & IESP mandates
For a public-school student, SETSS is written into the IEP and delivered by the district. For a student in a private or parochial school, the same service is written into an IESP and delivered at their own school, publicly funded either way.
RSA & P-3 / P-4 letters
When the DOE can't provide a mandated service directly, it issues a Related Service Authorization (often a P-3 or P-4 letter) that lets the family secure a certified provider from an approved independent agency at no cost.
Enhanced-rate SETSS
When a mandate can't be filled at the standard rate, the DOE may authorize SETSS at an enhanced rate so a family can still secure a provider. The provider bills the DOE at the authorized rate; the family pays nothing.
How the provider gets paid
Against whichever authorization applies (an IEP/IESP mandate, an RSA/P-3 letter, or an enhanced-rate letter), the provider or our agency documents the sessions and bills the DOE directly at the authorized rate. The family signs off on attendance, not an invoice. You are never asked to pay up front and wait for a reimbursement.
Ratio, setting, and schedule
The IEP or IESP determines how the service is delivered. We deliver what it specifies and match the provider to the setting the family needs.
One-on-one or small group
The IEP or IESP sets the ratio. SETSS can be direct one-on-one instruction or delivered in a small group, push-in to the classroom or pull-out to a separate space.
School-day or after-school
SETSS is often delivered during the school day, but it can also run after school or at home when that's what's authorized and what works for the student and family.
Public, private & parochial
Public-school students receive SETSS on their IEP; nonpublic-school students receive it on an IESP, delivered at their own school. The IESP population is a core part of who we serve.
From authorization to first session
Pick any part of the sentence to see the detail.
Whether it's an IEP, an IESP, or an RSA / enhanced-rate letter, we work from what's authorized (the frequency, the ratio, and the goals), so everything we deliver stays within the DOE authorization.
- The source: an IEP, an IESP, or an RSA / enhanced-rate letter
- How many sessions
- One-on-one or small group
- The goals the instruction works toward
From our network of NY State–certified special-education teachers, we match a provider to the mandate, the student's grade and subject needs, and the setting: public school, private or parochial, or home.
One-on-one or small group, push-in or pull-out, during the school day or after, as the plan specifies. Instruction is adapted to the student's goals.
Every session is documented against the mandate, and the provider or agency bills the DOE directly, so the record is audit-ready and the family is never out of pocket.
- Every session is documented against the mandate
- The provider or agency bills the DOE directly
- The family pays nothing out of pocket
What families and schools ask
What is SETSS?
Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS) is individualized instruction and support delivered by a certified special-education teacher to a student with an IEP or IESP. It can take place in a small group or one-on-one, in the classroom or at an agreed location, and is designed to help a student access the general curriculum.
Who is eligible for SETSS?
Eligibility is determined by the student's IEP or IESP. When SETSS is written into the plan as a mandated service, the student is entitled to it. We work from the mandate. We don't make eligibility determinations, but we make sure an authorized mandate gets filled.
Does SETSS cost families anything?
When SETSS is mandated on a student's plan and authorized by the DOE, there is no cost to the family. It is a publicly funded service. We coordinate directly within that framework so families aren't out of pocket for a service their child is entitled to.
How quickly can a SETSS provider start?
Once the mandate and paperwork are confirmed, we match from our network of certified special-education teachers. Timelines vary by borough and caseload, but our coordination team treats unserved mandates with urgency and responds to every inquiry within 24 hours.
What are the providers' qualifications?
SETSS is delivered by New York State–certified special-education teachers, credentialed for the service and cleared to work with children before a first session. Our coordination team supports them throughout the engagement.
What is enhanced-rate SETSS?
When the DOE can't fill a SETSS mandate at the standard rate, it may authorize the service at an enhanced rate, issuing a letter that lets the family secure a certified provider from an approved independent agency. The provider bills the DOE at the authorized rate, and the family still pays nothing. It exists so a mandate is not left unfilled when no provider is available at the standard rate.
What are P-3 and P-4 letters, and how do RSA vouchers work?
When the DOE can't provide a mandated service directly, it issues a Related Service Authorization (RSA), often handled through a P-3 or P-4 letter, that authorizes the family to obtain the service from an approved independent provider at no cost. We accept these authorizations, match a certified special-education teacher, and bill the DOE directly against the letter so you're never out of pocket.
Is SETSS one-on-one or in a group?
Either: the IEP or IESP specifies the ratio. SETSS can be delivered one-on-one (direct) or in a small group, in the classroom (push-in) or in a separate space (pull-out). We match the provider and adapt instruction to the ratio and setting the plan calls for.
My child attends a private or parochial school. Can they get SETSS?
Yes. Parents of students in nonpublic schools can request an IESP (Individualized Education Services Program), which authorizes publicly funded SETSS that can be delivered at the child's own school. Serving IESP students is a core part of our work. Your child can stay at their school and still receive the special-education support they are entitled to.
Does SETSS happen during the school day or after school?
Both are possible, depending on the authorization. SETSS is often delivered during the school day (push-in or pull-out), but it can also be provided after school or at home when that's what's authorized and what works for the student. We match the provider to the timing the plan and family need.
Are you a certified special-education teacher? See open SETSS roles or call (718) 540-8268.
If SETSS is on the plan but has not started
- We got a P3 or P4 letter and I don't know what it lets us do.
- NYC Public Schools calls its SETSS voucher a P4, and many schools and advocates still say P3. It means no teacher was available, and it lets you choose an independent certified teacher at no cost to you. Bring the letter when you call and we will walk through the hours and group size it authorizes.
- Every teacher I call is full, or charges more than the city pays.
- Keep a simple list of who you called and what they said. For a child with an IESP, NYC Public Schools has an Equitable Services Request Form to ask for help finding a provider or for an enhanced rate. If an enhanced rate is authorized, our teacher bills the DOE at that rate, not you.
- My child is in a private school and I'm not sure we did the yearly paperwork.
- Families in nonpublic schools send their Committee on Special Education a written request for services by June 1 each year, even when the IESP is still in effect. Your CSE can confirm whether yours was received. Once the plan is active, we work from it and teach at your child's own school.
- Your child's current IEP or IESP
- The P3 or P4 letter, or any enhanced-rate approval
- School name, grade and borough
- Hours per week and group size on the plan
- Days and times that work for your child
You can call without all of these. We will work out the rest with you.
Request a teacher for an unfilled SETSS mandate.
Tell us the borough and the mandate. Our coordination team prioritizes unserved mandates and responds within 24 hours.
