Child Find

"Child Find" is a legal requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that mandates schools to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, from birth to age 21, who are in need of early intervention or special education services. This includes children who are:

  • Attending public or private schools
  • Homeschooled
  • Highly mobile, such as migrant and homeless children
  • Wards of the state
  • Suspected of having a disability even though they are advancing from grade to grade

The goal of Child Find is to ensure that children with disabilities are identified and receive appropriate educational services.

Eligibility Process

Any student is eligible for special education services when identified within one of the categories of disability as defined under state and federal definitions. This determination is made by qualified professionals.

Eligibility Classifications

The categories of disability which must be met for students to qualify for special education include:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Cognitive Disability
  • Deaf-Blindness
  • Developmental Delay
  • Emotional Disability
  • Hearing Impairment, including Deafness
  • Multiple Disabilities
  • Orthopedic Impairment
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Specific Learning Disability
  • Speech or Language Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment, including Blindness

What Happens in the Evaluation Process?

1. Referral and Initial Review:

  • Every school has a Building Intervention Team (BIT) that processes referrals from parents, staff, or other concerned parties for students experiencing educational difficulties.

  • The BIT reviews information and designs appropriate interventions to assist staff in providing alternatives.

2. Pre-Referral Team Involvement:

  • If these interventions are unsuccessful, the BIT refers students to the Pre-Referral Team for further evaluations.

  • With written consent from the parent/legal guardian, the Pre-Referral Team conducts an assessment that includes teacher and parent/legal guardian interviews, testing, and classroom observations.

  • The Pre-Referral Team consists of individuals knowledgeable in the suspected disability area and persons familiar with the student’s background.

3. Evaluation and Eligibility Determination:

  • The purpose of the Pre-Referral Team is to determine if the student is eligible under one of the existing disabilities.

  • The results of the evaluation are provided to the Individual Education Plan Team (IEP Team), who reviews the information with the parent/legal guardian.

  • If the IEP Team determines the student is eligible, special education and related services may be initiated to provide appropriate educational services.

Key Steps

Here are the key steps involved in the Child Find process:

  1. Identification: Schools use various methods to identify children who may have disabilities. This can include screenings, referrals from parents or teachers, and regular education interventions.

  2. Evaluation: Once a child is identified as potentially having a disability, a comprehensive evaluation is conducted to determine the child's eligibility for special education services. This evaluation must be thorough and conducted by a team of professionals.

  3. Eligibility Determination: Based on the evaluation, a team of professionals, including the child's parents, determines whether the child is eligible for special education services under IDEA.

  4. Provision of Services: If the child is found eligible, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed, outlining the special education and related services the child will receive.

Parents or guardians who suspect their child may have a disability can initiate the Child Find process by contacting their local school district or early intervention program.

If you would like more detailed information on any specific aspect of Child Find, please contact 307-771-2174.