Child Find
What is Child Find?
Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires school districts to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 who need early intervention services or special education services. It is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screenings, and evaluations to locate, identify, and refer children as early as possible.
How does Child Find work?
The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate those who need special education and related services. A team of school personnel that provides behavioral, social, emotional, academic, and attendance support for a student will determine what resources are needed in order for a student to be successful in the learning environment. A student referred for an intervention is not necessarily being referred for special education. However, this team of personnel may function as an intermediate step between recognition of a problem and formal referral of the student for a comprehensive evaluation.
All children grow and develop at different rates. A problem in one or two of the skill areas may not be serious, but it is important to be certain. The sooner the delay in development is discovered the sooner help can be offered. It is imperative that children receive the necessary assistance at the earliest possible date. Early intervention yields the most positive outcomes. Screening is the first step in identifying children who may need special services.
Have you seen any of the following red flags?
If you are concerned about a child's development, the sooner the delay is discovered, the sooner help can be offered. Voicing your concern is the first step to identifying children who may be in need of intervention. All children grow and develop at different rates. Here is a list of characteristics that may suggest further testing is needed.
Academics
- Grades dropping
- Progress monitoring data ashows little or no progress
- Student has a 504 plan, but benefit is minimal
Social Emotional
- Symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
- Trouble focusing that interferes with performance
- Medical professional, therapist, or agency indicates that student needs service
Behaviors
- Increasing number of discipline referrals
- Expulsions from school
- Discipline referrals for aggression or disruptive behaviors
Attendance
- Excessive absence of skipping class
- Chronic illnesses that prevent school attendance