District Newsletter: Child Find Program and Student Referrals

Under federal law, every school district is required to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may have disabilities and need special education services. This obligation is called Child Find, and it applies to children from birth through age 21, including children not yet enrolled in public school. A proactive newsletter explaining the program is one of the most important outreach tools a district has for making sure no child is missed.

Explain the Child Find Obligation Plainly

Open by explaining what Child Find is and what it means for families. The district is required by law to seek out children who may need special education services. This is not a passive process where the district only evaluates children who come to it. Families who have concerns about their child's development or learning should not wait and see. They should contact the district, because the district has both the obligation and the tools to help.

Describe Who the Program Serves

Child Find extends to all children in the district's jurisdiction, not just those already enrolled in public school. It covers children ages birth to 21. It includes children attending private schools, home schools, and children who are not yet school age. It includes children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. Being specific about who is covered removes the assumption that only public school students can access the evaluation process.

Describe Signs That May Warrant an Evaluation

Help families recognize what to look for. Speech and language delays. Difficulty learning letter sounds or reading words. Challenges with attention, staying on task, or following multi-step directions. Difficulty with coordination or fine motor tasks. Significant differences in how a child interacts socially compared to same-age peers. Academic achievement that is significantly below expectations despite effort and support. These are signs worth discussing with the school, not diagnoses.

Explain the Evaluation Process

Demystify what happens when a parent or teacher makes a referral. A written request triggers a response from the district within the state-required timeframe. The district will convene an evaluation team, which may include a psychologist, a special education teacher, the classroom teacher, and other specialists depending on the concerns. The evaluation is free to families. The team will assess the areas of concern and share findings with the family. Eligibility for special education is determined by the team as a whole.

A Sample Referral Process Description

"To request a special education evaluation for your child, send a written request to your child's school principal or directly to our Special Services office. You can also email specialservices@districtname.org or call 555-000-3456. In your request, describe the concerns you have about your child's development or learning. The district is required by law to respond within 10 business days with a written Prior Written Notice explaining whether we will or will not conduct an evaluation and why. The evaluation is at no cost to your family."

Explain Parental Rights in the Evaluation Process

Families have specific rights throughout the evaluation process. They must provide written consent before an initial evaluation can occur. They have the right to an independent educational evaluation if they disagree with the district's findings. They must consent to any initial placement in special education services. They have the right to participate in the IEP team as equal members. Describing these rights in the newsletter ensures families understand that the process is designed to include them, not to make decisions about their child without them.

Address the Early Intervention Connection

For families with children under age three, note that early intervention services are provided through a different system, the Part C program coordinated by the state. The district handles evaluations and services for children ages three through 21. For children under three, families can contact the state's early intervention program directly or through their pediatrician.

Make Outreach Easy

Close with multiple ways to make contact: the special services office phone number and email, the name of the special services director or coordinator, and the district's Child Find web page. Ask families to share this information with anyone they know who has a child with developmental or learning concerns. The more broadly the information circulates, the more children who need services will be found.