Child Find
What is Child Find?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes the Child Find mandate. Child Find requires all school districts TO identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. This obligation to identify all children who may need special education services exists even if the school is not providing special education services to the child.
The IDEA requires all States to develop and implement a practical method of determining which children with disabilities are receiving special education and related services and which children are not. (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3); Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, pages 72, 206-207).
Who is Covered by Child Find?
Schools are required to locate, identify and evaluate all children with disabilities from birth through age 21. The Child Find mandate applies to all children who reside within a State, including children who attend private schools and public schools, highly mobile children, migrant children, homeless children, and children who are wards of the state. (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3))
This includes all children who are suspected of having a disability, including children who receive passing grades and are "advancing from grade to grade." (34 CFR 300.111(c)) The law does not require children to be "labeled" or classified by their disability. (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)(B); 34 CFR 300.111(d)).
*Information contained on this page is available at: https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/child.find.mandate.htm
CHILD FIND
The Alvarado ISD provides a continuum of Special Education programs and services for eligible children 3-21 years of age.
Students with visual or auditory disabilities are provided instructional services from birth through 21 years of age.
All eligible students are provided a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
Alvarado ISD’s Child Find process seeks to locate, assess and identify all Alvarado children suspected of having a disability. The Child Find process includes populations of children not currently enrolled in the Alvarado Public Schools: preschool children (3 and 4 years of age), home schooled children, private school students, children in daycares and any child who is currently homeless and located within the Alvarado ISD boundaries.
If you know of a child who would benefit from a referral to the AISD Special Education process, please contact:
Diane Burnett
Director of Special Education
110 North Bill Jackson Drive
Alvarado, TX 76009
817-783-6812
Links
Child Find in Texas