Child Find | Search and Serve

“Child Find” will shed light and clarify the most foundational educational legal requirement in American law.

Child Find (Search and Serve): The requirement that places an affirmative duty on local educational agencies (LEAs) and intermediate educational units (IEUs) to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities within their jurisdictions 3-22. Each statewide system of early intervention services must include a comprehensive child find system that guarantees that infants and toddlers (0-2.11) who are eligible for services are identified, located, and evaluated. A requirement similar to that of the IDEA applying to school districts under Section 504 requires districts to annually “undertake to identify and locate every qualified individual with a disability residing in the district’s jurisdiction who is not receiving a public education.”

Child Find -is one of the key principles of the law called the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) – appropriate evaluation in order to "find" children who may need special education. Also, in my humble opinion protection for every American child especially within the pandemic time where we see a collective shift in change in how children are learning and the increasing deficits in obtaining appropriate educational opportunities.

Child Find is a legal requirement that schools find all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services. Child Find covers every child from birth through age 21. The school must evaluate any child that it knows or suspects may have a disability.

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) 2004 that requires States and Local Education Agencies (school districts and charter schools) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities residing in the State, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services (34 CFR§ 300.111). Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening, and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and evaluate children with disabilities who are in need of Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Programs (Part C) or Special Education and Related Services (Part B).

For more information please review Trillium Consultancy general resource guidance "Child Find" and review 34 CFR§ 300.111 Federal Legislation Sec. 300.111 Child find

Downloads

• Child Find
• The Parental Advocate Strategist Episode 1 Child Find
• Child Find | Introduction (Video Transcript)

Lesson Activity

Child Find is a legal requirement that schools find all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services. (34 CFR§ 300.111) Under federal law "Child Find" covers every child from birth through age 22. The school must evaluate any child that it knows or suspects may have a disability.

Child Find is a foundation of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). IDEA Child Find requires every state to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, from birth to their 22nd birthday, who need Early Intervention or Special Education and related services.  

IDEA requires under "Child Find" evaluation regardless of the severity of the child's disability, whether the child attends private or public school, or if a child is experiencing homelessness.

For more information please review Trillium Consultancy general resource guidance "Child Find" and review 34 CFR§ 300.111 Federal Legislation Sec. 300.111 Child find

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/parentaladvocatestrategy/episodes/Child-Find--SPEC-EDition-eoko2t/a-a494kp1

Video Available March 1, 2021

Advancing Advocacy "Child Find" Topics

Child Find

Pre-referral and SST Process

Pyramid of intervention

  Universal Design  Linguistically and culturally responsive instruction  Bypassing SST Process  Services Three to Twenty-one  Preschool Transition and Birth to Three  Private, Charter, and Home Schools  Mobile and Migrant Children  Incarcerated Youth Provisions that apply to each area of Child Find: Procedural safeguards and consents o Accessibility of notice and information Confidentiality of records Supports and interventions  Positive behavioral supports  Vision and hearing screening/testing  Resolution of vision & hearing issues Timelines Parent/guardian participation Progress monitoring Public notice of Child Find