Child Find and the Affirmative Obligations of Schools

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures all children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education. One of the key components of IDEA is the Child Find mandate, which requires schools to actively identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities who may need special education services. This mandate places affirmative obligations on schools to proactively seek out and identify students who may be in need of special education services.

So, parents, this means it is not all up to you.  We see so many students who are not qualified in a timely manner and many parents who feel intense guilt that they didn’t understand what they thought they were supposed to ask for and when. As parents most of us aren’t trained to recognize specific learning disabilities, processing speed challenges, auditory processing disorder or central auditory processing disorder, or many other “hidden” disabilities. Often this manifest with academic, behavioral, or functional struggles for a child.  This is an affirmative application on the schools – not on you.

Schools must take a proactive approach to identifying students with disabilities, including conducting outreach activities, and publicizing the availability of special education services. Schools must also ensure that students with disabilities are identified and evaluated in a timely manner, regardless of the severity of the disability. This includes providing appropriate assessments and evaluations to identify any disabilities that may be impacting a student’s educational performance.

If a parent suspects their child has a disability, it is important to ask for an evaluation of your child across their areas of suspected need. The school district will then conduct an evaluation to determine if the child has a disability and if they qualify for special education services. During the evaluation process, the school district will gather information from the parent, the child, and other professionals, such as doctors or therapists.

Special education services can help children with disabilities, from ADHD to processing issues to specific learning disabilities to autism, reach their full potential and ensure their success in school and beyond. Once the evaluation is complete, your school district will determine if the child is eligible for special education services. If your child is eligible, the school district will work the parents to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines the services and supports the child will receive. The IEP will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure the child is receiving the best possible services.