What if all teachers knew about the Child Find mandate and how to effectively teach children potentially needing services?

At Hartwell The Educators University, all graduates receive thorough training in providing special education services.

Understanding Child Find: A Mandate for Inclusive Education

As educators, we are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have access to the support and services they need to thrive. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes a crucial mandate known as Child Find, which requires school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, even if they are not currently receiving special education services.

The primary purpose of Child Find is to uphold the IDEA’s goal of providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all children with disabilities, tailored to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living (20 U.S.C. 1400(d); Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2022).

Child Find covers all children from birth through age 21, including those who attend private or public schools, highly mobile or migrant children, homeless children, and children in foster care (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)). It applies to all children suspected of having a disability, regardless of their academic performance or advancement from grade to grade (34 CFR 300.111(c)).

To implement Child Find effectively, each state must devise practical methods to determine which children are receiving the necessary special education services and which are not. This may involve door-to-door surveys, brochure mailings, public education programs, physician referrals, and surveys of private school personnel (Akers v. Bolton, 531 F. Supp. 300 (D. Kan 1981); Luling, TX Indep. School Dist., 1975-1985 EHLR 257:417).

Once children are identified as potentially needing services, the school district must conduct all necessary evaluations at no cost to parents (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3); Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2022). This comprehensive evaluation process ensures that children receive the appropriate support and interventions to address their unique needs.

By adhering to the Child Find mandate, we can create a more inclusive and equitable educational system that recognizes and supports the diverse abilities of all learners. It is our responsibility as educators to actively identify and serve children with disabilities, empowering them to reach their full potential.

 

About Hartwell – The Educators University

Hartwell is dedicated to empowering K-12 education leaders by fostering the growth of their people into competent and compassionate educators and leaders. Our mission is to ensure every child is taught by educators trained from a biblical worldview, emphasizing both excellence and empathy. Through our affordable online pathways to education degrees, we make careers in K-12 education accessible to everyone, enabling a new generation of teachers and leaders to inspire and educate future generations.

Discover more about our programs and scholarship opportunities at Hartwell.

 

Sources

20 U.S.C. § 1400(d). (2004). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Retrieved from https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-I/1400

20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(3). (2004). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Retrieved from https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-II/1412

34 C.F.R. § 300.111(c). (2006). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Education. Retrieved from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-300.111

Akers v. Bolton, 531 F. Supp. 300 (D. Kan 1981). Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/531/300/1525980/

Luling, TX Indep. School Dist., 1975-1985 EHLR 257:417. (1985). Retrieved from https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/Akers_v_Bolton_531_F.Supp_300_D.Kan1981.pdf

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/law.index.htm