“Child Find” is the term used for the process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children and youth who may be in need of special education services. A referral may be made by anyone who suspects that a child has a disability or a delay in development. A student is deemed eligible for special education services if assessment results indicate the presence of a disability.

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) reauthorization states that the purpose of the law is as follows:

1. to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living;

   1. to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and parents of such children are protected;

   2. to assist States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities;

2. to assist States in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families;

3. to ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results for children with disabilities by supporting system improvement activities; coordinated research and personnel preparation; coordinated technical assistance, dissemination, and support; and technology development and media services; and

4. to assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities.

With the release of the final regulations of IDEA 2004, local education agencies are no longer required to follow the discrepancy model, but are allowed to find other ways to determine when a child needs extra help. This is being implemented throughout the country through a process called Response to Instruction and Intervention.

• IDEA Notice of Procedural Safeguards

• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA)

• Tennessee School for the Blind

• Tennessee School for the Deaf

• Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education

• Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities

David Stone, Supervisor of Special Populations (ext. 2012)

Jenna Loveday, School Psychologist

Melissa Freeman, School Psychologist

Katelyn McChesney, School Psychologist

Joel Cilio, School Psychologist

Miriam Anderson, Service Support Coordinator

Christy Fretwell, Service Support Coordinator

Jacqueline Smith, Service Support Coordinator

Cassie Bailey, Behavior Interventionist