Child Find

What is Child Find?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all states to implement a policy to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities.  This includes all school districts. One method of locating and identifying children with a suspected disability is the Child Find program.

The Child Find Program requires all school districts in California to locate, identify, and evaluate children with a suspected disability, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, from birth to 21 years of age, inclusive, children not enrolled in public school programs, homeless children or who are wards of the state, children attending private, including private religious, elementary schools, and migrant children. (See 20 USC § 1412 (a)(3).) Those who are in need of special education and related services, shall be identified, located, assessed, and if eligible, offered FAPE. 

The Referral Process

If your child is not in a special education program and you suspect there is a disability, please contact your child’s teacher or your local school to discuss your concerns. A student may be referred by parents, Student Study Teams, teachers, and other school staff members, doctors, agency staff, or anyone else, including the student. As a result of this discussion, your child may be referred to a Student Study Team (S.S.T.) for additional review. The S.S.T. is represented by both general education and special education staff members who review student progress and suggest interventions and strategies to assist students within the general education program. It is highly recommended that the S.S.T. meet to review a student’s progress prior to developing an assessment plan for suspected disabilities.

When a referral for a special education assessment is recommended, you will meet with one or more members of the special education team at a local school to develop an assessment plan. You must receive a written notice from your school asking for your written, informed consent before any assessment begins, even if you have made a verbal request for an assessment. A copy of the parent’s rights will be included in the assessment plan. The assessment must be completed and a placement meeting conducted within 60 calendar days of the date of receipt of your written consent for assessment.

Early Childhood and Preschool Age Referrals

Early Childhood

If your child is under 2 years 10 months of age, please contact the Regional Center for an intake interview.  

Preschool Age

If your child is preschool aged (starting at 2 years 10 months), contact Early Childhood Special Education TOSA at 562-210-4242 or ECESpecialEd@nlmusd.k12.ca.us to review the intake process and or review preschool programming.

Private School Referrals

Referrals for Students Not Currently Attending a Public School.

Children with suspected disabilities may be referred for Special Education assessment even if they are not currently enrolled in a public school.  If you are concerned that your child may have a disability that could negatively impact his or her educational progress, you are encouraged to contact the appropriate office as listed below.

• If you live in the NLMUSD attendance boundaries, contact the Special Education Office at (562) 210-2402.
• If your child attends a private school within NLMUSD boundaries AND you live in a district other than NLMUSD, please contact your home school in your District of Residence. 

In order to start the referral process you will be asked for basic demographic information that is typical for enrolling in any school program.  You will also be asked for a copy of your child's birth certificate and proof of residency (a utility bill, rental agreement or proof of purchase) to determine residency.