Skip to main content

IHBACA Screening Childfind and Referral of Children

File: IHBACA

SCREENING CHILDFIND AND REFERRAL OF CHILDREN

The school system has the responsibility of identifying all children between the ages of 3 and 20 within its jurisdiction who may be students with disabilities. This identification shall be accomplished through a unit-wide screening process which is a possible indicator of special education needs. Final identification of students with disabilities and programming for such students occurs only after an appropriate evaluation and a determination by the Pupil Evaluation Team. The superintendent or his/her designee shall develop procedures in an effort to ensure that:

A. All children between the ages of 3 and 20 who reside within the school system and may be in need of special educational services are identified, located, and evaluated, whether those children live with their parents and attend any of the system's public schools, are tuitioned out to schools in other units, or are state wards, state agency clients, or institutional residents as defined by the Maine Special Education Regulations;

B. Screening and identification procedures are offered at public expense to children between the ages of 3 and 20 who reside within the school system's geographic jurisdiction and attend private school at private expense;

C. The screening and identification procedures employed comply with Maine and federal special education regulations;

D. If the screening and identification process indicated that an eligible student of school age may require special education and support services, the school system shall refer that student to the Pupil Evaluation Team to determine the student's eligibility for special education services;

E. A practical method is maintained for documenting which students are receiving needed special education and supportive services, and identifying any unmet needs;

F. The public is informed of the school system's responsibility to locate, evaluate, and identify all children with disabilities, of what services are available in the school system's special education program, and of who the contact person for the school system is;

G. Attempts are made to involve available local and regional agencies in the identification of children with unmet needs; and

H. The building administrator shall ensure that student records are screened for special education needs.

Adopted: June 8, 1992

Back to top