Child Find for preschoolers and private school students
By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated
Short answer
Child Find is the duty every public school system has to find and evaluate children who may have a disability, including preschoolers and children in private schools. For a private school student, the district where the school sits does the Child Find work. For a child aged 3 to 5, the local district or preschool program evaluates, often for free.
Child Find is the part of IDEA that makes public schools look for children who may need special education. It covers children who are not in public school yet, or not in public school at all.[1] That includes preschoolers, children in private or religious schools, children who are homeless and children who move often.
Your child does not have to be failing for Child Find to apply. The rule covers a child who may have a disability even if they are passing from grade to grade.[1] The Child Find entry in our glossary gives the short version.
Child Find for babies and preschoolers
Who you call depends on your child's age:
| Age | Program | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 3 | Early intervention (Part C of IDEA) | Your state's early intervention program |
| 3 to 5 | Preschool special education (Part B, section 619) | Your local school district |
| 5 and up | School-age special education | Your local school district |
For babies and toddlers, early intervention gives services to the family, often at home, under a plan called an IFSP.[4] At age 3, the school district takes over. A child moving from early intervention to preschool should have a transition plan, and the district must put the IEP in place by the third birthday if the child is eligible.[3]
For a 3 or 4 year old who was never in early intervention, call the district office and ask for the preschool special education or Child Find coordinator. The district must evaluate a child it suspects has a disability, and the evaluation is free.[5] Many states also let young children qualify under developmental delay, which is explained in developmental delay eligibility by age.
Child Find for private school students
If you chose a private school, the rules are different in two ways.
First, a different district may do the testing. Under 34 CFR 300.131, the district where the private school is located must find and evaluate private school students, not always the district where you live.[8] If you live in one town and your child goes to a private school in the next town, the second town's district handles Child Find.
Second, services are not the same as an IEP. When a parent places a child in private school, the child has no individual right to all the services they would get in public school. The district spends a set share of federal money on private school students as a group. If your child is picked for services, the district writes a services plan, which is often smaller than an IEP.[9][10]
You can also ask the district where you live to evaluate. That district is the one that must offer a full IEP and a free public education if you decide to enroll your child in public school.[2] Some families ask both districts. It is fine to ask each one which part it is responsible for.
Annotated example: a Child Find letter
Here is part of a made-up letter from a district to a private school family. The notes explain each line.
- "Received your request on October 3." Save this date. Ask the district what timeline it follows once you sign consent.
- "Within our boundaries." This district is doing the testing because of where the school is.
- "Equitable services." This means the smaller set of services for private school students as a group. It is not a full IEP.
- "Contact Lakeview School District." This is your home district. It is the one to call if you might switch to public school.
Questions to ask the team
You can say these word for word:
- "Which district is responsible for testing my child, and who is my contact person?"
- "When will I get the consent form, and how long will testing take after I sign?"
- "Will testing happen at my child's school or at a district building?"
- "If my child qualifies, what services can you offer at the private school?"
- "How is the services plan different from an IEP?"
- "If I enroll my child in public school, which district writes the IEP?"
- "For my preschooler: is there a preschool program, and where is it?"
What to do next
- Put your request in writing. Use the sample evaluation request letter and send it to the district office, not only to the private school.
- Note every date. The IEP due date calculator can count days from consent.
- For a toddler turning 3, ask the early intervention coordinator about the move from Part C to Part B at least 90 days before the birthday.[6]
- Look at what preschool goals cover. The library of preschool IEP goals and preschool readiness goals show what a plan might work on.
- Call your Parent Training and Information Center. They know your state's rules for private school students and can help you ask the right district.[7]
The whole path from request to meeting is in the IEP evaluation process.
Frequently asked questions
Does a private school have to give my child an IEP?
No. Private schools do not write IEPs under IDEA. The public district may offer a services plan at the private school. A full IEP comes from your home district if you enroll your child in public school.
Is a Child Find evaluation free?
Yes. When the public district evaluates a child under Child Find, the family does not pay for the evaluation. This is true for preschoolers and for private school students.
My child is homeschooled. Does Child Find apply?
Child Find covers all children with disabilities in the state. Whether a homeschooled child is treated like a private school student depends on state law. Ask your district or Parent Training and Information Center how your state handles it.
Use it in IEP Atlas
- Child find in the IEP glossary
- Preschool special education in the IEP glossary
- Preschool IEP goals
- Goals for the early childhood setting
- Preschool readiness goals (functional skills)
Related guides
- The IEP evaluation process: from referral to eligibility
- How to request a special education evaluation in writing (sample letter)
- Developmental delay eligibility: ages and what happens next
- Moving from early intervention to a preschool IEP
- How IEP eligibility is decided: disability plus need
- Can a school delay an evaluation for RTI?
- What to do if the school declines to evaluate
- Intellectual disability eligibility at school
Sources
- 34 CFR §300.111: Child find, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- 34 CFR §300.101: Free appropriate public education (FAPE), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.124: Transition of children from the Part C program to preschool programs, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- Part C of IDEA, Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- Part B, Section 619 of IDEA, Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- 34 CFR §303.209: Transition to preschool and other programs, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- Center for Parent Information and Resources, CPIR
- 34 CFR §300.131: Child find for parentally-placed private school children with disabilities, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.132: Provision of services for parentally-placed private school children with disabilities, basic requirement, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.137: Equitable services determined, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.