NC 1501-2.9 Child Find

Plain English summary

This regulation requires LEAs to maintain policies and procedures to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities aged 3-21, including those in private schools, homeless children, wards of the State, and highly mobile or migrant children. It establishes rules for use of the 'developmental delay' classification, limiting it to children aged 3-7. LEAs must respond in writing within 30 days of receiving written notification of concerns about a child, either explaining why concerns will not be pursued or scheduling a meeting to review eligibility.

Key requirements

• All children with disabilities three through 21 residing in the LEA, including children who are homeless children or are wards of the State, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated
• All children with disabilities three through 21 parentally placed in a private school located in the LEA, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated
• A practical method is developed and implemented to determine which children are currently receiving needed special education and related services
• Developmental delay applies to children in North Carolina aged three through seven
• An LEA is not required to adopt and use the term developmental delay for children within its jurisdiction
• If an LEA uses the term developmental delay, it may be applied only to children aged three through seven
• Child find must also include children who are suspected of being a child with a disability and in need of special education, even though they are advancing from grade to grade
• Child find must also include highly mobile children, including migrant children
• Within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notification of concerns regarding a child, the LEA shall issue a written response to the child's parent
• The response shall include either an explanation of reasons the LEA will not pursue the concerns or a date for a meeting in which the LEA and parent will review existing data and determine whether a referral for consideration of eligibility for special education is necessary
• Such meeting must be held within a reasonable time

Affected parties

• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
• Children with disabilities aged 3-21
• Homeless children
• Wards of the State
• Children parentally placed in private schools
• Highly mobile and migrant children
• Children suspected of having a disability
• Parents of children with potential disabilities
• Special education staff

Official source

https://www.dpi.nc.gov/documents/publications/catalog/ec144-policies-governing-services/open#page=26