Child Find:
Child Find is the process of locating, identifying and evaluating all students 3 years of age, but less than 22 years of age, who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. MSD Wayne Township provides a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to any child who qualifies as having a disability, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Indiana’s Article 7.
MSD Wayne Township is responsible for locating all children ages 3, but less than 22 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the district.
After receiving a referral for a suspected disability from a parent or school personnel, a team of qualified professionals reviews all available information, including input from the parents and interventions implemented, to determine if a child who is having academic, behavioral, communication, or health problems is suspected of having a disability. Within 10 school days of a parent request, the school must provide the parent written notice responding to the request. If the school agrees to evaluate the student, the parent must provide written consent before the evaluation may begin. Once consent is received by school personnel, the school will evaluate him or her at no cost to the parent within 50 school days.
Children who are identified as having a disability are eligible to receive special education and related services, at no cost to the parent.
What to Do if You Suspect A Disability
If your child is age 2-1/2 through 21, attends any school within the MSD Wayne Township boundaries or you live in our community and you suspect your child may have a disability, you should contact us for more information.
School-Aged Child
Any individual (ie: parent, teacher, principal) suspecting that a child has a disability that could possibly require special education services, should contact their child’s teacher, school counselor or building principal to discuss options. The school may suggest:
- providing additional support in the classroom prior to a referral to special education.
- reviewing your child’s school performance with the school’s general education intervention team or building based support team.
- investigating your child’s eligibility for a 504 plan.
- referring your child for a special education evaluation.
Every effort will be made to assist the child at the building level prior to the school initiating a referral. If strategies fail, the school will seek permission for testing from the parent. If, at any time before, during, or after one or more of the above options are implemented, the parent may request an evaluation to determine whether their child may be eligible for special education services. This request should be clearly communicated to the child’s teacher, school counselor or building principal.
Preschool-Aged Child
If the child is preschool age (3-5 years of age) and you suspect he/she may have developmental delays, please contact the Wayne Township Preschool at (317)
