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Child Find/Evaluation

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Federal, state, and local regulations require all Illinois schools to conduct annual child find activities. Child Find is the process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with suspected disabilities who may need special education and related services. 

Indian Prairie District 204 is committed to locating and evaluating all children, ages three through twenty-one, who live within the district and have a suspected disability. 

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a student must meet the criteria for one of the disabilities listed below. That disability must have an adverse impact on their ability to access and make progress within the general education curriculum. 

Children age 3-5 with a documented delay in one of the following areas: 

Children age 6-21  meet the criteria in one of following categories: 
  • Communication
  • Vision 
  • Hearing 
  • Motor Skills 
  • Social Emotional/Behavioral Functioning
  • Self-Help skills o Cognitive Skills 
  • Autism
  • Deaf-Blindness 
  • Developmental Delay (6-9)
  • Emotional Disability   
  • Hearing Impairment 
  • Intellectual Disability 
  • Multiple Disabilities 
  • Orthopedic Impairment 
  • Other Health Impairment 
  • Specific Learning Disability 
  • Speech and Language Impairment 
  • Traumatic Brain Injury 
  • Vision Impairment 


If the student is determined to be eligible for special education, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed and reviewed annually. Eligibility for special education services is reevaluated every three years.

Requesting an Evaluation 

Preschool Students 

Students ages 3-5 who live within the district boundaries may participate in a developmental screening at Prairie Children Preschool.  This screening will determine whether the child is meeting developmental milestones in speech and language, academic readiness, social-emotional readiness, and motor skills.  If difficulties are detected, an evaluation for special education services may be initiated. 

To schedule a developmental screening, please contact the Prairie Children Preschool at or visit the school website. 

School Age Students 

Students who are currently enrolled in grades K-12 and attending a school within the district boundaries (including private and homeschooled students) may be referred for an evaluation by their parents or the school team. 

To refer a child for a special education evaluation, submit a letter to the school principal identifying the areas of concern.  Students who are homeschooled may direct the letter to James Ferguson, Director of Student Services. A written response will be provided within 14 school days.

To determine whether a child requires an evaluation, IPSD may use screening data and conduct preliminary procedures, such as observations, assessments for instructional purposes, consultation with the teacher or other individual making the request, and a conference with the child. IPSD will not deny a parent's request for an evaluation solely because their child has not participated in or is currently participating in a process to determine how they responded to research-based interventions. 

Children Birth to Three 

Families should contact the Child and Family Connections within the County where they reside. 

Contact the Student Services Department (630-375-3060) if you have questions or need assistance making a referral for special education services. 

 

Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 

Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an Individualized Education Program(IEP), as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and implementing provisions of the School Code, may qualify for services under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child (a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (b) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (c) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.

In addition and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disability Act Amendment of 2008, Indian Prairie School District is participating in Child Find efforts to locate, evaluate and identify all children who have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, who may, because of disability need or is believed to need special services or accommodations/modifications. 

If you suspect that a child may be eligible for reasonable accommodations under Section 504, please contact your building principal.