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What is Child Find?

" Each local school division shall maintain an active and continuing child find program designed to identify, locate and evaluate those children residing in the jurisdiction who are birth to age 21, inclusive, who are in need of special education and related services, including children who: (34 CFR 300.102 and 34 CFR 300.111)"

Children with suspected delays in the areas of cognition, communication, hearing, vision, social-emotional skills, behavior concerns and/or motor skills, can be referred to the PreK Intake Team which operates as our Child Find entity. Children must be age 2 by September 30 and reside in Albemarle County. Once a referral is received by the Intake Team,  a meeting will be scheduled with the family. This is an opportunity for our team to learn more about any developmental concerns regarding your child and discuss areas of strengths and needs. Please contact the PreK Intake Team to schedule a Referral Meeting by calling 434-975-9366 or emailing Julia Petro at jpetro2@k12albmarle.org. 

 

Referrals:

Parents or other sources representing a parent who have concerns about a child's development or ability to learn may contact the PreK Intake Team, or Central Office to make a referral. Parents will be asked to provide preliminary registration information about their child at this time (Full name, Date of Birth, Race/Ethnicity and Address). A meeting will be held within 10 business days of your request. The referral meeting will be an opportunity to discuss developmental milestones, strategies that could support your child and any areas of concern. At the end of the meeting, the team (including parents) will make a decision as to whether an educational disability is suspected, and if evaluations are required.  

Evaluation:

Evaluations are completed in order to learn more about your child’s current level of performance in multiple areas of development. Information gathered through the assessments will help you and the  team determine if your child has an educational disability. Evaluations can only occur when the parent or legal guardian provides written consent.

A team of specialists will conduct the evaluations and assess your child’s development. Team members could include: A special education teacher, speech and language pathologist, school psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, hearing specialist, and/or vision specialist depending on the areas of concern outlined during the Referral meeting.

Evaluations are used for the purpose of gaining information about development in the following areas:

  • Communication: How does your child understand and use verbal and nonverbal language?
  • Motor: How does your child use his or her large and/or small muscles to access their educational setting (which can include the home)?
  • Cognitive: How does your child learn about their world and engage in problem-solving?
  • Social/Emotional: How a child relates to adults and peers. How does your child exhibit attention, behavior and emotions?
  • Adaptive:: How does your child independently take care of daily needs?

Team members will gather information about your child’s development that may include the following:

  • Asking you questions about your child’s medical, social, and family history
  • Assessing your child’s skills, by engaging them in play based activities such as assembling puzzles
  • Observing how your child communicates, engages with and plays with others during the assessment and at school, if attending one
  • Gaining information from parent and teacher feedback through questionnaires

 

Eligibility:

This meeting will occur within 55-business days of your Referral meeting, after evaluations have taken place. The purpose of this meeting is to: A. Determine if your child meets the criteria for an educational disability (possible disability categories can be found here) B. Decide if that disability is having an educational impact on your child and C. Confirm the requirement for specialized instruction. If a child is found eligible for services, the next step is to schedule an IEP meeting within 30 calendar days. A student can only be found eligible for special education services if the parent consents to this decision in writing.

Individual Education Program (IEP) 

An IEP is an plan designed to address a child's educational needs. At an IEP meeting, the team will propose educational goals that target areas of delay. Services will be proposed that provide students with specialized instruction. Placement will outline where services will take place within our public school system. 

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Programs in Albemarle County Public Schools

Preschoolers who are identified for special education have services and placements available to them from a continuum of options. The IEP team determines the services and type of placement that will be provided to meet the student's educational needs. Early Childhood Special Education services are provided in the community and in some elementary schools. Examples of placement options are listed below.

ACPS PreK, General Education and Community-Based Services

Community-Based Services are delivered at existing preschool programs, in which students are served by an itinerant ECSE teacher. Itinerant teachers provide a consultative level of support to general education teachers both within our public school system, and in our community. Services are provided using this model when it is within the student's best interest to remain in their existing PreK setting but with the added support of a special educator. 

Classes

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Classes

ECSE classes provide specialized instruction for six to eight students with disabilities who receive services in one classroom. This classroom may also have non disabled peers who model age appropriate language and social skills. Center-Based programs are located at the following schools:

  • Baker-Butler Elementary School
  • Broadus Wood Elementary School
  • Brownsville Elementary School
  • Greer Elementary School* Students must be 4 by September 30th for this program
  • Hollymead Elementary School
  • Mountain View Elementary School
  • Stone Robinson Elementary School
  • Stony Point Elementary School

For students who have behaviors related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, who are in need of significant adult support to facilitate communication and target developmental skills, there are Autism ECSE programs within our county that offer more intensive programming. These classes are located at: 

  • Agnor Elementary School
  • Broadus Wood Elementary School
  • Stone Robinson Elementary School

Ashley Struzik
Director of Special Education

Julia Petro
Special Education Coordinator, Early Childhood Special Education

Albemarle County Public Schools
Phone: 434-296-5885
401 McIntire Road, 3rd Floor
Charlottesville, VA 22902