Child Find
Children With Disabilities May Qualify For Services
If you suspect an infant, child or young adult of having a developmental delay or disability, your school district can open a window of hope for a brighter future.
What is Child Find?
Child Find is a process designed to identify, locate, and evaluate individuals (birth through 21 years of age) with disabilities who may need special education and related services.
Are there any costs involved?
No, Gregory-Portland ISD provides free evaluations and appropriate educational programs and related services for student with disabilities.
Referral for an Initial Evaluation
A school has a duty to make a referral for an initial evaluation for special education services any time it suspects that a child has a disability and a need for special education services under IDEA. You may also initiate a referral for an initial evaluation of your child at any time.
If you make a written request to a local educational agency’s director of special education services or to a district administrative employee for an initial evaluation for special education services, the school must, not later than the 15th school day after the date the school receives the request, either give you: 1) prior written notice of its proposal to conduct an evaluation, a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards, and the opportunity to give written consent for the evaluation; or 2) prior written notice of its refusal to evaluate your child and a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards.
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can start the process: A parent, doctor, teacher, child care provider, relative, friend, or others who are concerned about a child’s development may call their local school district Child Find contact or their regional Education Service Center, 361.561.8538 or 1.800.221.8757.
Who to contact?
For children from birth to 3 years of age who have or might have disabilities or developmental delays, contact ECI – Infant Development Program at (361) 661-1192 for information.
For children 3 to 5 years of age who have or might have disabilities and are not enrolled in the public school contact, Gregory-Portland ISD Special Education Department at (361) 777-1091 or the campus the student will attend when school age for additional information.
For children that are attending Gregory-Portland ISD who have or might have disabilities, contact the child’s principal or counselor and request a meeting.
For children that live in Gregory-Portland ISD and attend a private school outside of the Gregory-Portland ISD boundaries or for children that attend a private school located within the Gregory-Portland ISD boundaries, contact Gregory-Portland ISD Special Education Department at (361) 777-1091 or the campus that the student would attend if enrolled at G-PISD for additional information.
Do You Know the Typical Developmental Stages of a Child?
Things to look for:
At 3 months, a child typically:
o Follows objects with eyes
o Responds to loud sounds
o Smiles
o Makes cooing sounds
At 6 months, a child typically:
o Knows familiar faces
o Plays with toes
o Babbles
o Sits with support
At 12 months, a child typically:
o Pulls to a standing position
o Crawls on hands and knees
o Places toys in container
o Says one or two words
At 18 months, a child typically:
o Pulls off shoes and socks
o Stacks blocks
o Turns the pages of a book
o Walks without help
o Follow simple directions
At 2 years, a child typically:
o Says sentences
o Recognizes pictures
o Plays alone
o Runs
o Identifies parts of a face
o Uses two word utterances
At 3 years, a child typically:
o Rides a tricycle
o Opens doors
o Is toilet trained
o Hops on one foot
o Plays with other children
o Uses three word utterances