What is Child Find?
Center ISD is ready, willing and able to identify and serve all children with disabilities residing within its jurisdiction who are in need of special education and related services. The district’s child find duties also extend to students with disabilities who are placed in private schools or home schools by their parents.
Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act that requires school districts and charter schools to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities residing in the State, who are in need of Early Childhood Intervention Programs or Special Education and Related Services.
Who can begin the Child Find process?
Anyone can begin the process: a parent/guardian, doctor, teacher, relative or friend.
What services may be available through special education?
Each child’s individual needs will be addressed on an individualized basis by a team consisting of: parent(s) or guardian, campus principal, a person who can interpret evaluation data, teacher(s), and the student (if appropriate). The team will review evaluation information, discuss eligibility, identify areas of need for specialized instruction, including related services (such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, or counseling) and develop a plan to fit the needs of the child.
The term “child with a disability” means the child must meet eligibility criteria for at least one of the 13 disabilities specifically outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and, as a result of the disability, has a need for specially designed instruction that can only be provided through special education.
How much do services cost?
All services are provided at no cost to the individual or parents.
Who do I contact?
If you are concerned about a child’s learning, contact your child's school principal or CISD Department of Special Education at (936) 598-1600.
Children with Disabilities
In Texas, school district Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) provide special education and related services for eligible children with disabilities ages 3-5. PPCD refers to the services provided by the school district, not to the place where they are provided. Eligible children may receive PPCD services in a variety of settings such as pre-kindergarten, resource, and self-contained classrooms or in community settings such as Head Start and pre-school. Learn more HERE
DADS - Texas Health and Human Services
DADS offers home and community services for children with disabilities. Services may include medical care through Medicaid, attendant care in your home or modifying your home to make it easier for your child to live in. These services may be different than what is available through your local school district or other state agencies.
Early Childhood Intervention
In Texas, children between the ages of birth and 36 months can receive services from Early Childhood Intervention ("ECI") if their children need additional support to meet developmental milestones in areas such as language, motor development, adaptive behaviors such as feeding, or learning and play skills.