Child Find

WHAT IS CHILD FIND?

The identification, location and evaluation of all children with a disability residing in the Town of Ledyard, whether or not they attend public school.

WHAT GROUPS OF CHILDREN MUST SPECIFICALLY BE FOUND?

Any child residing within the District who is suspected of having a disability including children who are:

• Preschool age - Age three to five years (Birth to three years are located and identified by the State of CT Birth-to-Three System)

• Private School attendees - Children enrolled in private or parochial schools by their parents

• Highly mobile

• Homeless

• Migrant or immigrant families

PRESCHOOL

Our early childhood program includes a coordinator, two certified teachers, a speech/language pathologist and a school psychologist.

In addition to general procedures, children at the preschool age level are identified by:

• Transition from the Birth-to-Three System

• Preschool screening flyers posted in District schools, Town Hall, Town Nursing Office, Libraries, Daycare Centers/Nursery schools, and sent home with students

• Notices sent to local businesses and doctor's offices

Screening for preschool identification and further evaluation is provided yearly in October & May as a result of the flyers.

Ongoing screenings are available throughout the year based on children's needs.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Ledyard has an obligation to identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities who are enrolled in private or parochial schools.

Through efforts of the District Special Education Consultant and District PreK-12 School Psychologist, the following procedures are used:

• Annual calls and visits to all area private and parochial schools

• Annual notices sent to private and parochial schools for identification

• Consultations with private school staff and parents who have expressed concerns about a child

• Observations, strategy interventions, evaluations and identification of any child suspected of having a disability

• Ongoing workshops for staff and parents on special education identification procedures, strategies and specific disabilities

GENERAL PROCEDURES

Ledyard Public Schools uses the following procedures to notify our community of the District's Child Find services and programs:

• Postings on Public Access television

• Advertisements in local newspapers, school newsletters, cable television, and local radio stations

• Postings on the District website

• Ongoing contact with representatives of local and statewide agencies and groups including:

- Department of Children and Families

- Ledyard Public Health Nursing

- Ledyard Youth Services

- Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

- Naval Submarine Base - New London

- Nursery Schools & Day Care Centers

- State of CT Birth-to-Three System

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Child Find Coordinator
Trudy Carpenter, Ed.D.
Director of Special Services
(860) 464-8776

Early Childhood Coordinator
Cyndi Whipple
Gallup Hill School
(860) 572-0259

Private School Liaisons
Holly Ryan
Special Education Consultant
(860)464-3192

7/2007