What is Project Child Find?

 Child Find is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that mandates States to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities from birth to age 21 and who are in need of special education and related services. Each State must offer Early Intervention Services for infants and toddlers with disabilities AND the provisions of a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to children ages 3 to 21 determined eligible for special education and related services.

To whom does Child Find apply? 

Child Find applies to children with behavioral, developmental, physical, cognitive, emotional, learning disabilities, speech/language, and multiple disabilities, including children with vision, hearing, and medical impairments. 

Child Find includes children who are: 

Infants, toddlers, and young children who are not yet school-aged.

• Enrolled in charter or traditional public schools 

• Enrolled in private and home schools 

• Advancing from grade to grade 

• Highly mobile, such as migrant and/or homeless students 

• In foster care, unaccompanied youth or wards of the state 

• English learners 

• Living in nursing homes or correctional facilities 

What does Child Find require? 

The Child Find program requires a partnership among early intervention providers, public schools, the medical community and other agencies providing services to children. These agencies include health departments, social service agencies, area services for the blind and deaf, childcare programs, developmental day centers, Head Start programs and private schools. Major components of this effort include a public awareness program, a central directory of resources, and a comprehensive child find system. 

Who is responsible? 

The North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (ITP) is responsible for locating, identifying and evaluating children from birth to age 3 who are in need of early intervention services. Each NC PSU must have in effect policies and procedures that ensure that: 

• All children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 residing in the PSU, including children who are homeless children and/or are wards of the State, regardless of the severity of their disability, and in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated; and 

• All children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 parentally placed in a private school located in the PSU, and in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated. This does not prohibit the parent from requesting an evaluation from the PSU of residency. 

Who can make a referral? 

When a member of the school staff or a parent suspects that a child has a disability, they shall submit a written referral for evaluations to the principal of the school, the child’s teacher or other school professional, or the Superintendent or other appointed official. For preschool children, the referral may also be submitted to personnel responsible for preschool services for children with disabilities. If you know a child or youth who is suspected to have a disability and is not receiving any specialized services, you can encourage their family to submit a written referral to: 

• The North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (ITP) for children ages birth to 3; or 

• Their public school unit (PSU) for children ages 3 to 21

For further information regarding Child Find or if you suspect your child may have a disability and need special education and/or related services, please contact Rachel Hurt, EC Director, at (919) 774-6226 ext. 7244 rhurt@lee.k12.nc.us or Jane Patterson, Program Specialist, at (919) 774-6226 ext. 7210.

Informational Links

Child Find from NC Department of Public Instruction

Child Find Poster

Click here for the Office of Early Learning

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-Part B, Public Law 108.446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Lee County Schools proposes for Federal funding for the 2025-2026 School Year. Interested persons are encouraged to review amendments to the Project and make comments concerning the implementation of special education under this Federal Program. All comments will be considered prior to submission of the amended Project to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, North Carolina. The IDEA-Part B Project is open to the public for review and comments during the week of May 4th thru May 8th, 2026 in the office of Rachel Hurt , EC Director, located at 106 Gordon Street, Sanford NC 27330.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

NC Department of Public Instruction Exceptional Children Division

Parent Rights Handbook - English  

Parent Rights Handbook - Spanish

Exceptional Children's Assistance Center

NC Policy on Governing Students with Disabilities

U.S. Department of Education: IDEA

Polices Governing Services for Children with Disabilities

Dispute Resolution