Child Find
The Holly Springs School District is a part of a continuous statewide
effort to identify, locate and evaluate children, birth through the age
of twenty-one, who have a disability. Early identification of children
in need of special education services is very important to each child's educatinal success.
This effort applies to, but is not limited to:
- Highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children;
- Children who are not enrolled in school but who have not yet graduated
- Children who are wards of the State;
- Children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private or parochial elementary and secondary schools;
- Children who are enrolled in public educational programs, such as Head Start;
-
Children who are suspected of having a disability and may be in need of
special education, even though they are advancing from grade to grade;
and
- Children who are ages birth to three (3),
including those receiving Part C services through the Mississippi State
Department of Health (MSDH) Early Intervention Programs (EIP), known as
First Steps.
Family members, physicians and
educators as well as, representatives of various agencies such as the
Health Department, Department of Mental Health, Head Start facilities,
and day care centers may make referrals of in-school (public or private)
or out of school children.
Individuals with information or
referrals for a child residing in the Holly Springs School District
should contact Karin Autry, Special Services Director by calling the
district office at 662-252-2183; by completing the child find referral
form and mailing or bringing to 840 HWY 178 E, Holly Springs,MS 38635 or by emailing at childfind@hssd.k12.ms.us.
Got Concerns? We can help!
Are you concerned about your child’s speech, learning, behavior, or development?
For more information contact:
Karin Autry, Special Services Director at 662-252-2183
Child Find is a process required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children from birth through 21 years of age who may have disabilities and may need early intervention or special education services. It is an ongoing process of public awareness activities and evaluations to ensure children with special needs can receive the help they need to succeed as early as possible.
Anyone concerned about a child’s speech, learning, behavior, or development can make a Child Find request. A multidisciplinary evaluation team will meet with the family within 14 days to decide if an evaluation is needed. If so, written permission from the child’s parent is required before an evaluation is conducted.
A multidisciplinary evaluation will involve a series of observations and tests with the child and interviews with caregivers conducted by two or more specialists such as a speech language pathologist, a school psychologist, or a special educator. A written summary of this evaluation will be provided to the family and a meeting will be held to determine if the child needs special services.
For a child aged birth through two years, contact your local Health Dept.
For a child three to twenty-one years, contact your local school district.
is necessary?
Although you do not have to bring anything with you, any records or information you have that can assist you in describing your concerns about your child would be helpful.