Child Find
Child Find is a federal mandate that requires school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may have disabilities and need special education services. Our district actively works to ensure that all children—ages 3 through 8th grade—who may need extra support are recognized early and connected with the right services. If you have concerns about your child’s learning, behavior, speech, or development, we encourage you to reach out to the Lancaster School District Special Education Department at 661-948-4661 ext. 57164. Together, we can determine if your child may benefit from an evaluation and the supports available through special education.
Understanding eligibility
Understanding eligibility![]()
Understanding eligibility
Autism (AUT)
A developmental difference that can affect how a child communicates, relates to others, and manages behavior or routines. Support helps build social, communication, and learning skills.
A developmental difference that can affect how a child communicates, relates to others, and manages behavior or routines. Support helps build social, communication, and learning skills.
Deaf-Blindness (DB)
A child who has both hearing and vision loss, making it harder to communicate and learn from their surroundings. Services focus on ways to connect, learn, and move safely.
A child who has both hearing and vision loss, making it harder to communicate and learn from their surroundings. Services focus on ways to connect, learn, and move safely.
Deafness (DEAF)
A significant hearing loss that makes it very hard to understand speech through hearing alone. Students may use sign language, interpreters, or technology to help them communicate and learn.
A significant hearing loss that makes it very hard to understand speech through hearing alone. Students may use sign language, interpreters, or technology to help them communicate and learn.
Hearing Impairment (HI)
A hearing loss that affects learning but is not as severe as deafness. Supports may include hearing aids, classroom technology, or captioning.
A hearing loss that affects learning but is not as severe as deafness. Supports may include hearing aids, classroom technology, or captioning.
Emotional Disturbance (ED)
Challenges with emotions or behavior that make it hard for a child to learn, make friends, or manage daily stress. Support may include counseling, behavior strategies, and extra structure at school.
Challenges with emotions or behavior that make it hard for a child to learn, make friends, or manage daily stress. Support may include counseling, behavior strategies, and extra structure at school.
Intellectual Disability (ID)
A condition that makes learning new skills and daily tasks more difficult. Support focuses on building independence, communication, and life skills at each child’s pace.
A condition that makes learning new skills and daily tasks more difficult. Support focuses on building independence, communication, and life skills at each child’s pace.
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
When a child has two or more significant disabilities that together affect learning. They may need a highly individualized program with lots of different supports.
When a child has two or more significant disabilities that together affect learning. They may need a highly individualized program with lots of different supports.
Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
A physical condition, like cerebral palsy or a bone or muscle difference, that makes movement harder. Support may include therapy, adaptive equipment, or classroom accommodations.
A physical condition, like cerebral palsy or a bone or muscle difference, that makes movement harder. Support may include therapy, adaptive equipment, or classroom accommodations.
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
A medical condition (such as ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, or heart issues) that affects a child’s energy, alertness, or ability to focus. Support may include health plans, classroom accommodations, or extra learning help.
A medical condition (such as ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, or heart issues) that affects a child’s energy, alertness, or ability to focus. Support may include health plans, classroom accommodations, or extra learning help.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
A difference in the way a child learns that can affect reading, writing, listening, speaking, or math. With the right teaching strategies, students can make strong progress.
A difference in the way a child learns that can affect reading, writing, listening, speaking, or math. With the right teaching strategies, students can make strong progress.
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
When a child has trouble speaking clearly, stutters, or struggles to understand or use language. Speech therapy helps them build strong communication skills.
When a child has trouble speaking clearly, stutters, or struggles to understand or use language. Speech therapy helps them build strong communication skills.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
An injury to the brain (after birth) that can affect learning, memory, behavior, or movement. Support focuses on helping the child relearn skills and succeed in school.
An injury to the brain (after birth) that can affect learning, memory, behavior, or movement. Support focuses on helping the child relearn skills and succeed in school.
Visual Impairment (VI)
A vision loss that makes it hard to see, even with glasses. Support may include large print, braille, or technology so the child can fully access learning.
A vision loss that makes it hard to see, even with glasses. Support may include large print, braille, or technology so the child can fully access learning.
Child Find – Frequently Asked Questions
Child Find – Frequently Asked Questions![]()
Child Find – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Child Find?
Child Find is a federal requirement that helps schools identify children who may have learning, speech, behavior, or developmental needs. It ensures that students who may need extra support are evaluated and, if eligible, provided with special education services.
Child Find is a federal requirement that helps schools identify children who may have learning, speech, behavior, or developmental needs. It ensures that students who may need extra support are evaluated and, if eligible, provided with special education services.
2. Does my child need to be enrolled in a district school?
No. Child Find includes children living in the district who are in public school, private school, preschool, or homeschool.
No. Child Find includes children living in the district who are in public school, private school, preschool, or homeschool.
3. How much does it cost?
There is no cost to families. Evaluations and, if eligible, services are provided free through the school district.
There is no cost to families. Evaluations and, if eligible, services are provided free through the school district.
4. What happens if I have concerns about my child?
You can share your concerns with your child’s teacher or contact the district’s special education department directly. With your consent, the district will review your concerns and, if appropriate, begin an evaluation process.
You can share your concerns with your child’s teacher or contact the district’s special education department directly. With your consent, the district will review your concerns and, if appropriate, begin an evaluation process.
5. What happens after the evaluation?
If the evaluation shows that your child qualifies for special education, the district will work with you to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines the supports and services your child will receive at school.
If the evaluation shows that your child qualifies for special education, the district will work with you to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines the supports and services your child will receive at school.
