In fulfilling child find obligations, districts must primarily do which of the following?

• A. Do not outreach to community agencies
• B. Identify only students who request evaluations
• C. Identify and locate children with disabilities who may need SPED services; outreach to preschools, daycare, and community agencies; timely referrals
• D. Identify only students in public schools

Answer: (C)

Districts must actively locate and identify all children who may have disabilities and may need special education services. This proactive “child find” responsibility goes beyond current students to places where children spend time, including preschools, daycares, and community agencies, and it requires timely referrals for formal evaluations when concerns arise. That combination—identifying and locating potential cases, conducting outreach to early childhood and community settings, and ensuring referrals are made promptly—best fulfills the obligation.

Waiting for families to request evaluations or limiting identification to students already in public schools would miss children who are not yet in the public school system or who may not know how to request services, which is exactly what child find aims to prevent.