Child Find

The Jackson Public School District participates with the Mississippi Department of Education in an ongoing, statewide effort to identify, locate, and evaluate children ages birth through 21 who have developmental delays, health impairments, and physical, mental, communicative, and emotional disabilities.

Early identification of children in need of special education services is very important to each child’s educational success. Parents, service agencies, preschool teachers, physicians or any other concerned individual may refer a child to the Child Find Coordinator of their local school district. Once a referral is made, it is the responsibility of the Child Find Coordinator to ensure that the Mississippi Referral-to-Placement process is implemented to determine a child's eligibility for services.

Before a child is evaluated, written notice is given to the parents and procedural safeguards, as well as parents' rights, are explained. After informed parental consent for testing is obtained, a nondiscriminatory evaluation is conducted. Children are evaluated in all areas related to the suspected disability. If a child is determined eligible for special education services, parents are notified and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed for that child. Parents must sign consent for placement prior to the child's receiving any special services.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Disability Categories include:

• Autism
• Deaf-Blind
• Developmentally Delayed
• Emotional Disability
• Hearing Impaired
• Language or Speech Impairment
• Intellectual Disability
• Multiple Disabilities
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Specific Learning Disability
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visually Impaired