Child Find

Child Find IEP Team Meetings are conducted at two regional Early Childhood Centers, Benjamin Banneker Early Childhood Center and Green Holly Early Childhood Center.

Parents should expect to receive a phone call in response to their referral within 2-3 business days. During the phone intake background information will be collected.  A phone call from the speech language pathologist will be made to set up a time to conduct the screening.  According to MSDE requirements, once a referral is made to Child Find, the IEP Team has 90 days from the date of the written referral or 60 days from parent signature on the Consent for Assessment to complete the assessments (if deemed necessary) and to review the assessments at an IEP Team Meeting.

The purpose of the Child Find referral, screening and assessment process is to screen and assess for a possible educational disability. If the IEP Team recommends a formal assessment after reviewing the screening data, then the IEP Team suspects that a child may have an educational disability.

No. The IEP Team may, upon review of the screening data (including parent input and other sources of documentation), determine that there is no suspected educational disability. The developmental screening will provide the team the necessary information to determine if development is typical.

Yes. Parental involvement in this process is key to a child’s success. If you would like to participate by phone, please indicate that on your IEP Team Written Notice or let the Special Education staff know of this request when you confirm your attendance.

No. As a parent, you do not have to consent to the initial assessment of your child. The Procedural Safeguards and Parental Rights document outlines this for families. 

No. Pre-Kindergarten is a program that has legal mandates to serve students who meet income eligibility requirements. Students may be accepted into Pre-Kindergarten if there are documented risk factors as defined by the Pre-Kindergarten program guidelines. Questions about Pre-Kindergarten eligibility and enrollment should be directed to Ms. Cynthia Kilcoyne, Coordinating Supervisor of Early Childhood Programs at 301-475-5511 ext. 32218.

Yes. If schools are closed for inclement weather all meetings will be cancelled and rescheduled when school resumes.