SCHOOL DISTRICT OF COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NOTICE OF CHILD FIND ACTIVITY

The school district must locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools in the school district, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. The school district has a special education screening program to locate and screen all children with suspected disabilities who have not graduated from high school. Upon request the school district will screen a child who has not graduated high school to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate. A request may be made by contacting Dr. Swantz, Director of Special Education, Columbus Public Schools, at 402-563-7000, or by writing her at 2508 27th Street Columbus, NE 68601.

The information is used to provide the parent with a profile of their child's current development and to provide suggestions for follow-up activities. Parents learn about community services available to them and speak with representatives of agencies serving families. The information from screening is also used to determine whether a child should be evaluated for a suspected disability. When school staff reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability, they refer the child for evaluation by a school district Multidisciplinary team (MDT).

A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to report the child to the school district in which the child resides. If the child attends a private school in another school district, the child should be reported to the school district where the child attends school. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made. The referral must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. Others who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child. A referral for Columbus Public Schools may be sent to Dr. Swantz at the school district address above.