Evaluations and CHILD FIND

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Arizona's Education Code, students who are suspected of having disabilties requiring specialized education must be evaluated.  School districts and charter schools have an affirmative duty to identify and evaluate students suspected - merely SUSPECTED - of having a disability.  That is the CHILD FIND obligation. 

Who can ask for an evalution? 

• A teacher or school administrator
• A parent
• A medical or health care provider of the child (a doctor, a therapist)

Do not wait for the school to propose the evaluation if you see the following signs ("red flags"), although if these signs are present, the school should have proposed the evaluation already:

· Failing or noticeably declining grades.

· Poor or noticeably declining progress on standardized assessments (AIMS tests, for example)

· Behaviors that cause the student to stand out, negatively, from his peers.

· Minimal progress in RTI process.

· Only slight benefits from accommodations in a Section 504 plan.

· Numerous or increasing disciplinary referrals.

· Signs of depression, withdrawal, inattention.

· Increasing unexcused absences.

· A history of being hospitalized.

· A diagnosis under DSM-IV (or the upcoming DSM-V).

· Medications.

· Being seen by an outside service provider, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist.