Child Find
The Norfolk Public School District has a current Child Find procedure in place to assist in locating, identifying, and evaluating children residing in the district who may have a disabilty and may qualify for Special Education services. If you are aware of a child who may be eligible for Special Education services please contact your schools administrator or the Student Programs office at the Central Administration building.
What is "special education?" Special education refers to "specially designed instruction or support for students with verified disabilities."
Which persons are entitled to a special education? School districts in Nebraska provide an education for individuals with disabilities from birth through 21, or program completion.
What disabilities are served through special education programs? Children who benefit from the program offered may have one or more of the following disabilities: emotional disturbance, deafness, blindness, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech-language impairment, visual impairment, autism, or traumatic brain injury. Every effort will be made to educate students with a disability with their non-disabled peers.
How does a child qualify for a special education program?
- Any parent or teacher who believes a child may have a disability, can request a Student Assistance Team (SAT) meeting to discuss the possibility of a referral for a special education evaluation.
- If the SAT members believe a special education evaluation is necessary, a recommendation will be made to the parents to grant permission for this evaluation.
- After written parental permission has been obtained, appropriate qualified professionals complete an evaluation of the child and make recommendations to a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to determine if there is a disability.
- If it is determined that a child has a verified disability, parents and staff members agree on an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to serve the child's special needs.
- The child is placed in an appropriate level of special education service that may include a continuum of services ranging from continued regular classroom placement with assistance provided to separate specialized programs. This placement is determined by the IEP team of which parents are an integral part, and is based upon a student's learning needs. Written parental permission is needed for initial placement into special education programming.
NPS Special Education Resource Site
NPS Special Education District Staff
Nebraska Child Find Resource Site
