Parents and Guardians of
Parental Placed Private School Students
Child Find Services
OCPS Non Public Services provides Child Find services to ALL Orange County private schools and their students who are in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Child Find services include:
- Assistance in determining if a private school student may need special education services
- Reevaluation of parental placed private school students with disabilities
Child Find is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and refers to the responsibility of school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children residing within their jurisdiction that either have or are suspected of having disabilities and may need special education services. The questions and answers below may assist you in understanding this process.
Question: Which district is responsible for Child Find activities when the district the child resides in differs from the district where the private school is located?
Answer: School districts must conduct Child Find for all children attending non-profit private schools, including religious schools, located in the jurisdiction of the district, to identify students who are in need of special education and related services or may need a reevaluation. Note, however, if the private school operates as a for-profit school, then the district where the student resides is responsible for Child Find activities.
Question: What is the responsibility of the district regarding Child Find activities for parental-placed private school students?
Answer: The Child Find activities must ensure equitable participation and an accurate count of parental-placed private school students with disabilities enrolled in nonprofit private schools. In carrying out Child Find for parental-placed private school children, districts must undertake activities similar to those undertaken for their publicly enrolled students.
If you are the parent or guardian of a child who may need special education services or needs a reevaluation of their current exceptional student education program, please contact the Non Public Services office at 407-317-3501.