Child Find Requirements

What is Child Find?

Every SELPA and school district is required to have procedures in place to help locate students who may need special education services. Please contact either the SELPA office or your local school district if you have questions about referring a child for special education services.   Also known as the "Search and Serve" requirement, child find refers to one of the foundational mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):  that local educational agencies seek out children suspected of having a disability that would make them eligible for special education and related services and to serve them

Each special education local plan area submitting a local plan to the Superintendent under this part shall ensure that it has in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent with state laws, regulations, and policies governing “child find and referral” (CA Education Code Section § 56205(a)(3).  Having a coordinated system of identification and referral provides for meeting the legal requirements of each local educational agency (LEA) to actively and systematically seek out all individuals with exceptional needs, from birth to 21 years of age, inclusive, including children not enrolled in public school programs, who reside in a school district or are under the jurisdiction of a special education local plan area or a county office of education (CA Education Code § 56300).

Child find activities are the responsibility of each district and occur prior to a referral for special education services. Under both federal and state statutes and regulations, school districts are required to locate, identify, and assess all children with disabilities who reside within the district. The child find requirement applies to all children who reside within a State, including children who attend private schools and public schools, highly mobile children, migrant children, homeless children, and children who are wards of the state. (20 United States Code [U.S.C.] § 1412(a)(3)).

If you believe your child may have special education needs or are concerned about your child’s development, please contact your local school district or charter school LEA. The Tehama SELPA Child Find Brochure (Spanish version) has links to every school district office

Contact Information for Butte County SELPA Local Educational Agencies

Birth to 5 Programs through Tehama County SELPA and Office of Education

Students with disabilities who are ages birth to three years of age are served through either Far Northern Regional Center or Shasta County Office of Education.

Tehama County Department of Education Preschool Team provides services to eligible children ages 3-5 and also has a preschool assessment team for families concerned about their child having a disability. Tehama County SELPA can assist in connecting families and caregivers to the appropriate agency.

Shasta County Office of Education’s Early Start Program is jointly funded by Shasta and Tehama county and provides a variety of services to eligible infants and toddlers aged birth to three and their families throughout Tehama and Shasta Counties. Families of children birth to three years of age qualify for services if the child’s development is delayed, or at risk of delay, due to any of the following conditions:

  • Impairment in vision, hearing or speech
  • Orthopedic condition such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy
  • Congenital syndrome such as Down Syndrome
  • Seizure disorder or other chronic health problem
  • Autism
  • Intellectual delays
  • Emotional disturbance

Infants and toddlers without a specific diagnosis, who have significant delays in cognition, motor, speech and language, or social-emotional development, may also qualify for services.

Anyone can make a referral by calling (530) 605-2541 or (530) 527-8581.

Early Start Program through Far Northern Regional Center

Far Northern Regional Center (FNRC) provides services to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities.

Early Start Information for Far Northern Regional Center and provides services to birth to three year olds as well.

Services Provided by Far Northern Regional Center. For more information, contact the FNRC Redding Branch at (530) 222-4791

Important Links

Website: California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Guide: "Effective Early Childhood Transitions" by the California DDS and CDE

Article: "A Family-Centered Approach to Early Intervention,"

Article: "Early Childhood Mental Health - Raising Awareness, Taking Action,"

Resources