Evaluation Procedure for IDEA

Federal, state and local regulations require all Illinois schools to conduct annual child find activities. Child Find is the process of locating, evaluating and identifying children with suspected disabilities who may be in need of special education and related services. Columbia Community Unit School District #4 is committed to locate and evaluate all children, ages three through twenty-one, within the district, with suspected disabilities.

Birth to Three Years:

If you are a parent/guardian of a child aged birth to three who demonstrates significant delays or deficits in his/her development, please contact Child and Family Connections #21 at 618-622-6581 or http://www.roe13.org/index.php/cfc

Preschool Children:

Columbia Unit School District 4 conducts early childhood screenings each spring for the purpose of identifying students who may need early intervention. These screening dates are advertised in the local paper as well as local daycare and doctor's offices. Screenings are conducted by our early childhood special education teachers and speech and language pathologists. The Dial 4 is the tool used for screenings. If the screening shows that further evaluation is needed then the child is referred for further testing. Once the initial evaluation is activated the school psychologist will conduct a full evaluation. To schedule a developmental screening, please contact Jeanne Goacher, Director of Special Education, at 618-281-2537.

School-age Students:

Students who are currently enrolled in grades K-12 and attend a school within our district boundaries (including private and home schooled students) may be referred for an evaluation by their parents or school team. To refer a child for a special education evaluation, a letter should be submitted to the school principal identifying the areas of concern. Students who are homeschooled may direct the letter to the Director of Special Education. A written response will be provided within 14 days.