Exceptional Child Department
Barbara Scriven, EC Coordinator 910-636-1325 Barbara.scriven@mooremontessori.org
Parent’s Rights & Responsibilities
Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
Child Find is a process through the Exceptional Children Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities who may be in need of special education or related services. This includes children ages 3-21 who:
attend public or private schools
are homeschooled and/or
are homeless or wards of the state
Project child find is also an endeavor to inform parents and/or guardians of the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies. These services might include an evaluation, development of an individualized education plan or referral to outside agencies as deemed appropriate by the IEP team.
EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN SERVICES
PROJECT CHILD FIND
What is Project Child Find?
An effort coordinated by your local school system and the Exceptional Children Division, State Department of Public
Instruction to:
Locate and identify children and youth, ages birth through 21, with disabilities who need special education and related services.
Inform parents and/or guardians of the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies.
Who are the Children?
Children and youth who have been diagnosed or are suspected to have intellectual, physical, or emotional disabilities and are unable to benefit from a regular school program without special assistance.
What Help is Available?
A complete evaluation and, if appropriate,
An Individualized Education Program for children with a disability beginning at age three,
An Individual Family Service Plan for each child with a disability birth through 2, or
A referral to other agencies when needed.
Related Links:
DEFINITION OF CHILD WITH A DISABILITY
NCDPI EC DIVISION CHILD FIND PAGE
NC POLICIES GOVERNING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
NCDPI OFFICE OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
For further information regarding Child Find, or if you suspect your student may have a disability and need special education and/or related services, please contact: MMCS Exceptional Children Services Coordinator: Barbara Scriven at Barbara.scriven@mooremontessori.org or by phone at 910-636-1325.
Parent Rights & Responsibilities in Special Education, NC Notice of Procedural Safeguards:
This handbook is designed to support families with the understanding of the rights and responsibilities specific to the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources can be found in the appendices.
Other Helpful Resources:
SECTION 504
Section 504 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a civil rights law, enforced by the Office of Civil Rights, that prohibits discrimination of students on the bases of a handicapping condition.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that:
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. " U.S. Department of Education.
Section 504 is different from the Exceptional Children’s Program in that the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) has a defined list of disabilities under which a child may qualify for Special Education and related services. Section 504 is much broader in that it has no list. Each potentially qualifying disability must be assessed individually. A student qualifying to be served by Section 504 is one that has:
a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities,
a record of such impairment, or
is regarded as having such an impairment.
Procedural Safeguards/Parent’s Rights Notice
OCR/Protecting Students with Disabilities
For additional information contact the Coordinator for Exceptional Children Services: Barbara Scriven at Barbara.scriven@mooremontessori.org or by phone at 910-636-1325.
IEP TEAM MEETINGS
These documents are intended to help families understand various aspects of Special Education in North Carolina. If you have questions, please reach out to MMCS Exceptional Children Director/Coordinator.
Referral Meeting - Reunión de Inicial
Eligibility Meeting - Reunión de Elegibilidad
Reevaluation Meeting - Reunión de Reevaluación
MMCS PROCEDURE for Recording IEP/504 Team Meetings
Federal law does not authorize or prohibit either a parent or a school official from recording IEP Team meetings. Therefore, a Public-School Unit has the option to prohibit, limit, or otherwise regulate the use of recording devices at IEP Team meetings.
MMCS staff makes every effort to ensure that each parent/legal guardian is able to fully understand and participate in the IEP Team meeting process. Therefore, if a parent/legal guardian needs an audio or video recording to ensure understanding and full participation in the IEP Team meeting, or to implement other parental rights under the IDEA, the parent/legal guardian will be permitted to record the meeting with the following stipulations:
The Case Manager or IEP Team Chair must be notified, in writing, of the parent’s intent to record the meeting at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date and time.
The parent will take responsibility for the recording, including providing their own recording device.
If the parent or legal guardian records the meeting, the school will also be permitted to record the meeting. If the school records the meeting, the recording will be maintained as part of the student’s educational record.