This resource is designed to support you as you navigate the special education process for your child. Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been involved in special education for some time, this handbook aims to provide you with clear, concise, and helpful information. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and we are committed to working together with you to ensure that your child receives the best possible education.

CAC, SCUSD, SELPA Family Handbook

Child Find Obligations

The Child Find process requires Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities residing in its jurisdiction. This obligation includes all students who attend private (including religious) schools, migrant or homeless students, students who are wards of the State, and students with suspected disabilities who are not advancing in grade level. (20 USC 1412 (a)(3)(A), 20 USC 1412 (a)(10)(A)(ii)(I), 34 CFR 300.111, 34 CFR 300.131, 34 CFR 300.111(c)(2), 34 CFR 300.101(c), 30 EC 56301.)

It is important to note that Child Find is a screening process that identifies children who have a disability, or are suspected of having a disability and may need special education and related services. Children identified through the Child Find process must still be assessed to confirm eligibility. For more information on Disability Assessments, reference Part IV: Procedures for Determining Eligibility.

SCUSD must actively and systematically seek out all children with exceptional needs who reside within the school district by engaging in the following activities:

Distributing written information to all schools in the area, as well as to other agencies that are likely to encounter children with special needs.

Furnishing information on the internet

Offering training to private school employees

Developing pamphlets about the availability of special education services and how to access them

Reaching out to the Sacramento City School District community through:

Public Service Announcements  

Media Advisories

Press Releases

SCUSD Website

For additional information regarding SCUSD’s Child Find obligations, please view the District’ Child Find Brochure.

Specific information concerning Child Find is provided under the following topic areas:

Infants and Toddlers  

Preschool-Aged Students  

Private School Students

Determining whether a child is eligible for services under the IDEA as a result of identification through Child Find

Infants and Toddlers 

Sacramento County Office of Education provides Infant Development Services to eligible infants ages 0-3.     

Preschool-Aged Students

SCUSD must identify preschool children aged 3 to 5 with disabilities through:

Child Find activities listed in the Child Find Obligations Section  

Direct referrals from parents, preschools, physicians, members of the community, and Kindergarten teachers

Private School Students

SCUSD must identify students who attend a private school located within the jurisdiction of SCUSD because SCUSD is considered the student’s “District of Attendance.” This includes all private schools, including religious, elementary and secondary schools that are located within SCUSD’s jurisdictional boundaries (34 CFR 300.131.).

WarmLine is a Family Empowerment Center. As a Family Empowerment Center we provide training and information to families of children and young adults with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 22. We offer specialized training, peer-to-peer support, information and referral services. We aim to assist parents to better understand their child’s educational and developmental needs, develop effective communication with service providers, serve as an active participant in the IEP process,  promote alternative dispute resolution, and to support positive relationships between parents and professionals. WarmLine is funded by the CA Dept. of Education, receives technical assistance and support by Seeds of Partnership and is a member of the Family Empowerment and Disability Council.

https://warmlinefrc.org

Elementary, middle, and high school students are assigned to a designated neighborhood school based on where the student lives, as long as the school offers the services the student needs.

Each neighborhood school has a defined geographic boundary and is intended to serve the students who live within that geographic boundary.

To determine your child’s school of attendance based on school boundary, please use our School Finder tool.

If you are interested in applying for enrollment to a different school in our district, you can apply through our Open Enrollment (TK-8), High School Specialty Program and Permit Request processes.