Child Find is a legal requirement that schools find all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services. Michigan is the only state that has a state law mandating (or requiring) special education for students with disabilities from birth to 26 years of age. This law is known as the Michigan Mandatory Special Education Act (MMSE) and is part of the Revised School Code. Child Find is an active process for identifying students suspected of having a disability. When a parent, educator, doctor, or other individual suspects a child may have a disability, a request for a special education evaluation can be made to the student’s teacher or administrator in the district. Within 10 school days of receiving the request for initial evaluation, the district must provide notice addressing whether or not the district will conduct an evaluation. When the district proposes to conduct an evaluation, the district must request parental consent to evaluate the student. The district provides parents with information about their rights and procedural safeguards. With signed consent, a district may evaluate the student and determine if there is a need for special education and related services.
Each local district must locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private, including religious, elementary schools and secondary schools located in their school district.
Students who are homeschooled are included in the child find obligations of the district of residence. The district of residence has the obligation to conduct child find activities regardless of whether the homeschool is registered with MDE. However, if the student is found eligible, then the district of residence is not obligated to provide services unless the homeschool becomes registered.
Students with disabilities who are enrolled in a nonpublic school or who are homeschooled in Lenawee County should contact their administration or reach out to the LISD if an special education evaluation is needed.