Child Find
Child Find: Eligibility and Screening
RCSSC is committed to providing an education that appropriately meets the needs of each student. RCSSC staff engage in age-appropriate Child Find activities that locate, evaluate, and identify students who are in need of special education services. Child Find for young children ages birth through age 5 is called a screening. For children in kindergarten thorugh grade 12, Child Find is referred to as an educational evaluation. Child Find usually begins with general education interventions.
Why should I have my child screened or evalauted?
If you have concerns about the development of your child in any of the areas of development or if they are not meeting their dvelopmental milestones you might consider seeking assistance through RCSSC to conduct a screening or evaluation. If there are concerns regarding your child's development, early intervention has proven most effective in meeting the needs of children now and in their future. Our knowledgeable staff can provide support if necessary for your child to help them progress in their development. Review the age-appropriate as identified by the CDC at the link below.
What are the eligibility requirements for special education?
A variety of tools and strategies are used to gather information to determine whether or not a studnet is eligible for special education. The evaluation process establishes whether or not a child has an exceptionality (disability or giftedness) and has a need for special education and related services according to the Kansas Eligibility Indicators. Students must meet two criteria to be enrolled in special education:
Does the student have a disability?
Does the student need specially designed instruction (SDI) in order to benefit from the general education curriculum?
If you have a concern about your child's development
Sunflower Early Education Center (EEC) houses Tiny-K Infant Toddler Services. Sunflower's Tiny-K program serves children with developmental delays and/or disabilities from birth to age 3.
Child Find clinics, identified as Count Your Kid In (CYKI) screenings are held monthly for children 2.5 to 5 years of age, not kindergarten eligible, during the school year to screen children and determine if further evaluation is needed. Children are screened on an appointment basis. Contact Cheryl Davis at cdavis@usd405.com or at (620) 257-5196 or by using the easy scheduler button on this page.
For children ages 5 to 21, referrals for special education services are available by contacting the school psychologist at your child's school or by call Rice County Special Services Cooperative at (620) 257-5196.
CYKI: Early Childhood Screenings, Ages 2.5 to 5 Years Old
Early intervention is critical for children who have developmental delays. RCSSC conducts child find screenings, or Count Your Kid In screenings, for children ages 2.5 to 5, not kindergarten eligible, within the cooperative area (Lyons-Park Elementary and Cornerstone Daycare, Sterling-Sterling Grade School and Lil'Cub Daycare and Windom Elementary) throughout the year to screen for potential delays in the areas of cognition, communication, fine/gross motor, and social skills. School staff members and parents work together to determine how to best meet a child's needs.
Eligibility for services is determined through screening and evaluation for special education eligibility. If you have a concern about your child's development, please contact Cheryl Davis at (620) 257-5196 or email cdavis@usd405.com to schedule a screening.
What is an early childhood screening?
The screening consists of collecting data on current levels of functioning in the following areas of development:
Cognitive - problem-solving and pre-academic skills
Communication - articulation, receptive and expressive language
Fine Motor - small motor movements involving hands and feet
Gross Motor - large motor movements involving the whole body or arms and legs
Social Skills - interaction with staff and peers
Hearing
Vision
Screenings for Ages 5 to 21
Students aged 5 to 21, including those who are highly mobile, migrant, and/or homeless, may be referred for special education evaluation by school personnel when a disability is suspected. Parents are notified and play an integral part in the process. Parents also may initiate a referral for a special education evaluation. The need for special education and related services is determined in consultation with parents at each building site by a team of professionals. Parents are encouraged to contact their child's building personnel with concerns about their child's progress.
Further information about referrals for special education services is available by contacting the school psychologist at your child's school or by calling Rice County Special Services Cooperative at (620) 257-5196.
Tiny K Infant Toddler Services: Birth to 3 years old
Sunflower Early Education Center (EEC) houses Tiny-K Infant Toddler Services. Sunflower's Tiny-K program servces children with developmental delays and/or disabilities from birth to age 3. Tiny-K services are available at no cost to children in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush, and Stafford counties. The mission of infant-toddler services is to enhance the capacity of parents to help their child reach his/her fullest potential by overcoming or lessening identified delays before preschool.
Programs are individualized. Sunflower assesses skills and provides intervention in six develpomental areas: fine motor, gross motor, adaptive (self-help), cognitive, speech and language communication, and social-emotional skills. Family service coordination (FSC) is also available to assist with family needs and to provide effective parenting strategies.
Once a child is evaluated, Sunflower works with the parents to develop the Indivdualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). These plans are designed to target the strengths and needs of the family working with their child. The family's choice, along with the child's individual needs, helps determine the selection of services.
Sunflower's infant-toddler services are provided by a team of professional staff including early childhood special education (ESCE) teachers, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapy, and a Spanish translator.
Infant-toddler services are offered in your child's natural environment, which includes at home, daycare or preschool, or a community setting such as a park or library.
