Skip To Main Content

Special Education Evaluations: Child Find

Concerned about your child's development?

When a young child is not meeting typical developmental milestones or someone is concerned about the child’s growth or learning, an evaluation can be conducted to evaluate how the child plays, learns, speaks, behaves and moves.  This evaluation is conducted through Child Find, a part of Colorado's system for identifying children suspected of having a delay in development. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if there is a significant delay that may impact a child’s education or if there is a need for early intervention or special education services. Evaluations conducted by our D11 Child Find teams are FREE and available to families who live within the D11 boundaries.

In D11, we ensure that any child experiencing significant difficulties or delays in development receives the appropriate interventions or accommodations they need to be successful in the school environment.  Our Child Find team helps identify children suspected of having a significant delay in development.  After submitting the preschool application, the family will receive a phone call from the Child Find office to discuss concerns. Recommendations could include a developmental screening and, if deemed necessary, a play-based transdisciplinary assessment to determine eligibility for special education services within the preschool classroom.  For children not currently enrolled in a D11 preschool, evaluations are conducted weekly throughout the school year at our Tesla Professional Development site.

Front of Tesla

Street view of Tesla Professional Development Center

alt-text

Back/East view of Tesla showing the doors where you’ll enter

Evaluation - what to expect

When a parent or caregiver, family member, or healthcare professional express significant concerns for the child’s early development or learning, D11 trained and certified professionals conduct play-based assessments.  Evaluations address the areas of concern for each child including, but not limited to:  social-emotional functioning, speech-language skills, physical development, pre-academic skills, and cognitive functioning.

When a family comes to us for a Child Find evaluation, here is what they can expect:

Waiting area for CF

Waiting area where we will meet you and your child

Child Find Evaluation Room #1  

Shelves with toys and materials for ages 2-5, red and blue carpet, child-sized table and chairs.

  

Room with child-sized furniture, circle rug, toys and materials

Child Find Evaluation Room #2

  • appointments may last 3 hours
  • we will get your written permission to evaluate your child
  • we may perform a vision or hearing screening
  • we will play with your child using toys and materials designed for young children
  • we will interview your family about your concerns and about your child’s development, strengths, and interests at home
  • we will share the strengths demonstrated by your child during the evaluation, as well as any developmental concerns, and the impact they may have on your child’s development and education
  • we will answer any additional questions you might have about your child’s development
  • we will provide suggestions for strategies you can use at home

The Child Find Evaluation Team, which includes the family, will determine if your child meets eligibility criteria for special education in the school setting as set forth by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).  If your child is eligible for special education, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed, indicating which special education and related services are required for the student to be successful in preschool. 

These services may include:

  • Specialized instruction from an Early Childhood Special Educator, Teacher of the Deaf/Hearing Impaired, Teacher of the Visually Impaired
  • Specialized instruction from a Speech-language Pathologist or Speech-language Pathologist assistant
  • Related services from an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, or School Counselor

For children who do not reside within our D11 boundaries, please contact your local school district for information regarding their Child Find process. 

For children who are birth to age 3, please contact The Resource Exchange at 719-577-9190 or go to their website. For more information regarding early interventions for children birth to age 3 from the Colorado Office of Early Childhood, please visit the Colorado Office of Early childhood.   

For preschool aged children, 3 through 5 years, including preschool children who reside in D11 and attend a charter school, childcare, or private preschool:  Complete our preschool application and you will be contacted to discuss your concerns about your child.  

Contact:

Anna Joachim
Colorado Springs School District 11 Child Find Coordinator
AnnaKarin.Joachim@d11.org or 719-520-2542                            

Directions to Tesla Professional Development Center

2560 International Circle Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910