Child Find

Child Find is an ongoing process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children ages birth to 21, and providing services to meet the unique and individual needs of those students.

“Child Find” is a requirement of both federal and state law. It mandates that each school district will locate, identify, and evaluate, at no cost to the family, all students, from birth to 21, who are suspected of having a disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) lists and defines thirteen disabilities. They are autism, deaf-blindness, auditory impairment, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, learning disability, speech impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, and non-categorical early childhood.

If you suspect an infant, child, or young adult of having a developmental delay or disability, your school can open a window of hope for a brighter future. Services at no cost to the family are available to all eligible individuals from 3 through 21 years of age (starting at birth for auditory and/or visual impairments), regardless of the severity of their disability.

Special services are available to eligible infants, children, and young adults identified with a disability who may be experiencing difficulties in one or more of the following areas:

 ^{Areas of Special Education Eligibility:} 

^{Autism (AU)} 

^{Deaf-Blindness (DB)}

^{Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)}

^{Developmental Delay (DD)}

^{Emotional Disability (ED)}

^{Intellectual Disability (ID)}

^{Multiple Disabilities (MD)}

^{Orthopedic Impairment (OI)}

^{Other Health Impairment (OHI)}

^{Specific Learning Disability (SLD)}

^{Speech or Language Impairment (SI)}

^{Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)}

^{Visual Impairment (VI)}

Children ages 0-3, who reside within the boundaries of the Burleson ISD, are referred to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) of Tarrant & Johnson County. The ECI team works with BISD Special Education on the next steps of evaluation for the referred child. You can reach out to ECI of Tarrant & Johnson County directly at 817-446-8000, or you can contact the special education coordinator, Amanda Dissinger (Amanda.Dissinger@bisdmail.net), for more guidance on the evaluation process. 

The Burleson ISD Special Education Department is now offering regularly scheduled pre-school screenings.

These developmental screenings are for children ages 3-5 who are not currently enrolled in school.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, each local education agency (LEA) is responsible for fulfilling its Child Find obligation for children ages 3–5 who reside within its geographic boundaries. This includes the identification, location, and evaluation of children suspected of having a disability, regardless of whether the child attends public school, private school, daycare, or remains at home.

Accordingly, early childhood evaluations are conducted by the school district in which the child resides. Families must contact their district of residence to initiate the evaluation process and determine eligibility for special education services.

Evaluation for Non-Enrolled Children:

Special education evaluation referrals for any child who resides in Burleson ISD’s boundaries can reference the steps below.

Step 1: Complete the Child Find form

** If the referred child is turning 5 by September 1st of the current school year, move to the school-aged child evaluation section.

• 25/26 Early Childhood Special Education Child Find Form

Step 2: We will contact you for more detailed information 

The initial information is reviewed, and the appropriate forms will be emailed to gather more detailed information.

Step 3: The early childhood diagnostician reviews forms

The detailed information is reviewed, and it's determined what type of evaluation is needed. 

If a team evaluation is needed, the special education administrative assistant will be in touch to schedule the meeting.

If only a speech evaluation is needed, a speech pathologist will be in touch to schedule the meeting.

Step 4: Evaluation and Eligibility Review

Once the evaluation has been completed, an ARD clerk will reach out to you to schedule an Admission, Review and Dismissal meeting.

In this meeting, the areas of eligibility will potential services will be discussed.

Any parent/guardian who needs assistance with completing the above process can contact Amanda Dissinger (Amanda.Dissinger@bisdmail.net) at 817.245.1226. Burleson ISD is ready, willing, and able to support families and/or answer questions about the evaluation process.

Special education evaluation referrals for any child who resides in Burleson or attends a non-profit private school within Burleson ISD’s boundaries can reference the steps below. If your student is currently enrolled in a BISD school, please make your requests with the campus administrator. 

Step 1: Complete the Child Find Form

• 25/26 School-Aged Special Education Child Find Form

Step 2: We will contact you to schedule an evaluation

The campus evaluation team will review the initial information and will reach out to you to collect more detailed information, if needed.

The campus evaluators will schedule the evaluation and appointments to complete any necessary testing. 

Step 3: Admission, Review, and Dismissal Meeting

Once the evaluation has been completed, an ARD clerk will reach out to you to schedule an Admission, Review, and Dismissal meeting.

In this meeting, the areas of eligibility and potential services will be discussed.

Any parent/guardian who needs assistance with completing the above process can contact Amanda Dissinger (Amanda.Dissinger@bisdmail.net) at 817.245.1226. Burleson ISD is ready, willing, and able to support families and/or answer questions about the evaluation process.