Total Special Education Systems Manual
Chapter 1-  Identification  & Child Find Systems

Identification means the continuous and systematic effort made to identify, locate and screen students, birth through 21, who are in need of special education and related services. Users can access district initiated child find efforts in the local communities.

Public Awareness

With regard to special education and related services, District 622 informs the community it serves through the following sources.

• District Information and School Calendar - Yearly calendar mailed to residents in the summer that has information and telephone numbers for special services.
• 622 News - a district-wide newsletter is mailed out to all residents four times a year.
• Early Childhood Screening- Occurs annually throughout the school year after a child turns three years-eight months of age.
• Early Childhood Screening Website- http://www.communityeducation.webaloo.com/early_childhood.aspx
• Special Education Website- http://isd622specialservices.webaloo.com/special_education.aspx
• Cable Channel 20 – Informational programs related to special education & special services are aired periodically throughout the year.
• Brochures about child development, district referral and district resources are distributed to local area physicians' offices and preschools.
• Director of Special Education annually notifies non-public schools via a letter, a meeting with the principals, and website-http://isd622specialservices.webaloo.com/non_publics.aspx
• District language lines are available for Spanish (748-7020), Hmong (748-7019), and Somali (748-7022). Cultural Liaisons are available. Due process forms are available in 10 languages (Spanish, Hmong, Somali).

Referrals

Birth to 3 Years of Age- District 622 is part of the Early Intervention Alliance (EIA), which is a consortium of five school districts. There is a service coordinator and a multidisciplinary evaluation team. Home-based services are provided from birth through 2 years of age through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). EIA also makes referrals to other agencies as needed.

• 651-430-6700: Washington County Early Intervention Network Program
• 651-604-3700: Ramsey County Central Intake & Referral

Age 3 to 5 year olds-

• 651-604-3700: Early Childhood Information Referral Office (Washington & Ramsey Counties)
• 651-748-7280: Early Childhood & Family Programs
• 651-748-7289: Early Childhood Screening

Age 7 to 21 years- A Pupil Needs Committee (PNC) operates in each of the District 622 schools. The PNC has the responsibility to ensure that documented interventions have been completed. The PNC will identify special education evaluation needs, formulate the evaluation plan, and appoint a facilitator for the process. Members of the PNC have the responsibility to ensure due process requirements are followed in reference to all aspects of the evaluation, service delivery, and reevaluation process.

Alternative Learning Center (ALC)- For currently enrolled 622 students, the PNC must review and explore all available service/support options within the building. ALC staff will make efforts to obtain the most recent evaluation and individualized education program (IEP) for special education students new to the district and applying to the 622 ALC. When a 622 student applies directly to 622 ALC, the ALC staff will verify whether or not the student had an active IEP in their most recent school of enrollment. If the student had an active IEP, the ALC staff will notify the previous case manager, counselor, and building special education coordinator. ALC staff will make efforts to obtain the most recent evaluation and IEP before the student can begin in the ALC program.

Private (Nonpublic) & Homeschool- On an annual basis, a letter is sent to the nonpublic schools in the ISD 622 attendance area regarding the availability of special education services for students being served within the 622 school district boundaries. An offer is made to provide in-service on making referrals to special education. When a referral is made to the public schools from a nonpublic school, the standard due process procedures are followed.

• 651-748-6944: Heidi Shaback (St. Peters, Christ Lutheran)
• 651-748-6316: Steven Anderson (Hill Murray, Mounds Park Academy, Presentation, Gethsemane Lutheran, Transfiguration)

Note: In Minnesota Charter Schools are treated as Public Schools and are responsible for their own special education services.

1. Chapter 1- Overview of the district's child find activities and guidelines.