Child Find
The Port Townsend District conducts specific activities for the purposes of locating, evaluating and identifying students ages birth to twenty-one with suspected disabilities and who reside within the district's boundaries. This includes students attending non-profit private schools. Approximately ten to fifteen percent of all children have a disability which hinders their educational development. Early identification of disabilities assists parents, students and schools in the design of appropriate educational services.
Child Find Screenings for Children Three to Five Years of Age
If your child is a preschooler and you have concerns about his or her development, the Port Townsend School District offers screening for preschool children that provide parents information about their child's development in the following areas:
Academic
Vision
Hearing
Language
Cognitive
Motor Skills
Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this free service, especially if you have questions and concerns regarding your child. If your child will be entering a kindergarten program next year, and you have particular concerns in any of these areas, the screening is especially advised.
Child Find Process
Once a Child Find appointment is scheduled, parents will then be sent an appointment confirmation and paperwork to complete before attending the screening. After the screening, one of two things will happen:
For some children, their screenings will indicate that a full developmental assessment to determine eligibility for special education services is not necessary. In this case, parents will be provided with community resources and home program suggestions to strengthen any areas of minor weakness.
Other children, for which the screening determines that future assessment is required, will then be referred on to a formal, more in-depth evaluation. This evaluation will determine what specially designed instruction a child might need in order to be access schooling.
If you would like to schedule a screening or if you have any questions about this process, please reach out to us.
Translation is available. (360) 3769-4366.