Child Find
Referrals for Special Education
Lawrence Public Schools is committed to providing an education that appropriately meets the needs of each student.
Throughout our district, we engage in ongoing age-appropriate "Child Find" activities that identify and evaluate students who are in need of special education services. On this page, you will find resources and information about the processes and organizations used within our schools for student referrals/screening for special education.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact your student's school principal or school psychologist if you have questions about evaluating your student for special education.
tiny-K
The tiny-K Alliance (tiny-K) is a statewide organization in Kansas which assists in providing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with special needs.
Parents of children from birth to 2 years of age can learn more about tiny-K and/or request a screening by contacting tiny-K Early Intervention of Douglas County at https://www.tiny-k.org/.
Early Childhood Screenings
In Kansas, Child Find for preschool-aged students (3 to 5 years of age) is called screening. Screening may consist of observations, interviews, and assessments that would identify a disability, a developmental delay, or an exceptionality.
Lawrence Public Schools conducts free developmental screening for all children aged 3-5 years who reside in the district, are not kindergarten eligible, and show signs of developmental delays in the areas of cognition, speech/language, motor skills, behavioral/social skills, and/or hearing/vision.
For more information and/or to schedule a screening, please contact Marielle Monteaux, Early Childhood Special Education Administrative Assistant at (785) 832-5760.
Referrals for Students Ages 5-21
Students from 5 to 21 years of age, including those who are highly mobile, migrant, and/or homeless, may be referred for special education evaluation by school personnel when signs of an exceptionality are shown. Parents/guardians are always notified and involved in the process. Parents may also initiate a referral for a special education evaluation.
The need for special education and related services is determined in consultation with a student's guardians at each school building site. Parents are encouraged to contact their student's school principal or school psychologist if they have questions about whether or not their student needs special education.
Private School Consultation
Lawrence Public Schools works closely with private schools located within district boundaries to identify and evaluate children who are in need of special education services. At least annually, a consultation meeting occurs with the private schools in Lawrence to review the Child Find process. Administrators of the private schools are encouraged to contact the student's neighborhood public school when a student shows signs of having an exceptionality or developmental delay.
Parents/guardians of students attending private schools located within the LPS district boundaries may refer their student for special education Child Find through their private school principal. The private school principal will work with the student's neighborhood school team to implement the special education screening and eligibility process. We ask that you contact your private school principal first but you may also contact your neighborhood public school principal or psychologist.