Whether your child is transitioning from Early Intervention or if you suspect your older child may have a disability, requesting special education and creating an IEP can be a daunting process. We hope we can help make the process a bit easier. To get started, check out our Parent’s Guide to Special Education page, referring a child for special education. For more information, visit the Hawaii Department of Education’s Child Find page.
From Early Intervention to Department of Education
Child Find & Referring Your Child to Special Education
Your child does not need to have a diagnosed condition in order to have an evaluation for special education. If you feel your child is struggling in academic, social, physical, communication or other areas of learning and development, you can ask for an evaluation for your child. Below is an excerpt from the Child Find page from the Hawaii Department of Education:
When should a child be referred to Child Find?
- The child’s health or medical condition is interfering with development and/or learning.
- The child seems to have difficulty seeing or hearing.
- The child appears to have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties that affect his/her ability to learn or interact with others.
- The child has a diagnosed progressive or degenerative condition that will eventually interfere with the child’s ability to learn.
- The child seems to have difficulty understanding directions like other children his/her age.
- The child’s speech is not understood by family or friends.
- The child has difficulty with reading, writing, math, or other school subjects.
How can a child be referred?
The child’s parent(s)/legal guardian can contact the child’s neighborhood school (the student attends or– would attend if not school age) and request an evaluation. Explain or write down all of the concerns that appear to be interfering with learning. The request can be made:
- In-person, or by phone;
- In a written letter, faxed, or e-mailed; or
- On the State of Hawai’i Request for Evaluation form, available in Related Downloads or can be obtained from the school.
What happens next?
- The school may invite the parent to a meeting, consisting of teacher(s), principal, or other school personnel who have knowledge in the area of concern to discuss the student’s concerns.
- The team reviews all information from the parent and /or teacher (i.e. student records, grades, test scores, other reports, etc.), to determine whether an evaluation is needed and the type of assessment(s).
- The school will respond within 15 days if an evaluation will or will not be conducted. Parental consent will be required for an evaluation to be conducted. You and your child(ren) have rights in this process.
For more information, please call Operation Search at 800-297-2070 statewide and click here to visit the Hawaii Department of Education Child Find page.
Want to see more on this page? Email us at SPIN@doh.hawaii.gov and let us know what kind of resources would be helpful to you.
