Question: I want my school district to provide special education services to some of my students. Where do I start?
Answer: Eligible private school students with disabilities can have some services provided to them by the public school district under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA was created to ensure that students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).*
According to the federal law, the first step is for school districts to locate, identify and evaluate all children with disabilities in the district, including private school students. This process is called Child Find. Learn more here.
Districts must publicize Child Find information to all families in its boundaries, but many private school parents aren’t aware that this is available to their children.
That’s why WCRIS created this flier, using language from a Wisconsin school district’s notification published in the local newspaper. We encourage you to include it in your newsletters or send copies home with your students.
Because parents – not the private school – have rights under the IDEA, it’s important to empower them with this knowledge so that their children can receive an equitable education.
*Parents refuse their child’s right to FAPE by voluntarily enrolling them in a private school. Therefore, private school students aren’t entitled to the same services as public school students. See the “Services” section here for more information.
