Exceptional Students | Special Education

Department of Exceptional Students Announces Child Find Efforts

Meeting Notice

Department of Exceptional Student Services Announces Child Find Efforts

The Department of Exceptional Students of Effingham County Public Schools offers comprehensive special education services to eligible students ages three through 21. Children from birth to age three with other disabilities will be referred to appropriate agencies for services. All referrals are considered confidential, and services are provided at no cost. The parent, legal guardian, or surrogate parent retains the right to refuse services and are provided other procedural safeguards under federal and state laws.

Public school services include screening in areas of suspected disabilities, for example, vision, hearing, motor skills, speech, language, and general development. A free, appropriate, public education with a full continuum of services may be available. For more information concerning eligibility criteria and referral procedures, please contact the Department of Exceptional Students at 912-754-5623.

On Thursday, December 12, 2024 a meeting will be held at the Effingham County Board of Education Auditorium at 405 N. Ash Street in Springfield, GA at 8:00 – 9:00 am to discuss services that may be available through the Effingham County Board of Education for children ages 3 -21 who have a disability, or a suspected disability, and those students with disabilities who may be attending a home-school or a private school program. Special Education services are provided, for those students who are eligible, by the Effingham County School District at no cost to parents. Please contact Dr. Ashly Hunter at 912-754-5623 or ahunter@effingham.k12.ga.us if you have any questions.

CHILD FIND (34 C.F.R. § 300.111; GEORGIA RULE 160-4-7-.03)

In Georgia, for children, ages 3 through 21, the Effingham County School System is responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating all children within the jurisdiction of the school system who are suspected of having disabilities that may result in a need for special education and related services. This includes:

• preschool children, ages 3 through 5, who may not be enrolled in a Georgia-funded prekindergarten and kindergarten, including children who are parentally placed in private preschools or daycare centers outside the school system;
• children who are enrolled in a public school within the system, including public charter schools; 
• children who are parentally placed in private and home schools located within the system’s jurisdiction; 
• highly mobile children, including migrant, homeless, and children who are wards of the state; 
• children served in community programs, such as rehabilitation centers, daycare centers, etc.;