The vision statement of the Alabama State Board of Education Plan 2020 is “Every Child a Graduate – Every Graduate Prepared for College/Work/Adulthood in the 21st Century.” In order to have every graduate prepared, early identification and intervention for children with special needs is very important. It is a priority of all Alabama school systems to ensure that all children within their jurisdiction, birth to twenty-one, regardless of the severity of their disability, who need special education and related services are identified, located and evaluated. This process is known as Child Find.

Parents, friends, families, and agencies are encouraged to contact their local zoned school or the school system special education coordinator to request evaluations for children, ages 3 through 21, with special needs. Special education services are provided for children with disabilities who meet eligibility criteria in one of thirteen exceptionalities of the Alabama Administrative Code. The process sometimes seems complicated, but school staff look forward to helping parents and guiding them through the referral, evaluation, eligibility, and services procedures. Parents are the most important member of their child’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team.

For information about special education rights, disability definitions, eligibility criteria, Individual Education Programs, and parent involvement in IEP development, go to the Special Education Services and check out all the information available, including the Alabama Administrative Code. For more information, please contact the Alabama Department of Education, Special Education Services at speced(at)alsde(dot)edu or (334) 242-8114.