AZ FIND - Families

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA ’04) that requires Public Education Agencies (PEAs) to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth through 21. PEAs are school districts and charter schools.

Child find applies to children who are:

  • Suspected of having a disability even though they are advancing from grade to grade
  • Highly mobile, such as migrant and homeless
  • Wards of the state
  • Private school students
  • Homeschool students

Note: Charter schools identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities within their population served who are in need of special education and related services.

Statutes and Technical Assistance

ADE Resources

External Agency Resources

  • Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)
  • Raising Special Kids  RSK is a parent organization that provides support and information for parents of children with a full range of disabilities and health care needs from birth to age 26. Programs are offered at no cost to families and are available in English and Spanish.

Contact Us

AZ FIND Coordinator

Becky Raabe

(928) 637-1871

From the Exceptional Student Services Blog

EXTERNAL PD INFO: STAR Autism Support Fall Professional Learning Opportunities Wed, Jul 21 2021 Professional Learning and Sustainability, Updates

Special Education Directors,

ADE/ESS and STAR Autism Support are collaborating to offer resources and professional learning opportunities to support PEA staff with free Virtual Learning Opportunities this Fall. 
DATA REPORTING & VOUCHER INFO: Changes Related to the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind for FY 2022 Fri, Jul 9 2021 Data Management, Updates

Special Education Directors,

Due to the passage of HB 2863 during the Spring 2021 legislative session, the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) is now considered a local education agency (LEA) for the provision of free and appropriate public education (FAPE), for the submission of data and other required reports, and for the provision of courses of study that lead to graduation with a regular high school diploma for all students enrolled in their campus locations. This status change began July 1, 2021 (fiscal year 2022).

This memorandum addresses specific areas of responsibility that will impact both ASDB and public education agencies (PEAs) that place eligible students at ASDB through the IEP and voucher process.