Child Find
The UT High School District staff identify and provide an appropriate education for individuals who qualify for special education and related services. The Child Find committee locates, identifies, and coordinates evaluations for children suspected of having a disability to ensure they receive special education and related services.
Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which requires an ongoing process for locating, identifying and evaluating children suspected of having a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability, who may need special education and related services.
Special education includes specially designed instruction and related services provided by the LEA/school district for students who have one or more of the following disabilities according to federal criteria and who also have a demonstrated educational need for special education services:
- Learning Disability
- Speech Impairment
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Emotional Disturbance
- Autism
- Multiple Disabilities
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment
- Auditory Impairment
- Deaf-Blindness
A parent, doctor, teacher, relative or friend can begin the child find process. If you are concerned about issues that are interfering with a child's learning, please contact UTSDStudentServices@austin.utexas.edu.
Registration
The UT High School District staff members review registration forms and documents when students initially enroll in the UT High School Diploma Programs. It is important for parents to indicate if their child previously received special eduction or related services in a prior school. Parents can expedite the process of sending records to the UTHS District by providing the most recent evaluation and/or paperwork from the most recent IEP/ARD meeting. The UT High School District staff will also request records from the prior school to obtain the IEP/ARD documentation, however, it takes time to receive records.
The following UTHS District webpages provide more information about policies, notifications, special education, and related services.
Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex)
The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.
Contact Information:
Phone: 1-855-773-3839
Email: inquire@spedtex.org
Live Chat: www.spedtex.org
Contact UTHS
Students with Last Names A-K
Kimberlea Jackson, Student Services Coordinator
kimberlea.jackson@austin.utexas.edu
512-232-5836
Students with Last Names L-Z
Jessica Nickels, Ed.D., Student Services Coordinator
jessica.nickels@austin.utexas.edu
512-232-3527
Department of Student Services
Oscar Arroyo, Director of Student Services
oscar.arroyo@austin.utexas.edu
512-471-9648