The Southwest SELPA and its member districts are required to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools in the school district, youth incarcerated in adult facilities and/or residential/dentention facilities, homeless and migrant children and wards of the state. The process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children with disabilities is known as Child Find.
Parents/Guardians who are concerned about their child's development or believe their child needs special education due to a physical, emotiojnal, learning or speech problem are encouraged to contact their local school disitrct or SELPA office. Federal and state laws requires schools to provide free appropriate education for children with disabilities. Children from birth through 21 years of age may qualify for special education programs in public schools.