Hazlehurst City School District looking for disadvantaged children
The Hazlehurst City School District is participating in an ongoing statewide effort to locate, identify and evaluate children birth through age 21 who are physically, mentally, and communicatively and/or emotionally disabled. Lynette Banks is the Child Find Director for our district. The Child Find Director works with the local Head Start, Human Services, Health and Mental Health agencies as well as local educational agencies, physicians and other individuals to identify and locate children out of school and in school who may be in need of special educational services.
Once a referral is made, it is the responsibility of the Child Find Director to ensure that the Referral to Placement process is implemented correctly. The Child Find Director works with the Local Survey Committee at each school to review data that has been collected to determine the need to pursue special education eligibility. If the decision is made that an evaluation is needed, written parental consent will be obtained prior to an evaluation and Procedural Safeguards will be given to parents. District personnel will explain the Procedural Safeguards to parents to ensure that they understand their right and responsibilities under the current law. After parental consent for testing is obtained, a nondiscriminatory evaluation is conducted by qualified personnel.
If a child is determined eligible to receive special education services, parents are notified. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed to outline the specific needs of the student. Parents, teachers, the student (when appropriate), and other appropriate personnel participate in the process. All students receiving special education services are reevaluated at least every three years and their IEP’s are reviewed and revised annually. The Hazlehurst City School District currently offers special education services at each of the school sites in the district.
If you are aware of any individual who needs to be referred, please contact Lynette Banks at the following address: 119 Robert McDaniel Drive, Hazlehurst, MS 39083, 601-894-3360.
