Exceptional Children

What is Project Child Find?

Project Child Find is a coordinated effort by Richmond County Schools and the Exceptional Children Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to:

• Locate and identify children and youth from birth through age 21 with disabilities who need special education and related services.
• Inform parents and guardians about the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies.

Who are the Children?

Children and youth who have been diagnosed with or are suspected to have intellectual, physical, or emotional disabilities and who require special assistance to benefit from a regular school program.

What Help is Available?

• A complete evaluation and, if appropriate,
• An Individualized Education Program (IEP) for children with a disability beginning at age 3,
• An Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) for each child with a disability from birth through age 2, or
• A referral to other agencies when needed.

For more information, visit the North Carolina DPI Child Find Website.

This handbook is designed to support families with the understanding of the rights and responsibilities specific to the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources can be found in the appendices.

If, at any time, you suspect your student may have a disability and is in need of special education and/or related services, you may request an evaluation, in writing, to your student's school principal, teacher, or the Richmond County Schools Exceptional Children Department at (910) 582-5860.

Parent Handbook-English

Parent Handbook-Spanish

NC Department of Public Instruction Exceptional Children Division

Parent Rights & Responsibilities in Special Education: NC Notice of Procedural Safeguards

• Parent Rights
• Parent Rights (Spanish)

It is important that you understand the Procedural Safeguards (legal rights) provided for you and your child with a disability. In this document, you will find a new section in more user-friendly language that summarizes the rights and responsibilities of parents in the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources for parents are found in the appendices.

From time to time, disagreements between families and schools may occur regarding the development and implementation of a student's individualized education program (IEP).  It is highly recommended that the following steps be considered in order to resolve differences quickly.

If you are new to Richmond County and your child has previously received special education services or if you have questions about special education in Richmond County Schools, please contact the Exceptional Children's Department at (910) 582-5860.

In order to make your student's transition into Richmond County Schools go smoothly, it is very important to provide your student's new school with copies of the following information during registration:

• Current Individualized Education Program (IEP); and
• Most recent psychoeducational report, eligibility, evaluation and/or reevaluation report; and
• Contact information for your student's previous school and school district.

These items will support a successful transition between your student's previous and new school, and will ensure that appropriate services and supports are made available.

What to Expect: 

Moving from Out of State:

• Once you have shared your student's special education records, school staff will invite you to a meeting to discuss comparable services, or services similar to or the same as, provided on your student's most recent IEP. During the meeting, school staff will also describe the initial eligibility process that occurs when students move from out of state and the timeline in which an initial North Carolina (NC) IEP will be developed.

Moving from another county within NC:

• School staff will begin implementing your student's current NC IEP on their first day of school. An invitation to review and revise your student's IEP may be scheduled. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss your student's transition to a new school and to determine if any adjustments to the services and supports currently being provided are needed.

Learn more about Multi Tiered System of Support at our district page:

Richmond County Schools Multi-tiered System of Support

Or by visiting:

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for Families | NC DPI