Changes to Special Education Services for Young Children

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Photo: Sanford School Department

Beginning Aug. 31, the Sanford School Department will assume responsibility for Child Find and special education services for children ages 3 to 5 under a new state law transferring those duties from Child Development Services (CDS) to local public school districts.

This means the Sanford School Department, rather than CDS, will receive referrals for concerns about a child between the ages of 3 and 5 who may have a disability. Once a referral is received, the family will be contacted to talk through the next steps. A connection to a speech therapist, psychologist or other evaluator may be made to help determine if the child qualifies for special education support.

After evaluations are complete, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) team, which includes school staff, the family and the evaluators, will meet to go over the results and decide whether the child qualifies for services. The law requires that the child have a disability that gets in the way of learning and that special education is needed for them to make progress.

When a child is found to be eligible, the team builds an IEP that lays out where the child currently stands, sets annual goals, and outlines the services they’ll receive. The team then meets at least once a year to check in on progress and make updates as needed. This mirrors the process that CDS has followed, so families shouldn’t notice a difference in how things work.

Referrals may be submitted online at https://forms.gle/XpTY3bFX8AgP6NGi9

Parents with questions may email Sanford’s Assistant Special Education Director Tammy Delaney at Tdelaney@sanford.org, or call (207) 457-1413.

According to Superintendent Matt Nelson, the district recognizes that this transition can raise questions. “We’re committed to making it as easy as possible for you and your child. We’re glad to be your partner in this process and to help make sure your child gets the high-quality support they need.”