Non-public ESE Evaluations

"Child Find" is the process of locating, identifying, and evaluating all students residing in the state who are in need of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and related services.  Home Education students are evaluated by the school district in which they reside.  Private school students may be evaluated by the school district in which they reside or by the school district in which their private school is located.

If your child is in kindergarten or a higher grade, contact the ESE Services Coordinator for Pinellas County Schools at 588-6503 to begin the process.  If you child is not yet in kindergarten, please review the flyer below for the appropriate contact.

What happens after you call 727-588-6503?

You’ll receive an email asking for:

• Your child’s birth certificate
• Your child’s school physical
• Your child’s immunization record
• A Home Language Survey (we’ll send you the form)
• A Parent Input Form (we’ll send you the form)
• An Authorization for Release of Information (this lets us contact your child’s school for information about their progress)
• Any private reports you have about your child (such as evaluations or therapy reports)
• If you homeschool: details about your curriculum, your child’s progress, and work samples that show your concerns.

Next Steps

• You’ll get a calendar invite and meeting link for a meeting within 30 days.
  At this Initial Evaluation Discussion, the team will review all the information and decide if a disability is suspected.

• If a disability is suspected:
  We’ll ask for your written consent to do a formal evaluation.

  • If you agree and sign, the district has 60 days (not counting school holidays) to complete the evaluations.
  • After evaluations are finished, the team will meet again to review results and decide if your child qualifies for Exceptional Student Education (ESE).

• If your child qualifies:
  You’ll be asked to give consent for your child to receive ESE services.

Additional Information

• If you plan to use the FES-UA Scholarship, an IEP meeting will be scheduled, and a Matrix will be completed afterward.
• If you plan to enroll your child in a public school, the school will develop an IEP within 20 days of your child’s first day of attendance, and a Matrix will be completed afterward.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides procedural safeguards for parents of students with disabilities.  If you have questions about your procedural safeguards, the PCS ESE staff assigned to your request, will be happy to answer them.

Link to the document on the Florida DOE website

1. Determine Continued Eligibility

• To assess whether the student continues to meet the criteria for a disability category under IDEA.
• This ensures that services are provided only to students who still qualify.

2. Review Educational Needs

• To identify the student’s current academic achievement and functional performance.
• Helps determine if the student’s needs have changed and whether adjustments to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) are necessary.

3. Inform IEP Development

• Reevaluation provides updated data to guide decisions about goals, accommodations, modifications, and services in the IEP.

4. Consider Changes in Placement

• If there is a question about changing the student’s educational setting or level of support, reevaluation data is used to make informed decisions.

5. Address Parent or Teacher Concerns

• If parents or educators suspect new areas of need or question the appropriateness of current services, reevaluation helps clarify those concerns.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school districts are not required to provide IEPs for students enrolled in private school or home education, as those students are not accessing a Free and Appropriate Public Education (F.A.P.E.).  The IEP, developed in collaboration with the parent, outlines the district's offer of FAPE.

In Florida, district teams develop IEPs per parent request to generate a Matrix score for students accessing the Florida Empowerment Unique Abilities Scholarship.

Please contact the PCS ESE Services Coordinator at 727.588.6503 to begin the intake process.

If your child is aged 18 or older, we will need an Authorization for Release of Information form completed by the student giving the district permission to include the parent in the process.  If you have court orders showing you have guardianship, please be prepared to share them with us.