Exceptional Children

The Exceptional Children’s Program in Halifax County Schools is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities receive individualized support to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally in the least restrictive environment. We believe all students can learn and are dedicated to meeting their diverse needs through inclusive practices and qualified, caring staff.

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eC Parent Resources

Child Find

In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Halifax County Schools actively participates in Child Find, a statewide initiative to identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities—from birth through age 21—who may need special education and related services. Halifax County Schools is committed to helping every child reach their full potential through early identification and access to the appropriate supports.

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Records Requests

Halifax County Schools processes all requests for Exceptional Children (EC) records in accordance with federal and state privacy laws. These records include special education evaluations, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), eligibility determinations, and related documentation.

To request EC records, parents, guardians, former students, schools, or authorized agencies must submit a written request to the EC Department.

Request rECORDS

Parent's Right & Responsibilities in Special Education

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) provides a comprehensive guide outlining the rights and responsibilities of parents of children with disabilities who receive special education services. This document ensures families are informed, empowered, and able to actively participate in their child’s educational journey.

It includes important information about evaluations, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), dispute resolution options, confidentiality, and how to advocate effectively for your child.

Parents are encouraged to review this guide regularly and reach out to their child’s school or the EC Department with any questions.

View guide

Student Referral Process

The Student Referral Process

Identifying Students with Disabilities (Child Find)

Halifax County Schools’ classroom teachers and support staff are required to monitor students’ academic and social-emotional progress to ensure each student’s appropriate incremental growth towards achieving college & career and social-emotional readiness. Likewise, parents, guardians, and caretakers are encouraged to observe their child’s growth and learning progressions for areas of concern that might negatively impact their maturation.

If at any time, parents, guardians, and caregivers infer that their young child (through high school or maximum age 22) may have a disability, a timely request for a “referral” to special education services should take place at the school level.
The school’s Student Assistant Team will assist with the facilitation of the request for special services process.
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Team, which also includes the parent or guardian, will meet to determine if a formal student evaluation will be conducted. This process is generally referred to as “Child Find”.

The Special Education Meeting Process:

The Halifax County Schools District provides special education and

related services according to the federal mandates of the Individual with Disabilities Act and the regulations of the North Carolina Public School Law, Article 9. The request for special education services includes the following meeting:

(Click on the links to learn more about the meetings.)

Step #1: Referral Meeting

Step #2: Eligibility Meeting

Step #3: Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Meeting

Step #4: Reevaluation Determination Meeting

Eligibility for Special Services:

The Public Schools of North Carolina, Exceptional Children Division provides local educational agencies with detailed procedures for the delivery of special education services. These rules and regulations are detailed in Policies Governing Services For Children With Disabilities. Services are provided under the following areas of eligibility:

(Click on the link to learn more about the areas.)

Note: Parents with additional questions about the “Child Find Process” in private and home schools should contact the HCS Office of Whole Child/Exceptional Children.

Staff

The Federal Indicator 8 Parent Participation Survey is a crucial component of the accountability system under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. It serves as a vital tool for assessing and promoting meaningful parent involvement in the special education process. Questions related to the Indicator 8 survey can be directed to the Indicator 8 Support Team, Indicator8ParentSurvey@dpi.nc.gov.

Purpose and Measurement

Core Goal: To measure the percent of parents with a child receiving special education services (ages 3-21) who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.

Accountability: It is one of the indicators states must report annually to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) as part of their State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR).

Significance: High parent involvement is consistently linked to better academic outcomes, social skills, and higher graduation rates for students with disabilities. This indicator focuses on the school's role in facilitating this engagement.

Indicator 8 Survey: The brief, 2-minute survey is digital and available to complete on a mobile device or computer. The primary survey language is English; however, to support all parents in accessing and completing the survey, 17 additional language translations are provided. In the upper right hand corner of the survey is a dropdown menu that allows the respondent to select the appropriate language.

Complete Survey

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