According to the IDEA Child Find mandate, which action best describes a district's primary obligation to children and families within the community?

• A. Providing services only after parental consent is obtained
• B. Identifying and locating children who need special education or related services
• C. Conducting assessments of all students regardless of concerns
• D. Scheduling annual parent-teacher conferences

Answer: (B)

Child Find is the district’s ongoing duty to locate and identify children who may need special education or related services. This means actively seeking out children in the community who might have disabilities, including those who aren’t yet connected to special education, so evaluations can occur and appropriate supports can be provided. It emphasizes a proactive, comprehensive search to ensure no child with a disability is overlooked.

That makes the option describing identifying and locating children the best fit, because it directly reflects the district’s proactive responsibility under IDEA. The other options describe steps that come after identification or broader practices (providing services only after consent, evaluating all students, or scheduling conferences), which are not the district’s primary obligation under Child Find.