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PROJECT CHILD FIND

The Mountainside School District, as part of Project Child Find, is looking for children
aged 3 to 5 with special needs. The district regularly conducts Child Find activities
through mailings and postings to assist in identifying children who may be at risk.
If you have a child 3 to 5 years of age whom you suspect may have a developmental
delay or a disabling condition, please contact the Child Study Team at 908 232-8828 ext.
216. If your child is under 3 years old and you suspect a delay in development, you may
contact the Child Study Team to obtain information regarding Early Intervention
Programs.

Message from the Special Services Department

Dear Parents:
The Mountainside Public School District is committed to providing all children with
access to a free and appropriate public education. In order to meet that goal, the district
not only provides a comprehensive general education program but also an array of
services for children who may be experiencing difficulties in school.

Primary support is provided in general education through a process called Intervention
and Referral Services. This is a process that involves parents, teachers, specialists and
administration. Together, this team of people examines the needs of children and offers
suggestions, modifications and accommodations within the general education program
for parents and staff.

When these services have been tried and documented and have not had the desired
end result, a referral to the child study team may be made. This team of professionals,
including a school psychologist, a learning consultant and a school social worker, along
with the parent(s) and other staff members, has the task of determining whether or not a
child may be educationally disabled and thus eligible for special education and related
services. Not all children referred to the child study team are determined eligible. Some
children having difficulties in general education may not meet the criteria for special
education. Further, not all children who have certain medically defined conditions, such
as Attention Deficit Hyeractivity Disorder (ADHD), are necessarily eligible for special
education.

For children who do meet the criteria for special education and related services, the
Mountainside Public School District does provide an array of services to assist children
and with the aim of keeping children within the general education program to the extent
appropriate for a child's needs. Among the services available to eligible children are in-
class support, Resource Center support, a preschool progam and when needed,
placement out of district in approved schools for the disabled. Related services that
are available to eligible students include, among others, speech and language services,
occupational and physical therapy and counseling.

Speech services are also available as a primary and not related service to some children
who meet specific criteria.

The district regularly conducts Child Find activities through mailings and postings to
assist in identifying children who may be at risk.

If you have any questions about our services, we encourage you to contact the Special
Services Staff at 908-232-8828, ext 216.

Sincerely,

Maureen Miller