Student Support Services
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law ensuring appropriate services to children with disabilities nationwide. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth through age two) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C. Children and youth (ages 3–21) receive special education and related services under IDEA, Part B.
In addition to meeting the legal requirements of IDEA, the commitment made by districts and schools to provide high-quality education in an inclusive setting to all students with disabilities is crucial to their success.
Developmental Screening for Children Ages 3 & 4
An annual Child Find Initiative is held during the spring of each school year for 3, 4, and 5-year-olds. The event date, time, and location are posted on the district’s website, local newspaper, local radio station, health care facilities, daycares, and other community agencies. Families may complete the Developmental Screening Questionnaire (Chid Find Form) anytime and return it to the Benton County Board of Education, 197 Briarwood Avenue, Camden, TN 38320.
Quick Links
Documents
Websites
Child Find
Benton County Schools reaches out to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with a disability residing in Benton County and/or attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disability and who need special education or related services.
The Benton County Child Find program identifies children between the ages of three and twenty-one with special education needs, including Developmental Delay, Specific Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Speech /Language Impairments, Other Health Impairments, Visual and Hearing Impairment, Orthopedic Impairments, Autism, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectually Gifted, and Traumatic Brain Injuries. Educational needs are determined through interviews and child evaluations.
If you suspect your child needs additional educational support to achieve his or her educational potential, the Benton County School System strongly encourages you to contact us. The school system will provide a FREE screening and possible full evaluation of your child to determine any special needs and services for which your child might be eligible. The Benton County School System adheres to all federal and state requirements outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for the State of Tennessee Special Education Eligibility Standards.
Public Notice
The Benton County School System is attempting to locate all children that are handicapped along with giftedness. Some of these children may not be attending school at this time. If you know of a person aged 3-21 who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, caring for oneself, and performing tasks age-appropriately, please call the Special Education Department at 731-584-6111. The public school system is responsible for providing free and appropriate education to all special needs persons ages 3-21 residing in the agency's jurisdiction.
Notice - Special Education Records
Special Education records are routinely purged every five years of any information that is no longer needed. School records will be purged at the end of this school year. If you would like to review these records and/or have copies of them before they are destroyed, please contact your child's school principal or the Special Education Supervisor.