Ascension Parish Public Schools (APSB) assures that all children, ages 3 through 21, residing within the jurisdiction of the school system that have a disability and are in need of special education, related and/or support services are identified, located, and evaluated. APSB, through the Child Search Coordinator, will document that annual and ongoing activities are conducted to identify and locate children suspected of being exceptional and needing special education services.
Preschool - Not enrolled in APSB
Child Search offers educational evaluation services for preschool students who may have special needs. Please call 225-391-7298 for more information.
Preschool or School Age Enrolled in APSB
Contact your child's school to request a School Building Level Committee (SBLC) meeting to discuss your concerns.
Child Search Team
Kim Smith
Child Search Facilitator
(225)391-7298
Margo Edwards
Educational Diagnostician
Pupil Appraisal
In addition to Child Search Services, Pupil Appraisal Services is an integral part of APSB’s total instructional program. Services include prevention and intervention activities and, if needed, referral of children suspected of needing special education services. According to referral needs, a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation is conducted by qualified examiners. These examiners include, but are not limited to educational diagnosticians, school psychologists, school social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and/or adapted physical education teachers, who are all certified by the Louisiana State Department of Education.
A number of pre-referral activities must occur before a student receives a formal evaluation. When concerns are expressed by the teacher or the parent a meeting is arranged with the School Building Level Committee (SBLC). Information regarding educational interventions, cumulative records, health screening, and any other pertinent data are reviewed. The committee's options include, but are not limited to the following:
Conduct no further action
Individual evaluation
Refer the student for possible 504 evaluation
Interventions through RTI process
>An evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services is based on an ongoing comprehensive assessment. The systematic process of review, examination, and interpretation of interventions, test results, interviews, observations, relevant functional and developmental information, and eligibility determination are completed within 60 business days from the date the parent gives informed written consent for an evaluation.
In accordance with the State Child Search Program, annual and ongoing activities are conducted to identify and locate children (ages 3 through 21) suspected of being exceptional and needing special education and/or related services.
School Age Not Enrolled in APSB
For additional information please contact the Pupil Appraisal Services Department at 225-391-7221.
