Child Search
Supporting Young Children and Their Families
St. Charles Parish Public Schools (SCPPS) is committed to identifying, locating, and evaluating children ages 3 to 5 who reside within the district and may have a disability requiring special education, related services, or additional supports. Through its Child Find efforts, the district works to ensure that eligible students receive the services they need to access and succeed in their educational programs.
Child Search is a free program that helps identify and support young children who may have a developmental delay or disability. This national initiative works closely with families who have concerns about their child's speech, language, hearing, vision, behavior, movement, sensory needs, learning, or overall development.
Developmental Milestones
2 year olds
- Use 2-3 word sentences
- Understood by close family members
- Point to things labeled in books
- Kick a ball and run
- Use a spoon when eating
- Point to named body parts (eyes, ears, nose, mouth)
- Play next to or in the same area as a peer
3 year olds
- Use 3-4 word sentences
- Understood by familiar adults
- Follow 1-2 step directions
- Ask who, what, where, and why questions
- Scribble with crayons
- Use a fork when eating
- Puts on clothes (may need assistance with fasteners)
- Engage in pretend play
4 year olds
- Use 4-5 word sentences
- Understood by most others, including family & friends
- Follow 2-3 step directions
- Sing a song or nursery rhyme
- Answer simple questions
- Name a few colors
- Throw a large ball
Free Developmental Screenings
The Special Education Department offers free developmental screening clinics for children ages 3 to 5 who are not enrolled in public school and may be experiencing developmental delays or have disabilities. These screenings are held throughout the school year during the months of July, September, October, November, January, March, and April.
Access 2026-2027 Screening Dates
Schedule An Appointment
To schedule a screening or learn more about Child Search services, please contact the Child Search Coordinator at 985-785-3155 or complete the attached form.
- Screenings take approximately 20 minutes
- Screenings are conducted by trained staff, which may include an Educational Diagnostician, School Social Worker, and/or Speech-Language Pathologist
- Screenings include assessments of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, speech and language development, early learning and pre-academic skills, social development, emotional development, and behavioral development
- A translator can be available upon request
Following your child's screening, staff will discuss the results with you and provide recommendations. If additional evaluation is suggested, the next steps will be explained. The evaluation process, if needed, typically takes about 60 school days to complete.