HCPS non public services provides child find services to ALL Hillsborough County private schools and their students. Child Find services include:

• Assistance in determining if a private school student may need special education services.
• Reevaluation of parentally placed private school students with disabilities

Child Find is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and refers the responsibility to school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children residing within their jurisdiction that either have or are suspected of having a disability and may need special education services. The questions and answers below may assist you in understanding this process.

Question: Which school district is responsible for Child Find activities (i.e., evaluations) when the district the child resides in differs from the district where the private school is located?

Answer: Districts must conduct Child Find activities for all children attending nonprofit private schools, including religious schools, located in their jurisdiction, to identify students who are in need of special education and related services or may need a reevaluation. Note, if the private school operates as a for-profit school, then the district where the student resides is responsible for Child Find activities.

Question: What is the responsibility of the district regarding Child Find activities for parentally-placed private school students?

Answer: Child Find activities must ensure equitable participation and an accurate count of parentally-placed private school students with disabilities enrolled in nonprofit private schools. In carrying out Child Find for parentally-placed private school children, districts must undertake activities similar to those undertaken for their publicly enrolled students.

If you are the parent or guardian of a child in a private school who may need an initial evaluation or needs a reevaluation, please contact Michelle Alfonso at (813) 273-7019 or Tracy Aguilar at (813) 273-7306.

The MTSS process is intended to support students struggling in the general education classroom. All schools are strongly encouraged to provide a multi-tiered system of supports to students. For more information on MTSS, visit the MTSS website.

Not-for-profit private schools in Hillsborough County are invited to affirm with HCPS for services. Each year a service delivery model is determined through consultation between private schools and HCPS Non Public Services.

The current service delivery model provides the following supports and services to private school students with disabilities attending affirmed private schools and to the staff that serves them:

• Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide direct services in the form of speech/language therapy to eligible parentally-placed private school students with disabilities who are identified as Speech Impaired and/or Language Impaired. These services, in the form of speech therapy, will be provided on the private school campus through a contractual arrangement between the district and a third party agency that has been approved by the School Board. Direct services in the form of speech therapy will be delivered in accordance with each eligible student’s services plan.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of general, large group training sessions to teachers and guidance counselors who work with parentally-placed private school students with disabilities.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of individualized and/or small group customized trainings from an ESE certified teacher to private school personnel who work with identified (IDEA eligible) students with disabilities at private schools.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of supplementary, consumable reading, language arts and mathematics materials to be used with students with disabilities who are having difficulties in the areas of reading and mathematics.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of diagnostic assessments to be used with students with disabilities who are having academic difficulties.
• A Summer Institute will be provided to teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators and/or other staff from eligible private schools who work with parentally-placed private school students with disabilities.

How Do I Request Services?
Requests for Services need to be submitted by the parent and not the private school. To request speech or language services please contact Michelle Alfonso at (813) 273-7019 or Tracy Aguilar at (813) 273-7306.   

2023-2024 Booklet

A Parent's Introduction to Exceptional Education Services in Florida

Procedural Safeguards

Child Find Developmental Screenings

Multi Tiered Support System (MTSS)

Private School Listing

Florida Department of Education: DPS: 2011-23 - Technical Assistance Paper for Students with Disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools

Questions and Answers on Serving Children with Disabilities Placed by Their Parents in Private Schools

Annual Consultation Meeting:
PRIVATE SCHOOLS annual meeting PPPSS