Putnam County Schools "Child Find" will hold an informational consultation for parents, teachers, and administrators of any child with disabilities 3-22 years of age, including home-schooled or private-schooled students, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Putnam County Board of Education, 1400 East Spring Street in Cookeville, TN.

CHILD FIND is a federally mandated activity in which school systems are required to search and try to identify children residing in their school district who may be eligible to receive some early intervention services, as well as other school-related services.  
 
Most referrals for services come from other agencies already working with the child, such as the Department of Children's Services or the Tennessee Early Intervention System.  When a child younger than three is referred to the school system, every effort is made to refer that family to programs and services available for the 0-3 population.   Referrals also come from day care center directors, doctors, and relatives, as well as parents.
 
Putnam County Schools provides speech and language therapy to pre-schoolers who meet eligibility criteria.  Parents are responsible for transporting their children to the speech therapist at a designated school.
 
If you know of any disabled individual, age 3-21, including children attending private schools, not presently receiving an appropriate educational program or other needed services, or if you would like more information,  please call the Putnam County Schools Special Education Department at (931) 526-9777.

•  Child Find Programs information at the CDC.
• Map (Google) of the Board of Education location.
• Guidance, resources, and technical assistance related to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).