Child Find
Does your child need help with communication, learning, or skill development?
The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District offers screenings to determine if children need extra support.
Children ages 3-5: If your child was born between August 28, 2022, and August 31, 2020, they can receive a screening to see if they may need instruction and support with talking, learning, or other skills.
Screenings are by appointment only.
Children ages 5-21: If your child is school-age, their school of enrollment should handle any concerns about learning or development.
Appointments are limited to the following dates for the 2025/26 school year: August 28 and 29, September 5 and 12, November 7, December 5, January 16, February 20, and March 27.
Contact Information
Special Education Department
Administrative Center - 4th Floor
520 5th Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 451-6005 (FAX)
Emma Henze-Nelson
PreK Program Coordinator
emma.henze-nelson@k12northstar.org
(907) 452-2000 X11448
From Concerns to Special Education Services - What to Expect:
Developmental Concerns
- Concerns can come from parents, doctors, or daycares
- Contact the Special Education department to complete a brief questionnaire
Child Find Questionnaire
- Brief intake questionnaire of development and behavior via phone call
- The special education coordinator will review and make recommendations
- The coordinator may recommend Child Find screenings to assess further, unless development and behavior are within the developmentally appropriate range
Child Find Screening
- These screenings are individualized based on the coordinator's recommendations
- The Child Find team will review screenings and make recommendations
- The Child Find team may recommend formal evaluations unless development and behavior are within the developmentally appropriate range
SPED Referral and Evaluations
- If further evaluations are needed, they will be individualized based on Child Find recommendations
- The parent will sign a consent to evaluate and bring the student to evaluation appointments
Evaluation Summary Meeting
- The team at an FNSBSD school will meet with the parents to discuss the evaluation summary
- If the student is found eligible for special education services, the team may proceed to an IEP. If the development and behavior are within the developmentally appropriate range, the student may not be eligible for special education services
FNSBSD Enrollment
- The parent must enroll at the school determined at the Evaluation Summary meeting
- Services will be provided to address the students' needs based on eligibility