All school districts in Pearl River County are participating in an ongoing statewide effort to maintain compliance with the Mississippi Department of Education to assist children with special needs through the Child Find program.

Mike Posey, director of student services for the PRC school district, said the district is identifying, locating and evaluating children to determine whether they’re eligible to receive aid through the district’s special needs programs.

“It’s a requirement for all the school districts in the state. It’s one of those things that we’re required by the Mississippi Department of Education to make sure information is out to see if they’re any children who may require or qualify for special needs services,” Posey said.

School districts are working to find and evaluate children from birth to 21 who may be physically, mentally or emotionally disabled. Each school district provides services for disabilities such as autism, deafness, blindness, disabilities relating to developmental delays, emotional disability, hearing impairment, language/speech, intellectual disabilities, children with multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and visual impairments or other health impairments, according to the Mississippi Department of Education’s website.

“It’s an ongoing process so if students aren’t identified at a young age and start having educational issues during school age, we start looking for those things,” Posey said.

In Poplarville’s School District, Shannon Anderson, director of special services, said it’s essential people contact their district’s office if they have or know of a child who may be eligible to receive the special needs services in order to make sure “no child is left behind.”

The Picayune School District is also participating in the ongoing effort to aid students with special needs. For more information, contact Diane Wise, the school’s director of exceptional education, at 601-798-4555. The district office is located at 622 Goodyear Blvd.

To reach the PRC school district, call 601-798-1912. The district’s central office is located at 7391 Highway 11 in Carriere.

The Poplarville School District can be reached at 601-795-6153. The school district’s central office is located at 302 S. Julia St.

Enrollment will remain open.