For Families
News & Announcements
2022 Parent Involvement Survey
All parents of school-aged children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services in Virginia are encouraged to complete the Virginia Department of Education’s annual Parent Involvement Survey. The survey will remain open through December 16, 2022. If you have questions concerning this survey, please contact Chiquita Seaborne, Family Engagement Specialist/Special Projects Coordinator, via telephone at (804) 225-3898 or via email, at Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov.
- Parent Involvement Survey-English
- Parent Involvement Survey-Spanish
- Parent Involvement (Indicator 8) Survey-Frequently Asked Questions-This is a Word document.
Training Opportunities
- Transition University/October 10, 2022 thru November 29, 2022-This is a PDF document. - The Parent Transition University is a FREE 5 session self-paced online series to help parents/guardians navigate the transition process for their school age child and prepare for the adult world.This course is designed for parents/caregivers of elementary, middle or high school students that receive special education services, but is open to everyone.
- IEP University/October 30, 2022 thru November 30, 2022-This is a PDF document.- The IEP process can be difficult and stressful. Everyone comes to the IEP table with thoughts of their personal responsibilities, perspectives, and individual concerns. IEP meetings can be places of high anxiety and there are occasions when conflict may erupt as a result of managing emotions while simultaneously following policy and procedures. PEATC, in collaboration with VDOE, has developed IEP University (IEPU) to help provide families and professionals with accurate and useful information around IEP development and meetings. IEPU is a self-paced online training course with easy-to-understand guidance on the special education process, the IEPdocument, and ways to develop collaborative relationships among schools and families. IEPU will target practical strategies aimed at helping future IEP meetings be more positive, productive, and collaborative for everyone involved. A certificate of completion for 6 hours will be provided for all who complete the training.
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Early Childhood Academy/November 14, 2022 thru December 19, 2022 - Parents are their child’s first and most important teachers, and the early years are a critical time for growth and development. Helping children learn and grow doesn’t have to be complicated or done alone. In this FREE virtual 5-week learning program, parents and caregivers will learn useful tips and ideas for supporting their child’s development and the resources available to help make transition from early intervention to school less confusing. This course was designed so that busy families can learn on their own schedule with new sessions opening weekly and available anytime – day or night. Participants who complete all sessions will receive a certificate of completion with 9 contact hours.
- Building Strong Parent Advocates/November 21, 2022 through December 12, 2022 - PEATC, in collaboration with the VDOE, invites families to join us in our newest online training course, Building Strong Parent Advocates. Families of children receiving special education services find themselves in a world filled with complicated policies, confusing acronyms and terms, and piles of paperwork. Often families find themselves looking for information and background knowledge to help them better support their children through the Individualized Education Program (IEP). The Building Strong Parent Advocates training provides information to help families build a solid foundation to understand the special education process while empowering them to be their child’s best advocate. The training will take approximately 6 hours, and can be accessed anytime during the 3 weeks of November 21, 2022 through December 12, 2022. A certificate of completion for 6 hours will be provided for all who complete the training.
Resources
- Family Engagement Lessons of COVID-19: Building on What We've Learned-This is a PDF document. - The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began for schools in early 2020. At times, this period has been frightening, sad, and anxiety-provoking. At the same time, however, we have learned quite a bit about how schools and families can work together in order to help children be more successful learners. In an effort to help carry these lessons with us as we move forward, the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE's) Family Engagement Network (FEN) created this document to help catalog what we've learned throughout the past two years.
- Supporting Students with Complex Learning Needs in Virtual and Remote Learning Environments-This is a PDF document. - The purpose of this document is to help families identify ways they can work with educators to provide instruction and support to their children with complex learning needs.
- Tips for Successful Communication with Families during Online Learning-This is a PDF document. - Online learning has become the new normal for many students across the nation which has presented challenges communicating with students and families. The following document was created by the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE's) Family Engagement Network (FEN) in order to provide tips for educators who are communicating with families through online learning.
Understanding the Applied Studies Diploma
The VDOE's new resource, Understanding the Applied Studies Diploma-This is a PDF document. is here to assist families with understanding everything they need to know related to this specific diploma option. An accessible Word document version-This is a Word document. as well as an accessible Spanish Word document version-This is a Word document., is also available.
Parent Resources for New VAAP Assessment 2021-2022
Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, the portfolio-based Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) will be replaced with a new multiple-choice assessment in the content areas of reading, mathematics, and science that will be administered to students in an online or paper format. The new VAAP will be based on academic content standards derived from the Standards of Learning (SOL) in reading, mathematics, and science that have been reduced in depth, breadth, and complexity. These resources have been developed in order to assist families with understanding the changes to the VAAP:
The New VAAP: Introduction for Parents
Parent Ombudsman for Special Education
VDOE has an Ombudsman for Special Education who acts as a source of information and referral, aids in answering individuals' questions, and assists in the resolution of concerns and issues. School divisions, parents, and children benefit and build relationships when school divisions and parents work together to resolve problems, the Parent Ombudsman for Special Education serves to facilitate that process.
Contact Information
Parent Ombudsman
Toll Free: 800-422-2083
Email: SpecialEducationOmbudsman@doe.virginia.gov
Family to Family Network at the Center for Family Involvement
The Family to Family Network (F2F) of Virginia is an initiative of the Center for Family Involvement at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Partnership for People with Disabilities, and is funded by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The F2F Network utilizes a peer support model based on Parent to Parent USA evidenced-based practices in matching families one-to-one. F2F provides:
- disability and community services navigational support
- family-friendly information and resource referrals on topics such as special education and early intervention services, health care and related financing, and home and community-based Medicaid Waiver
- expertise in autism, hearing loss, and mental/behavioral health
- connections to cultural brokers from culturally & linguistically diverse communities
Refer to the video for an overview of the F2F Network.
Overview
Parents play an important role in the education of their children, especially parents of children who are identified as having disabilities. The law requires that parents and school personnel work together to provide children with appropriate educational services.
SEACs Guide: A Guide for Local Special Education Advisory Committees in Virginia-This is a PDF document.
Since 2005, the Virginia Department of Education has collaborated with the Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University to develop and revise a guide that outlines the legal mandates of the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (the Virginia Regulations), at 8VAC20-81-230.D, related to the local advisory committee or, as is commonly referred to in Virginia as a local Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC).
The purpose of this guide is to provide basic information for local SEAC members and school division representatives regarding SEAC roles and functions. SEACs can play a critical role in assisting school divisions in shaping services for students with disabilities. It is intended that this guide be used to strengthen collaboration and effective working relationships among families, school board members, division staff and administrators, and community members as a means of improving special education services and outcomes for students with disabilities. This guide was revised in 2011 to comply with revisions to the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (published January 25, 2010). The 2020 revision of the guide was supported by a team of parents who serve (or served) as local SEAC chairs and the Virginia Department of Education staff.
Sign Up for Parent Information Email Updates
Subscribe or update your GovDelivery subscriber preferences to receive email updates from the Virginia Department of Education. For information designed specifically for parents, look for the heading News and Updates and check the box marked "Information for Parents and Families." You can also select other topics that you would like to receive.
For more information or questions related to the GovDelivery system, please contact Tracy Lee, via email, at Tracy.Lee@doe.virginia.gov, or by telephone, at 804-225-3492.
Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities
The Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities-This is a Word document. guide was developed in order to assist families of children with disabilities with understanding keys to their children's academic success, as well as decisions that they will have to make throughout their children's careers in public education. Information is provided that will assist parents with understanding not only what decisions will need to be made, but also when those decisions need to start being considered.
Five web-based training modules are also available and can be found at I'm Determined - Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities.
Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities One-Pager Library
Critical Decision Points for Children with Disabilities Training Videos
Five Critical Decision Points for Children with Disabilities training videos can also be accessed on VDOE's YouTube channel.
Critical Decision Points Session 1
Critical Decision Points Session 2
Critical Decision Points Session 3
Critical Decision Points Session 4
Critical Decision Points Session 5
Back to Basics Special Education Law Modules
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), in partnership with Old Dominion University (ODU), has created five Back to Basics Special Education Law Modules. This professional development initiative is designed to support Virginia school division personnel by providing introductory information on special education compliance. These modules provide information that is valuable for the schools and families who support Virginia's students with disabilities.
A Parent's Guide to Special Education
This publication was developed to help parents understand their rights and responsibilities, their child's rights and the school's responsibilities to meet the special needs of their child. The guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required of you and the school during each step of that process. Important timelines are highlighted in each section.
A Parent's Guide To Special Education is provided in these formats:
Virginia Family Special Education Connection
Virginia Family Special Education Connection is a new website dedicated to providing comprehensive information on special education issues, practices and services to Virginia families who have children with disabilities. This resource was developed by VDOE, in collaboration with the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities at George Mason University.
Resolving Issues
VDOE has an ombudsman who acts as a source of information and referral, aids in answering individuals' questions, and assists in the resolution of concerns and issues. The ombudsman serves as a resource to parents in non-legal special education matters.
Parent's are encouraged to resolve special education concerns at the local school division level. School divisions, parents, and children benefit and build relationships when school divisions and parents work together to resolve problems.
- Parents’ Guide to Special Education Dispute Resolution (PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Ombudsman for Special Education
- Troubleshooting Parents' Special Education Concerns Within A Local School Division – (This document is under revision)
Training Opportunities For Families of Students with Disabilities
As the result of collaboration between the VDOE and the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), the following training opportunities are available for families of children with disabilities and those who serve them. For a description of the training objectives, other specific information about each training, and to register for a training event, please click the desired web link below.
- Transition University flyer-This is a PDF document.: A FREE parent friendly 5-week self-paced online transition course
- Early Childhood Academy-This is a PDF document.: Offered for families of young children (birth through age six) with disabilities or developmental delays
Resources
Special Education Regulations & Rights
- Guidance Document on the Implementation of the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia, 2009 (PDF)
- Guidance Document for Implementing New Special Education Requirements for the Definition of Parent, May 2009 (PDF)
- Virginia Special Education Regulations
- Your Family's Special Education Rights – Virginia Procedural Safeguards Notice (PDF)
- Guidance Document on Manifestation Determination (PDF) – Document currently under revision
- Extended School Year Services (PDF)
- Early Childhood Transition From Part C Early Intervention to Part B Special Education and Other Services for Young Children with Disabilities (PDF)
- Educational Interpreting Services (PDF)
- Transfer of Children with Disabilities and Special Education Protections Briefing (PDF)
- Guidance on Prior Written Notice in the Special Education Process (PDF)
Parent Resource Centers (PRC)
Special Education Advisory Committees (SEAC)
- State Special Education Advisory Committee – The State Special Education Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Regular quarterly meetings include time for the committee to receive public comment.
- Local Special Education Advisory Committees
Private Schools
- Private Day & Residential Schools
- Licensed Private Schools for Students with Disabilities-This is a Word document.
- Private School Parent Survey SY 2019 -2020
- Private School Student Survey SY 2019-2020
Military Family Information
- Military Families
- Guidance for Military Families with Students in Special Education (PDF)
- Transfer of Children with Disabilities and Special Education Protections Briefing (PDF)
Outside Resources
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA
- Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Center for Family Involvement
- The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Building positive futures for Virginia's children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life
- The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) – National Directory
You May Also Be Interested In
For Parents: Virginia's Tiered System of Supports (VTSS) – A video that explains the system used in Virginia that provides resources and support to help every student become successful in academics and behavior. Also see Virginia's Tiered Systems of Support. - Participation & Inclusion - includes guidelines for assessment participation and special test accommodations
- Educational Interpreting Services (PDF)
- Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families (CSA)
- Transition Services for Students with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
Endrew F. Question and Answer Document
On March 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District Re-1, 137 S.Ct. 988. In this decision, the court held that "to meet its substantive obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a school must offer [a child] an IEP [individualized education program] reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances."
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is pleased to announce its release of a Question and Answer (Q&A) document addressing the Endrew F.decision. OSERS is issuing this Q&A document to provide parents and other stakeholders information on the issues addressed in Endrew F. and the impact of the Court's decision on the implementation of IDEA. We hope that you find this Q&A document useful, and we look forward to receiving additional questions and comments related to the Q&A and the Endrew F. decision by email at EndrewF@ed.gov.