Special Education Basics

“All About Me” template

This fillable “All About Me” template from FFF gives families and students a simple way to share critical information with teachers, staff and others who can benefit from the essential key facts about a child or youth.

This was shared as part of our “Just So You Know… Strategies for Nontraditional Families to Share Their Information with Schools” training. It can be used by any family or student.

  • Document, “All About Me” template

    Fill in the blanks

  • PDF, “All About Me” template

    Instructions

  • PDF, “All About Me” template

    Sample completed All About Me


Virginia Special Education Regulations

From the Virginia Department of Education, this launch page offers a copy of state regulations for implementation of IDEA, and other state and federal special education policies.

  • Website, Virginia Special Education Regulations


 Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families from VDOE
March 01, 2024

From the Virginia Department of Education:

The Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families provides additional guidance to support accurate and consistent eligibility determinations and access to special education services across school divisions.

These video modules will provide parents, families, and other stakeholders with a brief but comprehensive overview of the special education process on the following topics:

Introduction (Overview of the Series)

Identification

Evaluation

Eligibility

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Reevaluation, Early Intervention, and

What’s Next.

Each module is designed to be viewed as a stand-alone resource or viewed in succession.

  • Website,  Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families from VDOE


VDOE Credit Accommodations criteria

On January 28, 2021, the Board of Education revised eligibility criteria and processes for the administration of locally-awarded verified credit due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Please see the Board of Education’s Emergency Guidelines for Locally-Awarded Verified Credits for details on locally-awarded verified credit options.

This webpage clarifies options for locally-awarded verified credits needed for Virginia’s advanced studies diploma and standard diploma requirements.

  • Website, VDOE Credit Accommodations criteria

    VDOE webpage re: Credit Accommodations


Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families
January 01, 2024

From the Virginia Department of Education, these brief videos cover aspects of the process for special education evaluation and eligibility.

  • Website, Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families

    Link to Video Guide


Military Families with Disabilities Resources
October 02, 2023

This page on the Center for Family Involvement website offers links to video and print resources designed for Virginia military-connected families who are raising children and youth wtih disabilities. Additional resources from Formed Families Forward and PEATC are also linked.

  • Website, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Military Family Resources

  • Video, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families video from FFF

  • Factsheet, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Turning 18 in Military Families fact sheet from PEATC


The Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education

Revised in 2023, this Guide from the Virginia Department of Education offers an overview of special education policies and procedures for the state.

  • Website, The Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education

    Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education


VDOE special education guidance documents

This Virginia Department of Education page links to official technical assistance and policy guidance documents related to special education in the state.

These resources were developed to provide professional development and technical assistance to parents, school personnel, and other consumers. All resources are intended to provide guidance for addressing the regulatory requirements and instructional elements needed for a student’s free appropriate public education (FAPE).

  • Website, VDOE special education guidance documents

    VDOE technical assistance and guidance documents


Clarifications on RTI/MTSS and special education referral

Clarifications from the US Office of Special Education Programs  and the Virginia Department of Education in spring 2023 that clarifies responsibilities of schools to allow a parent or caregiver to request an initial evaluation of child suspected of having a disability.  Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multitiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) cannot be used to delay or deny an initial evaluation.

  • Website, Clarifications on RTI/MTSS and special education referral

    3/14/23 Federal clarifications including links to two earlier memoranda

  • Website, Clarifications on RTI/MTSS and special education referral

    4/21/23 Virginia Superintendents' Memo


Federal letter to Special Education Directors on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children
November 10, 2022

This federal letter from the US Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services issued 11/10/22 to State Special Education Directors clarifies requirements for highly mobile children and youth such as military-connected children, migratory children, children who are homeless, and children in the foster care system.

Specific issues addressed are:

  1. Highly mobile children should have timely and expedited evaluations and eligibility determinations.
  2. Comparable services include services during the summer, such as Extended School Year (ESY) services.
  • PDF, Federal letter to Special Education Directors on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children


VDOE Credit accommodations for Advanced Studies and Standard Diplomas

This webpage provides updated information about available accommodations for earning credits needed for Virginia’s Standard and Advanced Studies diplomas.

  • Website, VDOE Credit accommodations for Advanced Studies and Standard Diplomas

    VDOE Credit Accommodations for students with disabilities


State Complaint Toolkit from PEATC

This Toolkit from Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC, the Virginia statewide parent training and information center) reviews policy and procedures for filing a State complaint regarding an alleged violation of special education rules.

  • Toolkit, State Complaint Toolkit from PEATC

    State Complaint Toolkit


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

From the US Office of Special Education programs, this set of guidance Questions and Answers addresses special education (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA) requirements applicable to children with disabilities placed by their parents or caregivers in private schools, who are not enrolled in public school system.

This was updated in February 2022.

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

    Q & A guidance


Foster Care, Special Education, and Learning and Thinking Differences: What You Need to Know

This brief article from Understood.org overviews some education issues specific to children and youth in foster care to foster/resource parents.

  • Document, Foster Care, Special Education, and Learning and Thinking Differences: What You Need to Know


Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022
July 19, 2022

Released on July 19, 2022, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) published several policy documents and guides to  help public elementary and secondary schools fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline.

The  resources are the most comprehensive guidance on the civil rights of students with disabilities concerning student discipline and build on the Department’s continued efforts to support students and schools through pandemic recovery.

  • PDF, Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022

    Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA's Discipline Provisions from OSERS

  • PDF, Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022

    Stakeholders' Guide: Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting Children with Disabilities from OSERS

  • PDF, Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022

    Dear Colleague Letter: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA's Discipline Provisions

  • PDF, Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022

    Dear Colleague Letter: Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

  • PDF, Federal Discipline Guidance and Resources, issued July 2022

    Fact Sheet: Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973


Extended School Year (ESY) webinar May 2022
May 19, 2022

This webinar, presented live on 5/19/22 by special education advocate Liz Capone, MS, offered timely information about extended school year services for students with disabilities.

  • Video, Extended School Year (ESY) webinar May 2022

    Recording of the webinar

  • PDF, Extended School Year (ESY) webinar May 2022

    Presentation slides


Special Education for Formed Families: Making It Work! webinar
March 08, 2022

Presented live on March 8, 2022, this webinar overviewed eligibility and evaluation processes and offered helpful strategies for foster, adoptive and kinship families to ensure appropriate assessments. Presented by Kelly Henderson and Beth Spivack of FFF.

  • Webinar, Special Education for Formed Families: Making It Work! webinar

    Webinar recording

  • PDF, Special Education for Formed Families: Making It Work! webinar

    Presentation slides

  • PDF, Special Education for Formed Families: Making It Work! webinar

    VDOE Supplemental Guidance on Evaluation and Reevaluations 2021


VDOE Supplemental Guidance for Evaluation and Eligibility in Special Education

From the Virginia Department of Education, this 2021 guidance offer is an addendum to the Virginia Department of Education’s Evaluation and Eligibility For Special Education and Related Services: Guidance Document and Guidance on Evaluation and Eligibility for the Special Education Process Appendix A (Sample Evaluation and Eligibility Forms). The Supplemental Guidance provides information about data sources that may be used to inform eligibility for special education services or a need for a related service, as well as information to assist in the local interpretation for terminology in Virginia special education regulations that are not clearly defined (e.g., determining “adverse educational impact” and determining “need for specially designed instruction”).

  • Website, VDOE Supplemental Guidance for Evaluation and Eligibility in Special Education


Reevaluations: Tips for Continuing Special Education Eligibility webinar

Originally broadcast on March 1, 2022, this webinar presented by Kelly Henderson of Formed Families Forward includes a review of the why, when, who and what of special education reevaluations or “triennials”. The 4 steps of reevaluation and the specifics of the ‘developmental delay’ category are covered.

  • Webinar, Reevaluations: Tips for Continuing Special Education Eligibility webinar

    Recording of Reevaluation Webinar

  • PDF, Reevaluations: Tips for Continuing Special Education Eligibility webinar

    Slides


Finding the Sweet Spot: Foster Care, Disability and Special Education article

This article by FFF Executive Director Kelly Henderson offers an overview of special education considerations for children and youth in foster care. It was published in Fostering Families Today magazine in July 2021.

  • Webinar, Finding the Sweet Spot: Foster Care, Disability and Special Education article

    Article on website

  • PDF, Finding the Sweet Spot: Foster Care, Disability and Special Education article

    PDF version of article


The Special Education Evaluation Process webinar

Delivered on February 22, 2022 by FFF staff experts, this was first in the Winter 2022 Accessing Special Education: Evaluation & Eligibility Basics webinar series.  This session covered initial referral and evaluation processes, timelines and requirements. Eligibility categories and approaches were shared.

  • Webinar, The Special Education Evaluation Process webinar

    Recording of webinar

  • PDF, The Special Education Evaluation Process webinar

    Presentation slides


Applied Studies Diploma fact sheet from VDOE

Published by Va Department of Education in Spring 2021.

  • Factsheet, Applied Studies Diploma fact sheet from VDOE