Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families 

In response to feedback and collaboration with the field, as well as to legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has released a Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families as 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 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. 

 

New Resources for Military-Connected Families of Students with Disabilities

The Virginia Department of Education's Family Engagement Network (FEN) is a group of professionals from local school divisions, university training and technical assistance centers, state agencies, and other organizations whose purpose is to foster family involvement and engagement in education, especially for children with disabilities. 

The FEN has created four new resources for military-connected families of students with disabilities. These three one-pager resources, as well as a video, are linked below.

• Military Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services: Things to Know When Moving to Virginia School Systems

• Military Families of Exceptional Family Members - Birth to 5 Years - Things to Know When Moving to Virginia

• Are You a Military Family Relocating to Virginia with a Child Who Has a Disability? Check Out These Helpful Hints and Resources

• Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families (Video)

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The Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education - Revised Oct. 2023

The Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education is a revision of the former A Parent's Guide to Special Education, which was originally published in 2010. This new state guide was developed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities which include the child's rights, and the school's responsibility to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. Important timelines are highlighted throughout.

Translations in five additional languages are available below:

• Spanish: Guía de Educación Especial para las Familias de Virginia

• Vietnamese: Hướng Dẫn Dành Cho Các Gia Đình Tại Virginia về Giáo Dục Đặc Biệt

• Urdu: خصوصی تعلیم ورجینیا فیملی گائیڈ برائے

• Arabic: الخاص دليل عائلة فرجينيا للتعليم

• Amharic: የቨርጂኒያ የልዩ ትምህርት የቤተሰብ መመሪያ

A limited number of printed guides, in English, has been sent to the special education director in each local school division in Virginia. Additional printed copies in both English and Spanish will be available prior to the end of 2023.