Virginia Voices- Actions, Issues, Policy, Legislation

I’m located in Buchanan County VA (Southwest Virginia) I relocated here from Maryland 8 years ago and I’m completely new to the school system here as when I moved here my children were grown and my grandchildren are in the Elementary faze of their school careers. I’m familiar with the team meeting process for individual’s transitioning from school into adult services. I’m not familiar with the beginning of the IEP process. Here it seems that they contact you the week before the deadline to schedule the meeting for one day the week of the deadline then at the end of the meeting they expect you to sign acceptance of the IEP and you get your copy and the PWN before you leave…

My granddaughter just started Pre-K in northern Virginia. Her IEP (originally created in DC) includes a 1:1 aide due to motor movement and other issues. Her new school district claims that removing her from an inclusive general education classroom into a special education classroom would be Least Restrictive since they feel she would not need the 1:1 aide there, or would need it less. They are defining the use of a 1:1 aide as a Restrictive Environment. Can the district make up their own definition of Least Restrictive? Of do they need to follow the more common definition of Least Restrictive being children with disabilities educated with children who are not disable…

The VDOE State School Board will meet Nov 17, 2022 https://doe.virginia.gov/boe/meetings/index.shtml the State Special Education Advisory Committee does not meet in Nov, but will meet Dec 1 https://doe.virginia.gov/boe/committees_advisory/special_ed/index.shtml