Special Education

Special Education Tools & Resources

Funding and access to the intensive support and specialized services needed to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for special education students is challenged by underfunding, understaffing, and lack of adequate professional development which perpetuates an achievement gap between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. Special education students are those identified as having educational or physical disabilities and receiving special education services specified through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). About 185,000, or 14-15% of Virginia’s K-12 students are identified as receiving special education services in 2024.

Virginia’s Special Education Funding formula is based on a complex formula incorporating student counts, level of need, and caseload maximums. The caseload maximums have not been overhauled for at least 25 years. JLARC’s 2023 K-12 funding report found that the SOQ (staffing) formula was not aligned with actual practice, with state funding being provided for only 15% of special education aide positions. Local governments cover 69% of the cost of special education services. JLARC estimates is 2023 that there was a $480M gap in state funding for special education students.

Virginia PTA supports proper identification of and support for students with disabilities across all settings through increased professional development, access to curricula, and development of standardized tests and universal screeners that can accurately measure the capabilities of students with disabilities. Additionally, Virginia PTA supports fully creation of a “Special Education Add-On” in the SOQ formula to state funding for special education students, based on level of need. At the federal level we support increased funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which would give school districts an enhanced ability to hire staff, such as related service providers, in ratios that significantly benefit both the identification of and provision of services for students with disabilities, while also increasing staff performance and retention.

Virginia PTA Advocacy Impact

PTA has a long history of advocacy for improving resources and funding for students with disabilities and ensuring that parents are aware of their rights and have an active role partnering with the school to develop an instructional program and/or other related services based on the needs of children with disabilities. Many PTA’s across the Commonwealth send a representative to their school divisions Special Education Advisory Committee meeting and incorporate information from those meetings in their advocacy and family engagement programs.

During the 2021 General Assembly Session Virginia PTA successfully advocated for legislation to implement changes recommended by the General Assembly’s 2020 Special Education JLARC study and partnered with other associations across the country to secure passage of the federal Keeping Students Safe Act. During the 2022-2023 Sessions Virginia PTA won passage of the Virginia Literacy Act which transforms literacy across the state to use scientifically-based reading research and evidence-based practices for reading instruction, intervention, and assessments.

During the 2024 General Assembly Session we won passage of HB1089/SB220 to transform special education services in Virginia. This bill requires each local school board to designate a faculty member to serve as a special education parent/family liaison to be a resource to parents and families to understand and engage in the referral, evaluation, reevaluation, and eligibility process if they suspect that their child has a disability and in the IEP process. It additionally requires the Virginia Department of Education to:

  • establish review and update the a Virginia IEP template every 5 years to includes an IEP writing, facilitation, tracking, and transfer system;
  • develop and publish a data dashboard for the annual public reporting of state-level, division-level, and school-level special education data;
  • develop in collaboration with PEATC, eight regional special education family support centers, and track and report on questions/concerns raised by parents;
  • develop and implement outreach and support materials for parents of children with disabilities
Current Advocacy Focus

During the 2025 General Assembly session Virginia PTA successfully advocated for a Special Education Add-On to the basic per pupil funding. We secured ($52.8M) supplemental funding of 4.75% for students receiving Level 1 services and a 5.25% add-on for students receiving Level 2 services. This 10% increase in special education funding is a significant step to close the $480M gap in state special education funding.

We encourage families to follow the Commission on Youth (links to the left) to provide input on the IEP template and dispute resolution process.

#TakeAction4Kids by emailing your legislator, attending and speaking at your local Special Education Advisory Committee, getting active on social media, writing letters to the editor, joining a virtual rally, or attending Virginia PTA’s Capitol Day.

Special Education Advisory Committees (SEAC)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires that each state establish and maintain a state advisory panel (State Special Education Advisory Committee, or SSEAC) to advise state special education staff regarding the education of children with disabilities. Virginia is unique in that each of our school divisions are required by the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia to have a local advisory committee (local SEAC) for special education.

SEACs provide an opportunity for parents and other school board appointees to have a voice in the way school divisions provide services to students with disabilities. SEACs are extensions of local school boards since members are appointed by the School Board. and provide public reports and recommendations to their school boards. SEAC meetings must be held at least four times a school year and are open to the public

Virginia PTA encourages each PTA to designate a ‘SEAC Chair’ to attend and represent your PTA at their city/county’s state mandated Special Education Advisory Committees (SEACs) meetings. SEAC chairs should share a report back to their PTA at GEneral Membership meetings on in newsletters to encourage awareness of special education programs and advocacy opportunities.

Special Education Toolkit for Families

PTA’s Special Education Toolkit for Families

Tips for PTAs to Engage and Support Special Education Families

  • Designate a SEAC Chair to attend local SEAC meetings and report back to your PTA
  • Create a PTA Special Education Committee to focus on inclusive family engagement
  • Set-up quiet areas, sensory focused or virtual option at your family engagement events
  • Host an event for World Autism Awareness Day
  • Encourage participation in the Reflections Accessible Arts division which is for all special education students, regardless of age
  • Ask school counselors if they know of specific special needs some students may require when attending family events
  • Ask Special Education teachers if they need specific supports or offer a special education mini-grant
  • Include the Special Education Ombudsman contact information on your website
  • Sponsor a buddy bench or buddy walking program for the playground

Virginia Department of Education Resources

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is a statewide nonprofit that has served as Virginia’s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) for over 40 years.  With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Virginia Department of Education, PEATC helps families, students, and professionals gain knowledge and advocacy skills to navigate special education and disability services in Virginia. PEATC offers fact sheets and resources on its website as well as an ongoing schedule of workshops and training programs designed for families. PEATC also offers one-on-one support via specialists in early childhood, transition, family engagement, military outreach, LatinX outreach and more. Below is a sample of some of their resources. Please visit peatc.org for more helpful tools including documents in Spanish and a calendar of upcoming workshops.

Quick Resources

Follow Special Education Policy

Virginia PTA Resolutions

National PTA Positions/Resolutions

Family Resources