Exceptional Education

An evaluation is a careful look by a team of teachers and specialists at a student’s abilities, strengths, and areas of need. It provides information about the student’s educational needs and will also include information provided from the parents. Information given by the parent is very important.

• Special Education Evaluation Process

An IEE is an evaluation conducted by a qualified evaluator who is not an employee of your school division. You have the right to ask for an IEE at public expense (i.e., at no cost to you) when you disagree with the results of an evaluation conducted by the school. This could be an evaluation or reevaluation for special education services or an evaluation for a specific service or support, for example, technology supports or speech therapy. You can ask for only one IEE for every evaluation with which you disagree. Asking for an IEE is like asking for a 2nd opinion from a doctor or other professional. You should consider requesting an IEE when the results or analysis of the school’s evaluation do not seem correct, or if the school has decided not to conduct an evaluation you think your child needs.

1. General. (34 CFR 300.502(a))

• The parent of a child with a disability shall have the right to obtain an independent educational evaluation of the child.
• The local educational agency shall provide to the parent of a child with a disability, upon request for an independent educational evaluation, information about where an independent educational evaluation may be obtained and the applicable criteria for independent educational evaluations.

2. Parental right to evaluation at public expense. (34 CFR 300.502(b) and (e))

• The parent has the right to an independent educational evaluation at public expense if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the local educational agency.
• If the parent requests an independent educational evaluation at public expense, the local educational agency shall, without unnecessary delay, either:
  • Initiate a due process hearing to show that its evaluation is appropriate; or
  • Ensure that an independent educational evaluation is provided at public expense, unless the local educational agency demonstrates in a due process hearing that the evaluation obtained by the parent does not meet the local educational agency's criteria.
• If the local educational agency initiates a due process hearing and the final decision is that the local educational agency's evaluation is appropriate, the parent still has the right to an independent educational evaluation, but not at public expense.
• If the parent requests an independent educational evaluation, the local educational agency may ask the reasons for the parent's objection to the public evaluation. However, the explanation by the parent may not be required and the local educational agency may not unreasonably delay either providing the independent educational evaluation at public expense or initiating a due process hearing to defend the public evaluation.
• A parent is entitled to only one independent educational evaluation at public expense each time the public educational agency conducts an evaluation with which the parent disagrees.
• If an independent educational evaluation is at public expense, the criteria under which the evaluation is obtained, including the location of the evaluation and the qualifications of the examiner, shall be the same as the criteria that the local educational agency uses when it initiates an evaluation, to the extent those criteria are consistent with the parent's right to an independent educational evaluation. Except for the criteria, a local educational agency may not impose conditions or timelines related to obtaining an independent educational evaluation at public expense.

• Parent Guide to the Connect Parent Portal
• Parent Letter for Connect Parent Portal

• Virginia Procedural Safeguards

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes the educational plan that has been designed to meet the child’s unique needs. Each child who receives special education and related services must have an IEP. The IEP is developed with a group of individuals such as teachers, parents/guardians, administrators, related services personnel, and student (when appropriate) who work collaboratively to create a plan that provides meaningful benefit for the student with a disability.

 Annual Review

At least once a year, the IEP team meets to review/revise the student’s IEP.

• Administrative Guidelines and Procedures for Section 504

Special education services include a variety of options that allow the student to access the general curriculum. Teachers provide special education services across a continuum of service options that range from the least restrictive to the most restrictive. Students receive services determined by their specific needs. 

Related services mean developmental, corrective or supportive services required for a child with a disability to benefit from special education, including:

• Assistive technology
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Social and behavioral services
• Speech-language therapy
• Vision services
• Hearing services
• Transportation

Re-evaluation

At least every three years, a student’s eligibility is reviewed which may, or may not, involve new evaluations. This meeting determines a student's continued need for special education services.

• DSCC (formerly NICHCY) - Division of Specialized Care for Children, center for parent Information and Resources (Formerly NICHCY)

• Parent Resource Center - Hanover County Public Schools

• I'm Determined Project
• Partners in Policymaking
• Central Virginia Autism Society
• Down Syndrome Assosication of Greater Richmond
• Resources for Independent Living
• SOAR365
• Mental Health and Developmental Services
• Bay Transit
• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
• Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitative Center
• Charles City County Virginia-Department of Social Services
• Accessible Instructional Materials
• Understanding the Special Permission Locally Awarded Verified Credit (SPLAVC) Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
• Special Education for Parents
• Critical Descision Points
• Virginia Family Special Education Connection
• Center for Family Involvement
• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
• Partnership for People with Disabilities

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) advises the local school division of unmet needs and assists the division in formulating plans for improving the performance of children with disabilities in the division’s school and the community. 

Whether a student has a complex disability or just needs a little extra help, the SEAC helps make sure our schools are meeting the needs of each student. 

We seek to promote educational excellence for students with disabilities by encouraging collaborative partnerships, supporting an inclusive educational environment, and highlighting recommended best practices that will prepare students for productive citizenship. 

• Give advice about unmet needs in special education 

• Help develop plans for improving performance of students with disabilities 

• Take part in developing ways to meet needs of students with disabilities 

• Access and review needs/plans for special education, submit reports and recommendations to the Superintendent and School Board 

• Assist the school system in interpreting plans to the community for meeting the special needs of children with disabilities for educational services. 

• Parents/guardians/family members of students with disabilities 

• People with disabilities 

• Teachers 

• Related community service providers 

• Other interested community members 

Do you have one hour a month to meet with other parents and help students with disabilities? The Charles City County Schools Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) welcomes new parents and other interested community members to attend. All SEAC meetings are open to the public.  All CCPS families and interested individuals may attend.  We want to hear from you!  Please come to a SEAC meeting.  

The SEAC encourages and welcomes public comments during the public meetings from individuals or organizations about suggestions, concerns, or experiences regarding the education of students with disabilities. Written public comment is also welcomed and may be sent to Suzan Denby, supervisor of exceptional education. 

The SEAC of Charles City County Public Schools is always looking for interested parents and community members to join in its mission of promoting educational excellence for students with disabilities.   

Joining the SEAC gives you great opportunities to learn about how school services work and how to best meet your child’s needs. You will also get the great boost of knowing that you have made a difference in the lives of many children with disabilities! You can also become more connected with resources that might benefit your family and others. 

Don’t hesitate, get involved! 

For more information about SEAC, or if you would like to talk about becoming a member, please refer to the SEAC contacts listed below.  You may also scan the QR code to access the application. 

SEAC Contacts 

• Suzan Denby, Supervisor of Exceptional Education 

• Candice Jones, Chairperson     

• Traci Haskins, Parent Representative               

• Open, Vice Chair 

• Open, Secretary             

Charles City County School Board Office 
10035 Courthouse Road, Room #216 
Charles City, VA 23030 

*located in the hall directly behind the school board office 

The meetings for the school year 2026-2027 will be held at 5:00pm on the following dates:                             

Wednesday, October 7th  

Wednesday, December 9th  

Wednesday, February 10th    

Wednesday, April 7th