Special Education - Orange County Public Schools

The office of Special Education is committed to fostering an active, dynamic and collaborative approach to engaging students and parents as equal partners with the common mission of empowering and educating ALL students. While focusing on strengths and the unique abilities of each individual, we strive to eliminate barriers and ensure equal access to high quality education and services. We work to develop student's academic abilities and self-determination skills to become independent.

First page of the PDF file: 2023SPEDParentInvolvementFlyer

Parent Involvement Survey

Each school year the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is required to report to the U.S. Department of Education the "Percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities." Your participation in this survey will help the VDOE meet this requirement and collect additional information to identify training needs related to the special education processes. The VDOE will use the results of this survey to improve parental involvement in the special education process and improve outcomes for all students within the Commonwealth. It is important to note that your responses are recorded anonymously and cannot be personally linked to your child.

Parents who have more than one child receiving special education services should submit one survey for each child receiving services.

When completing this survey you will answer questions designed to cause you to reflect upon your experiences during the past school year.

The deadline for completion of this survey is December 15, 2023.

The survey can be accessed using the QR codes in the flyer or the links below. If you prefer to complete a paper version please contact the OCPS Special Education Office and they will provide you with a copy.

English - Parent Involvement Survey SY 2022-2023

En Español - Parent Involvement Survey SY 2022-2023

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact:

Chiquita Seaborne, VDOE Family Engagement Specialist/Special Projects Coordinator, via telephone, at (804) 225-3898, or via e-mail, at Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov.

Resources for Parents and Students

VDOE Resources

Graduation Requirements

Transition Services

Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities

“The Department of Education shall annually prepare and distribute to local school boards packets of information describing the educational and other services available through the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired to students who are identified as hearing impaired or visually impaired. Local school boards shall annually post this information on the school division's Web site and inform the parents of those students who are identified as hearing impaired or visually impaired of its availability. School boards shall ensure that packets of such information are available in an accessible format for review by parents who do not have Internet access.” (Virginia Department of Education).

VDOE Resources for Students with Sensory Disabilities

Special Education Advisory Committee

The Special Education Advisory Committee or SEAC, is made up of parents of students with disabilities, people with disabilities, a teacher, and community members, to advise local school divisions in the education and support of students with disabilities and participate in creating priorities and strategies for meeting those needs. OCPS’ SEAC is an important and useful tool for families and school divisions in improving student services and outcomes.

Child Find

Orange County Public Schools is required to inform the community of an individual's right to a free, appropriate public education and the availability of programs and services, including special education. OCPS has a responsibility to actively and continuously identify, locate, and evaluate those children, birth to age 21, inclusive, residing in Orange County who are suspected of having a disability and are in need of special education and related services. Children suspected of having a disability may also be considered for adaptations and accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

If a parent has concerns regarding their child ages two through four, inclusive, they should contact The Office of Special Education located at The Taylor Education Administration Complex at (540) 661-4555. Upon contact, information will be provided regarding interventions, screening, and evaluations. Parents may be asked to provide preliminary registration information about their child at this time.

Click the image below for more information.