Dr. Randy Jennings
Director of Special Education and Student Services
rjennings@salem.k12.va.us
Diane Rose
Coordinator of Special Education
drose@salem.k12.va.us
Special Education
Virginia Department of Education Parent Survey (Indicator 8)
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 school division should have provided you with an opportunity to participate in a short survey, which VDOE will use to collect the necessary data to report on this requirement. Your participation in this survey will help VDOE 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. 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.
The online surveys can be accessed using the links below:
English Version---- English Version of the 2022-23 Indicator 8 Parent Survey
Spanish Version---- Spanish Version of the 2022-23 Indicator 8 Parent Survey
Child Find
What is Child Find?
In accordance with Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (2010), each local school division shall maintain an active and continuing child find program designed to identify, locate, and evaluate those children residing in the jurisdiction who are birth to age 21, inclusive, who are in need of special education and related services (34 FR 300.102 and 34 300.111).
Who do I contact if I’m concerned about my child?
If you have questions or comments about Special Education in Salem City Schools or are concerned about your child, call Dr. Randy Jennings, Director of Student Services, at (540) 389-0130.
Tell me more about Child Find.
Virginia Law states that local school divisions must identify and evaluate
children and youth ages birth through 21 years who may be disabled and need related services. If eligible, disabled children ages 2 through 21 years must be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
Children with disabilities may be classified as having: Autism, a Developmental Delay,a Hearing Impairment, Deaf/Blind, a Speech or Language Impairment, an Intellectual Disability, an Emotional Disability, a Specific Learning Disability, an Orthopedic Impairment, a Visual Impairment, an Other Health Impairment, and a Traumatic Brain Injury.
Salem City Schools have many programs available to meet the individual and varied needs of students with disabilities.
How is it Determined that a Child May Need Special Education?
Before a student can receive special education services, a comprehensive evaluation must be conducted.
Whenever a child is having a school-related problem, and prior to any
individual testing, the parent is notified and written permission is obtained.
Information from the comprehensive evaluation is discussed at a special meeting with the school staff and the child’s parents to determine if the child has a disabling condition that adversely affects educational performance and requires specialized instruction.
Students approved for homebound instruction work with a licensed teacher in their home for a set number of hours per week. The homebound teacher works with the classroom teacher to provide essential instruction in the core subjects to each student. A limited number of courses are provided to high school students on homebound instruction. To find out more information, please click on the above link.
Hearing and Visually Impaired Students
Helpful Links
Special Education Procedures
It is the policy of Salem City Public Schools to adhere to federal and state regulations as they have been promulgated by the United States Department of Education and the Virginia Board of Education to implement special education programs for children with disabilities. Specifically, these mandates are detailed in the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. and any additional documents that the Virginia Department of Education publishes to address federal and state statutes and regulations for delivering special education and related services to children.
The Special Education: Local Policies and Procedures for the Implementation of Special Education were approved on October 13, 2020. Questions related to this document should be directed to Randy Jennings, Director of Student Services. He may be contacted by phone at (540) 389-0130 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
You may view a copy of the Special Education Procedural Safeguards by clicking on the following link:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/922/638102617269200000