Special Education

Mission

The Rappahannock County Public Schools, Division of Special Services, is committed to supporting school personnel as they work together with families to educate students with varying skills and abilities, address their unique challenges and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

Purpose

The Department of Special Education for Rappahannock County Public Schools serves students with disabilities ages 2-21 who are found eligible for special education and related services by a multidisciplinary team.

Special Education Parent/Family Liaison- Mrs. Valerie Newman (VNewman@rappahannockschools.us, 540-227-0745)

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the RCPS School Board will designate a faculty member to serve as a special education parent/family liaison, who will serve as 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;
The IEP process; and,
Collaborating with the special education families support centers established by the Parent training and Information Center of the Commonwealth pursuant to Virginia Code Section 22.1-214.5.

Rappahannock 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. RCPS has a responsibility to actively and continuously identify, locate, and evaluate those children, birth to age 21, inclusive, residing in Rappahannock 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 6 Schoolhouse Rd., Washington VA at (540) 227-0023. 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.

Annual Resources Update for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Wanda Council, Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Visually Impaired, and Deaf-Blind

VDOE is required by the Code of Virginia, § 22.1-217.01, to annually prepare and distribute to local school boards information describing educational and other services that are available to students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired. School boards are required to post this information on school division websites annually and to inform the parents of students who are identified as deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired of the availability of such services.

The VDOE’s Annual Resources Update for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities is a compilation of the required guidance documents and additional resources available through the VDOE’s Sensory Disabilities webpage. Administrators and teachers may reprint VDOE’s guidance and resources to share with parents. School divisions may also provide printed copies and alternate formats in Virginia public schools and public libraries.

Updated 10/2023

On The Road To Remarkable

Special Education Parent/Family Liaison

Special Education Advisory Committee Meetings for 2024-2025

Specific Disabilities/ Procedural Safeguards

Information on specific disability categories and procedural safeguards can be found in the links below.

Virginia Department of Education’s Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families

Child Find

Annual Resources Update for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities