Special Education

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Albemarle County Schools are committed to providing all children with opportunities to benefit from a public education. Special education programs and services are available to county residents who have children with special education needs. These programs and services are provided for children with disabilities whose second birthday falls on or before September 30 through the age of 21 years. Each student receives special education services designed to meet his or her individual needs. These programs are discussed and planned by school personnel, parents, and the student involved. Often instruction is carried out both in the regular and special education classrooms.

Each special education student's progress is reviewed at least yearly and his/her need for special services is reassessed at a minimum of every three years. Special education programs and services are provided by trained personnel in the following areas as defined by federal and state law: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delay, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury or visual impairment including blindness.

If you, your child or a member of your family is experiencing a crisis:

Call 911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
Crisis Text Link (text “HOME” to 741741)
Emergency Services, 24/7 (434) 972-1800

What We Do

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

Learn More about Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

Autism-BASE (A-BASE)

Learn More about Autism-BASE (A-BASE)

Behavior-BASE (B-BASE)

Learn More about Behavior-BASE (B-BASE)

Curriculum-BASE (C-BASE)

Learn More about Curriculum-BASE (C-BASE)

Notice

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) provides information on services for students with hearing and vision impairments at its website. The following links to information and resources are excerpted from the VDOE’s website: Special Education-Specific Disabilities-Sensory Disabilities. School divisions are required to annually post this information on their websites and inform the parents of students with hearing and vision impairments of its availability. Packets of this information are also required to be available in an accessible format for parents who do not have Internet access.

Guidance Documents
Statewide Resources

Guidance Documents

Statewide Resources

The Virginia Family Guide to Special Education - This state guide was developed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) in order to help those involved in special education, whether as parents (as defined in this document), teachers or school administrators, advocates, or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities which include the child’s rights, and the school’s responsibilities to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. Important timelines are highlighted in each section. (Esta guía en español)
Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities - The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed this document to assist families in understanding the keys to their child's academic success, decisions that will need to be made regarding their child's educational path, at what point these decisions will need to be made, and what information families will need to make the most well-informed decisions for their child.
- Understanding the Differences between Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans
Your Family's Special Education Rights - This document identifies key parts of the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004” (IDEA), a federal law governing the education of students with disabilities. IDEA 2004 requires that families be informed of their special education rights, including how families and schools can resolve problems. (Esta guía en español)
The Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families- Provides additional guidance to support accurate and consistent eligibility determinations and access to special education services across school divisions. These video modules will provide parents, families, and other stakeholders with a brief but comprehensive overview of the special education process.
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) - The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is located in Staunton, Virginia and provides a day program and outreach services, as well as a residential setting exclusively to students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or deaf-blind. The VSDB Outreach Services assist early intervention providers, local school divisions, and families in meeting the needs of children in the Commonwealth. The VSDB’s admissions policy is available at the above Website.
The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) - The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides standards for educational interpreting services and other services to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families and the professionals who serve them.
The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) - The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired primarily assists Virginians who are blind in achieving quality employment outcomes. Vocational evaluation, job training, job development, placement, follow-up, and other services are provided to assist consumers in obtaining jobs in the public and private sectors. The DBVI’s education services program provides services to early intervention providers, school personnel, and families to help children to be successful in school and the community, and to prepare for the future.
The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired offers training in the skills of blindness to blind and vision-impaired Virginians and encourages people to develop positive attitudes about blindness. The Library and Resource Center provides services to local school divisions to support the education of children who are blind or visually impaired. Library services are also offered to persons who are print disabled.
The Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults With Deaf-Blindness - The Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults With Deaf-Blindness provides technical assistance, training, distance education and networking information to families, service providers, and individuals who are deaf-blind/dual sensory impaired.
The Technical Assistance Center for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and VNOC – The Technical Assistance Center for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing provides training and technical assistance in the areas of deafness and hardness of hearing. Assistance is available to local public school divisions as well as early intervention and preschool programs through the Virginia Network of Consultants for Professionals Working with Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (VNOC).
The Accessible Instructional Materials Center-Virginia (AIM-VA) - The Accessible Instructional Materials Center-Virginia’s extensive library has developed an alternative system of providing accessible educational media under standards set by federal law (NIMAS) to students who meet the federal requirements for print disabilities and who are eligible for accessing educational media under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) as required under Part B of IDEA. The AIM-VA, in conjunction with partnering agencies, provides required accessible educational materials to students with an IEP and training for staff, at no cost to Local Educational Agencies.
The Essentials of Eligibility and Evaluation of Young Children (video)
Piedmont Regional Education Program’s (PREP) - PREP's Parent Resource Center serves parents of children with disabilities or special needs and promotes partnerships among parents, educators, and our community resources.
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) - PEATC provides tools and information to empower Virginia students with disabilities (birth-age 26) and their families.

Spotlight

Virginia Department of Education - Special Education and Student Services
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) provides information on services for students with hearing and vision impairments at its Web site. Such resources can be found at the VDOE’s Web page, Specific Disabilities-Sensory Disabilities.
Packets of information are available in an accessible format for parents who do not have Internet access.

Ms. Ashley Struzik
Director of Special Education

Ms. Leslie Glover
Assistant Director of Special Education

Albemarle County Public Schools
401 McIntire Road, Room 323
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-296-5885
Fax: 434-972-4157

In This Section

Special Education

What We Do

Notice

Guidance Documents

Statewide Resources

Spotlight

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Links & Resources