Special Education Hub

All schools in our division support the structured teaching classroom for students with autism and emotional/behavioral needs who are able to access the general education curriculum with individualized supports. This includes intensive individualized instruction in communication, social skills, emotional self-regulation, coping strategies, executive functioning, and work habits.

For students with significant intellectual disabilities who cannot access the general education curriculum, our division offers Life Skills Education and Adaptive Curriculum Program (LEAP). LEAP is offered for kindergarten through post-high school at Sunrise and Jackson-Via Elementary Schools, Charlottesville Middle School, Charlottesville High School, and Parkside. 

Students accessing the LEAP Program are working towards an Applied Studies Diploma. Additional information about the Applied Studies Diploma:

VDOE Applied Studies Diploma Page – Comprehensive page with information about the diploma and curriculum map for students working towards the diploma.

Understanding the Applied Studies Diploma – Information for parents about the Applied Studies Diploma including its limitations and important questions to ask.

Diploma Options – A landing page of the different diploma options for students in Virginia including the Applied Studies Diploma, Standard Diploma, and Advanced Studies Diploma. 

Preschool-aged children from age two (whose birthday falls on or before September 30) through five with a disability may be eligible for Early Childhood Special Education.

Charlottesville City Schools strives to serve all preschool aged children with disabilities within the early childhood setting alongside their peers. The new Charlottesville Early Learning Center allows us to provide a more inclusive education for all students! Services are provided in alignment with student IEPs along the continuum of environments including the early childhood classroom and special education classrooms at the Early Learning Center, early childhood classrooms at private preschools, and when necessary, in the home. Additionally, students can access “walk-in” speech services and developmental services through small groups at the Early Learning Center. 

Charlottesville City Schools actively works to identify students in the City of Charlottesville who are in need of special-education and related services. As a part of these “child find” activities, our division screens for hearing, vision, fine motor, gross motor, and speech. Learn more about our screening process at the Student Health Hub.

If you have concerns that your child has a disability, a referral can be made to your child’s school.

If your preschool-aged child does not attend a Charlottesville City School but you reside within the Charlottesville City limits, a referral can be made to the Early Childhood Specialist.

If your school-aged child does not attend a Charlottesville City School but attends private school within Charlottesville City limits, a referral can be made to the Director of Student Services. 

In order to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) a child must be eligible for special education. For a child to be found eligible for special education they must meet the specific criteria of at least one of thirteen disabilities, the disability must affect their educational performance, and they must require specially designed instruction. 

Educators and families must navigate the process required by federal law, Virginia special education regulations, and local procedures. The process for determining whether a student is eligible for special education and related services involves reviewing information and observations about the student, determining the need for additional data, reviewing and interpreting the results of any assessments, and making an eligibility determination. 

The Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education Page provides information and resources to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers or school administrators, advocates, or students. Additionally, a Video Guide developed by VDOE provides helpful information for families about a number of special education processes. 

Beginning in the 2024-2025 School Year, the School Board designates a faculty member to serve as a special education parent/family liaison, who serves 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 and the IEP process and works in collaboration with the special education family support centers established by the Parent Training and Information Center of the Commonwealth pursuant to Virginia Code § 22.1-214.5.

Since transition planning is student-centered, it is important that the student participate in the IEP. As early as middle school (age 14), the IEP team may begin to develop educational and transition plans that will be reviewed each year. Team members may include the parent(s), special education and general education teachers, a career/technical instructor, career assessment specialist, school counselor, agencies providing adult services (e.g., Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Department of Social Services, Juvenile Justice, etc.). Working together, opportunities can be created for career, self-advocacy, interpersonal, and living skills essential for the successful transition from school to work and adult living.