Special Education Department

The Office of Special Services for King George County Schools is committed to providing students with disabilities opportunities along a continuum of services that offer access to and participation in activities of the school in the least restrictive environment and appropriate to the age and educational needs of the student.

Inclusive practices are at the forefront of our local programs, but we recognize that students must be offered services at all levels within general education classrooms as well as in separate special education programs when needed.

Related services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision services, psychological services, interpreting services, and transportation are provided to students who require additional support to benefit from their special education program.

Child Find

King George County Public Schools participates in an ongoing effort to locate, evaluate, and identify children aged 2 through 21 with disabilities who may require special education services under IDEA or Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes children enrolled in home-school or private schools within the county's boundaries. Any child identified with a disability and in need of special education is entitled to a free and appropriate public education.

Children with disabilities in the following categories may be eligible for services:

Autism

Deafness

Deaf-Blindness

Developmental Delay

Emotional Disabilities

Hearing Impairment

Learning Disabilities

Intellectual Disabilities

Multiple Disabilities

Orthopedic Impairment

Other Health Impairment

Speech/Language Impairment

Visual Impairment 

For more information on these disabilities, please visit the VA Dept. of Education's website.

Referrals can be made by anyone concerned with the child's developmental/educational performance, including:

Parent

Child's teacher

Community agency

School official

If you suspect your child has a disability, contact an administrator at your child’s zoned school.

Program Descriptions

Case management and coordination of services

Inclusion in general education classrooms and curricula

Collaboration with general education staff and community agencies

Specialized instruction

Assistive technology services

Related services

Our services are designed to address the unique needs of students with one or more disabilities, including:

Autism

Blind Or Visually Impaired

Deaf-Blind

Developmental Delays

Emotional Disabilities

Hearing Impairment/Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing

Intellectual Disability

Multiple Disabilities

Orthopedic Impairments

Other Health Impairment

Specific Learning Disabilities

Speech And Language Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury

Section 504

A student's 504 Plan details modifications, accommodations, and services that are needed for the student with a disability to participate in and enjoy the benefits of school programs at the same level as his peers without disabilities. (VA Code 8VAC20-671-10)

If you suspect your child may require a 504 Plan, contact the administrator at your child’s zoned school.

Required Screenings

In accordance with state requirements, all King George County Schools students will be screened in speech, voice, language, and fine and gross motor functions to determine if a referral for an evaluation for special education and related services is indicated.

King George County Schools recognizes the screenings completed as part of the child’s physical examination provided upon enrollment to fulfill state requirements for screenings.

Additionally, as mandated by § 22.1-273.1 of the Code of Virginia, vision and hearing screenings will be conducted annually  for students enrolled in grades K, 3,7, and 10. Parents will be notified of any abnormal results and referred for a comprehensive examination by a qualified medical professional.  

Pursuant to code § 22.1-273.1 of the Code of Virginia, King George County Schools provides families with information on scoliosis. Please visit the King George County website under Health Services and Immunization Information and Forms for Timely Information for Parents and Schools - Scoliosis.

Homebound Instruction

The medical certification below must be fully completed, including parental permission to contact the treating physician or licensed clinical psychologist, in order for the student to be considered for homebound services. If it is necessary for homebound instruction to be extended beyond 9 weeks, the medical certification of need will need to be completed again by the physician and parent. 

Medical Certification of Need for Homebound Instruction

Resources for Families

The Virginia Department of Education makes available a variety of resources for families to better understand their rights related to special education and information on supporting their children with disabilities. 

Information for Families

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
PEATC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to building positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities. You can reach PEATC by calling 703-923-0010 (Voice/TTY), or sending an email to [email protected].

I’m Determined
I’m Determined was created as a state-directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education. We focus on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities, to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining a silent passenger.

Much of our work comes from research around three psychological needs: Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness (CAR). We have found that when a person can experience high levels of CAR, it opens up greater opportunities to experience high levels of self-determination and well-being. The I’m Determined Elements add skills, abilities, and beliefs that can be practiced in the educational and home environment.
https://imdetermined.org/families/

Required Notices 

Each division must, at least annually, conduct a public awareness campaign (also known as a child find program) to:

• Inform the community of the rights of persons, ages two to 21, inclusive, to a free appropriate public education and the availability of special education programs and services;  

• Generate referrals; and  

• Explain the nature of disabilities, the early warning signs of disabilities and the need for services to begin early. 

Each division is required to annually publish a notice listing the names of the members of the division’s Special Education Advisory Committee. The notice must also include a description of ways in which interested parties may express their views to the committee.

Code: 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(3)(A); CFR 300.111; 8 VAC 20-81-50.B; 8 VAC 20-81.230.D.3.

Services for Students Identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Visually Impaired

Each school board must annually post information distributed by the Department of Education 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 the parents of those students who are identified as deaf or hard of hearing or visually impaired. School boards must also inform the parents of the availability of the information and ensure that packets of the information are available in an accessible format for review by parents who do not have Internet access.

Code: Va. Code § 22.1-217.01.

• Annual Resources Update for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities (Revised October 2024) 

• The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website hosts a compilation of the required guidance documents and additional resources available: 

Special Education-Sensory Disabilities

Dual Enrollment, Individuals with Disability

During the annual individualized education program (IEP) planning process prior to any year in which a student with a disability who is enrolled at a public high school is entering the 11th or 12th grade, the IEP team shall provide the student’s parent written notice of the student’s rights and obligations relating to dual enrollment courses, consistent with the model notice made available by the Board of Education, including detailed information on the process for ensuring the student is receiving both free and appropriate public education pursuant to the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) as a student enrolled in a public high school.

Code: Va. Code § 22.1-215.3.

Policy: IGBA - Programs for Students with Disabilities