EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY
COMMITTEES PROJECT

In August 2002, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) developed the Continuing Improvement Monitoring Process workplan. This workplan included self-assessment findings based on public input. The findings showed that local SEACs needed more direction to build successful parent-professional partnerships for program planning.

In 2004, the Partnership for People with Disabilities collaborated with VDOE and applied for a grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) to improve the effectiveness of local SEACs statewide. The VBPD and VDOE funded the Effectiveness Training for Local Special Education Advisory Committees project. It runs from October 2004 through October 2006.

Project activities to date include:

• Development of a Needs Assessment and an Information Survey that was sent to SEAC chairpersons and members, Directors of Special Education, and School Board chairs in all 135 school divisions in Virginia (Feb 2005).
• Development of a Guide for Local Special Education Advisory Committees in Virginia (July 2005).
• Provision of eight (8) full day local SEAC training workshops for 300 participants (Oct - Nov 2005).
• Development of a Resource Notebook for local SEACs (that includes the Guide among other useful materials) and distribution of the notebook to all persons attending a workshop and to SEAC chairs and Directors of Special Education in every school division in Virginia (Sept 2005-January 2006)
• Distribution of the Guide to Superintendents and School Board chairpersons in all school divisions (Jan 2006)
• Provision of technical assistance to local SEACs and school division personnel (Oct 2005 and on-going).
• Development of a database with contact information on local SEAC Chairs and school division administration (Dec 2005 and on-going).

To the left, you will find links to the surveys sent to SEAC chairs and members, Directors of Special Education, and School Board chairs. There are also links to reports that summarize the needs assessment findings and the evaluations from the eight training sessions. If you would like a copy of the training evaluation report from your region, please click here.