Call for Nominations, State Board of Education Advisory Committees

Who is on your state’s advisory committee or panel?

How are members nominated and elected to serve?

When will the next round of individuals be nominated?

If you don’t already know the answers to these questions, please visit your state education agency’s (SEA) site (or call) to find out who is representing you and your children — and to perhaps seek a nomination to the committee yourself.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) sets forth the requirement for the establishment of state advisory panels. Section 300.167 of IDEA states:

The State must establish and maintain an advisory panel for the purpose of providing policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in the State.

In Virginia, nominations are being accepted for the 2021-2024 three-year period. Nominations must be submitted by Monday, May 3, 2021, and sent to Emily Webb, Director for Board Relations, at Emily.Webb@doe.virginia.gov or at Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120.

Yes. Parents serve on the committees.

Section 300.168 of IDEA states:

(a) General. The advisory panel must consist of members appointed by the Governor, or any other official authorized under State law to make such appointments, be representative of the State population and be composed of individuals involved in, or concerned with the education of children with disabilities, including—(1) Parents of children with disabilities (ages birth through 26);(2) Individuals with disabilities;(3) Teachers;(4) Representatives of institutions of higher education that prepare special education and related services personnel;(5) State and local education officials, including officials who carry out activities under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.);(6) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities;(7) Representatives of other State agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities;(8) Representatives of private schools and public charter schools;(9) Not less than one representative of a vocational, community, or business organization concerned with the provision of transition services to children with disabilities;(10) A representative from the State child welfare agency responsible for foster care; and(11) Representatives from the State juvenile and adult corrections agencies.(b) Special rule. A majority of the members of the panel must be individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities (ages birth through 26).

In Virginia, openings for parent representatives exist in regions 3 and 8, for the State Special Education Advisory Committee (SSEAC).

Section 300.169 outlines the duties of committee members:

The advisory panel must—(a) Advise the SEA of unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities;(b) Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the State regarding the education of children with disabilities;(c) Advise the SEA in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the Secretary under section 618 of the Act;(d) Advise the SEA in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal monitoring reports under Part B of the Act; and(e) Advise the SEA in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.

For more information about Virginia’s open nomination period, please click on the images below to view the documents in full.