Special Education Action's mission is to ensure parents, educators, and students have the information and tools necessary to fully understand, address, and safeguard the unique needs of all students who require special education.
Recent Articles
Due Process Hearing Officer: “Just Words” Not a Methodology that Addresses Learning Disabilities Associated with Dyslexia; FCPS Continues to Recommend “Just Words” for Students with Dyslexia
If you have a child in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), Virginia, who has Dyslexia, chances are FCPS has stated the program “Just Words” is appropriate to address your child’s unique needs related to Dyslexia.
Didn’t matter if the child was in 4th grade or 10th grade, FCPS pushed “Just Words” for children with Dyslexia.
Earlier this year, due process hearing officer Richard M. Alvey stated a final decision about “Just Words” that every parent with a child who has Dyslexia should know about—and which should have stopped FCPS’ continuing to recommend the program for children with Dyslexia.
It’s the Law: Mediation
There’s a lot to get fired up about when it comes to special education, but mediations get me hotter than a tin roof during a heat wave.
Why?
Lot’s of places to get snagged if you aren’t careful and/or don’t even know these briar patches exist.
VDOE: School Divisions May Not Charge Students for Computers or Other Devices
“Guidance just released from VDOE this week states computers and devices now fall squarely within the category of items for which divisions may not charge due to the substantive shift in how core and required instruction is being delivered for this school year.”
Takes a community (and/or a few vocal parents) to point out ignorance to the individuals who should be in the know.
FERPA Violation: Willow Springs Elementary School Students’ Privacy Violated
The documents below were given to another FCPS parent and include information about children other than her own. She didn’t ask to receive this information. FCPS provided it to her in the course of providing other documentation to her.
FERPA Violation: Silverbrook Elementary School Students’ Privacy Violated; Behind the Scenes, Choosing Students to “Enrich”
Fairfax Public County Public Schools (FCPS) provided it to me in response to a FERPA request.
FCPS redacted the names marked in black, but failed to redact almost another dozen names. I redacted those, before posting the document here. They appear as blank spaces in the document.
Between 2016 and 2020, FCPS has inadvertently provided me information about dozens of FCPS students and their families, and staff. I complain. The Virginia Department of Education (VODE) finds FCPS at fault for privacy violations, and then the noncompliance continues.
In addition to violating the privacy of these students, it is an interesting view of the “enrichment program” selection process.
FOIA Release: Scott Brabrand to James Lane, Trying to Figure How to Open Schools for 2020-21
That’s what came to mind after reading this email exchange between Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Superintendent Scott Brabrand and Virginia Department of Education Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane.