Special Education Enhancement Planning Process
Steps in the process and timeline for developing a special education enhancement plan
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is developing a Special Education Enhancement Plan that will enhance outcomes for students with disabilities and support the goals in the Division Strategic Plan.
In response to a request from the School Board, an external review of FCPS’ special education program was conducted by the American Institute for Research (AIR) which began December 2020 with the final report being presented at the October 4, 2022 School Board Work Session.
AIR was charged with four (4) goals:
- Evaluate the system’s design, structure, and established processes
- Evaluate the adequacy of human capital resources
- Analyze the alignment of services with evidence-based practices
- Evaluate the effectiveness of communication with stakeholders
Utilizing data from AIR’s special education report, in conjunction with other objective data sources, FCPS will partner with students, staff, parents/guardians, and content experts to develop a comprehensive special education enhancement plan to be completed by May 2023. Plan execution will begin in June 2023.
Focus Areas
The Special Education Enhancement Plan will center on the following four (4) focus areas:
- Instructional Delivery
- Special Education Processes
- Communication
- Staff Capacity
Timeline
- Phase I: Engage
Fall 2021 - December 9, 2022
- Phase II: Focus
December 12, 2022 - May 26, 2023
- Phase III: Execute
June 1, 2023 - July 31, 2026
View the detailed Special Education Enhancement Plan Schedule
Planning Teams
Under the direction of the Division Superintendent, the Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Special Services will serve as project sponsors and provide support for the Steering Committee. They will meet regularly with the Implementation Team Co-Chairs and Project Managers to foster the development of a comprehensive plan.
In addition to those who serve on the School Board, Steering Committee or Implementation Teams, there will be multiple opportunities for stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization, to receive updates and provide feedback on the plan development.
Steering Committee
Internal and external stakeholders with diverse representation (e.g. school level, region, disability, etc.).
Steering Committee: Roles and Responsibilities
- Represents their constituency group (e.g. advisory committee, principal association, teacher association) and provides updates to their respective group throughout the development of the plan
- Develops the special education mission, vision, core values, goals, and strategic objectives
- Provides feedback on implementation plans
- Commits to participating in approximately six (6), 2-hour meetings between November 2022 and May 2023 and completing pre-meeting work outside of scheduled meetings
Steering Committee: Meeting Schedule
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Wednesday, December 7, 2022 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Monday, December 12, 2022 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Wednesday, January 4, 2023 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Monday, January 9, 2023 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 6-7 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Wednesday, February 1, 2023 | 6-7 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Wednesday, February 22, 2023 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Monday, April 10, 2023 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
| Wednesday, April 26, 2023 | 6-8 p.m. | Zoom - Virtual |
Steering Committee: Membership
Note: Membership reflects parents, guardians, and community members who provided consent to have the first and last names listed on a publicly available website indicating their participation on the Steering Committee. Staff are included in the list unless they requested their name not be displayed. Student participants will be included, pending parental consent.
- Abigail Weber
- Allison Crutcher
- Allison Gandhi
- Allison McHugh
- Amy Hunter
- Anam Mousa
- Ashley Skinner
- Bettrys Huffman
- Caroline Tuss
- Carrie Leestma
- Cathleen Barry
- Christian Lanzaro
- Cindy Conley
- Cynthia Kirschenbaum
- Danya Hinkle
- David Bateman
- Debbie Sprague
- Debra David
- Eileen Delaney
- Eileen Oviatt
- Ellen Mayer-Splain
- Erin Woodward
- Hanna Fanta
- Heather Padgett
- Helen Lloyd
- Idalma Castillo
- Janet Grace
- Jenn Masood
- Jennifer Delaney
- Judith Turcott
- Jugnu Agrawal
- Karen Tuttle
- Katie Aldridge
- Kristen Haynor
- Kristen Mattix
- Kristen Williamson
- Laverne Henson
- Lilyanne Eaton
- Linneall Naylor
- Lori Bedsole
- Lourrie Duddridge
- Mary Beth Harrison Cunningham
- Mary Duffy
- Maura Cotter
- Meghan Huebner
- Nicki Thomas
- Nonye Oladimeji
- Pamela Nowicki
- Rachel Rubio
- Ryan Thomas
- Shira Brothers
- Stephanie Green
- Suzette Pinnock
- Theresa Liteau
- Tiffany Wilson
- Uzma Aziz
Implementation Teams
Multi-disciplinary team of FCPS staff with diverse content expertise.
Implementation Team: Roles and Responsibilities
- Represents their respective department by serving as a liaison between their department and the implementation team
- Provides updates regarding the draft plan to their department, and facilitates the completion and support of tasks within their department
- Develops implementation plans that outline actions to address the identified strategic objectives that support plan goals
- Commits to prioritizing work on implementation plan development between November 2022 and May 2023
School Board Engagement
The School Board will receive updates regarding the draft plan and provide feedback on the draft during specified periods of the development process as outlined in the plan schedule.
- October 4, 2022
- November 15, 2022
Questions?
Email us at [email protected]