Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (2020-21)

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities is a State Mandated Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

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Submit a Question

Please be aware that correspondence with ACSD members is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This means that your correspondence may be made public if (1) it deals with FCPS business and (2) someone requests it.

By clicking the "Submit a Question" button above, your email will go directly to the ACSD email address, [email protected].

 

The following information is for 2020-21 School Year. View the latest ACSD Webpage

 

School Board Liaison

Laura Jane Cohen

Staff Liaison

Michael Bloom, Director, Special Education, Department of Special Services

Chair

Connie Lorentzen

Vice-Chair

Joanne Walton

If you are unable to attend a meeting open to the public where you can provide public comment, you may submit your public comment in writing to the Office of Special Education Instruction. If you have specific concerns about your child’s educational services, you may contact Michael Bloom at [email protected].

View additional contact information for the Department of Special Services

Committee Purpose

8 VAC 20-81-230(D)—A local advisory committee for special education, appointed by each local school board, shall advise the school board through the division superintendent.

2020-21 Committee Charge

  • Examine current FCPS practices regarding school-based compliance with special education procedures and practices.
  • Make recommendations designed to improve the utilization of Department of Special Services (DSS) resources to increase divisionwide consistency related to the implementation of special education procedures and practices.
  • Make recommendations designed to improve school-based administrative oversight of special education instructional programming and procedural practices.    

Presentations, Reports, & Bylaws

Meeting Dates 

The ACSD meeting dates and times are listed below.  ACSD committee members will participate electronically due to the COVID-19 emergency. Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually at https://www.fcps.edu/streamingmeeting.

Public Comment at ACSD Meetings During COVID-19 Emergency
During the COVID-19 Emergency, the ACSD will only meet virtually.  During this time, Fairfax County and City residents may submit a written, video or audio testimony by email to [email protected]. A maximum of 10 slots are available, first come, first serve.  Please submit your written, video or audio testimony by 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. Written, video and audio testimony should not exceed 3 minutes in length.

Date Meeting or Event Information

August 17, 2020

5-6:55 p.m. Orientation
Orientation Agenda
Orientation Video Recording

7-9 p.m. Regular Meeting
August Meeting Agenda
August Meeting Video Recording
August Meeting Minutes

September 9, 2020

7 p.m.
September Meeting Agenda
September Meeting Video Recording
September Meeting Minutes

October 14, 2020

5 p.m. - October School Board Charge Recording 
5:30 p.m. - October Student Achievement and Student Outcomes Recording
6 p.m. - October Family Engagement and Community Outreach Recording
6:30 p.m. - October Policy and Regulations Recording
7 p.m. - October Regular Meeting Recording
October Meeting Agenda
October Meeting Minutes

October 26, 2020

6 - 7 p.m. - October 26th - Policy and Regulations Recording

November 11, 2020

5 p.m. - November School Board Charge Recording
5:30 p.m. - November Student Achievement and Student Outcomes Recording
6 p.m. - November Family Engagement and Community Outreach Recording
6:30 p.m. - November Policy and Regulations Recording
7 p.m. - November Regular Meeting Recording
November Meeting Agenda
November Meeting Minutes

December 7, 2020

5 - 7 p.m. December 7th - Restraint and Seclusion Policy Review Recording 
December 7th Meeting Minutes

December 9, 2020

5 p.m. - December School Board Charge Recording
5:30 p.m. - December Student Achievement & Student Outcomes Recording
6 p.m. - December Family Engagement & Community Outreach Recording
6:30 p.m. - December Policy and Regulations Recording
7 p.m. - December Regular Meeting Recording
December Meeting Agenda
December Meeting Minutes

January 13, 2021

5 p.m. - January School Board Charge Recording
5:30 p.m. - January Student Achievement & Student Outcomes Recording
6 p.m. - January Family Engagement & Community Outreach Recording
6:30 p.m. - January Policy and Regulations Recording
7 p.m. -  January Regular Meeting Recording
January Meeting Agenda
January Meeting Minutes

January 27, 2021

The following subcommittee meetings will stream live on https://www.fcps.edu/streamingmeeting2.

5:00 - 5:45 p.m. - School Board Charge Recording
5:45 - 6:30 p.m. - Policy and Regulations Recording
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Student Achievement and Outcomes Recording

February 10, 2021

5 p.m. - February School Board Charge Recording
5:30 p.m. - February Student Achievement and Student Outcomes Recording
6 p.m. - February Family Engagement and Community Outreach Recording
6:30 p.m. - February Policy and Regulations Subcommittee Recording
7 p.m. - February Regular Meeting Recording
February Meeting Agenda
February Meeting Minutes

March 10, 2021

6 p.m. - March School Board Charge Subcommittee Meeting Recording
7 p.m. - March Regular Meeting Recording
March Meeting Agenda
March Meeting Minutes

April 14, 2021

7 p.m. - Regular Meeting Recording
April Meeting Agenda
April Meeting Minutes

May 12, 2021

7 p.m. - Regular Meeting Recording 
May Meeting Agenda
May Meeting Minutes
 

June 9, 2021

7 p.m. - Regular Meeting Recording 
June Meeting Agenda
June Meeting Minutes

2020-21 Membership

SB Member Representatives     

Liz Brocato, Braddock District-Megan McLaughlin
Lissy John, Dranesville District-Elaine Tholen
Brandon Cassady, Hunter Mill District-Melanie Meren
Meghan Gray, Lee District-Tamara Derenak Kaufax
Harry Henderson, Mason District-Ricardy Anderson
Phara Rodrigue, Member at large-Karen Keys Gamarra
Sanaa Bouzit, Member at Large-Abrar Omeish
Susan Edgerton, Member at Large-Rachna Sizemore-Heizer
Connie Lorentzen, Mount Vernon District-Karen Corbett Sanders
Mary Hackman, Providence District-Karl Frisch
Toby Latham,  Springfield District-Laura Jane Cohen
Mary Kate Ganley, Student Representative
Michael Simon, Sully District-Stella Pekarsky

Region Representatives

Vacant, Region 1-Douglas Tyson-Assistant Superintendent
Niki Zimmerman, Region 2-Fabio Zuluaga-Assistant Superintendent
Dena Sonneborn, Region 3-Nardos King-Assistant Superintendent
Rachel Macias, Region 4-Jay Pearson-Assistant Superintendent
Vacant, Region 5-Rebecca Baenig-Assistant Superintendent

Community Representatives     

Darcy Acquavella, City of Fairfax School Board
Sandi Dalhoff, Department of Neighborhood and Community Service
Vacant, Disability Services Board
Lynn Kiewel, Fairfax Co. Health Dept.
Ann Marie Ward, Fairfax County Council of PTA
James Gillespie, Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board
Vacant, Federation of Citizens
Linda Mason, Higher Education
Andrianne Konstas, League of Women Voters
Brianne Russell-Morris, POAC-NoVA
Ally Baldassari, SEPTA

School Representatives

Vacant, Assistive Technology
Joanne Walton, Faculty
Vacant, Preschool
Vacant, Transition Services

Meeting Agendas

Meeting Minutes