Governor Northam Orders All Virginia Schools to Close for the Remainder of the Academic Year
On March 23, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam extended his order that all public and private K-12 schools in Virginia close in response to the continued spread of COVID-19 for the remainder of the school year. This builds on the Governor’s previous school closure order and previously issued guidance asking child care providers to prioritize services for children of essential personnel, while asking all families to keep their children home if they can. Please note that the March 30, Executive Order 55 (PDF) does not impact school meal distribution and instructional plans in localities.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) continues to evaluate options to provide flexibility in meeting the requirements and mandates associated with testing and accountability, instructional days/hours, attendance and graduation. While current specific information can be found below, the VDOE will continue to update the field as additional flexibility is clarified and additional details are received from the U. S. Department of Education.
Special Education and Related Services
The Code of Virginia provides that all handicapped persons from ages two to twenty-one, inclusive residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia are identified, evaluated and have available a free and appropriate public education.
The special education process is often referred to as a maze and an ever changing system. If you have a child who may need Special Education services you will begin entering this maze and hopefully learn about the various steps to getting needed services. Before you get your child the services parts of this system may change. This system change is dictated by the needs of youth with disabilities and legal actions to improve the system in place. The major purpose of this web site is to keep the citizens of Radford City informed of the various processes in place and the many changes that take place at the federal, state and local levels that impact Special Education. Another goal is to provide information to parents of students with disabilities about the ever changing Standards of Learning Objectives and Tests.
Parent Educator Resource Center (PERC)
Through understanding the special education process and regulation, your journey through this maze can be smooth and effective in meeting your child's needs. To assist parents and school staff the Parent Educator Resource Center(PERC) is now open at McHarg Elementary School. If you have any questions or need information regarding special education please feel free to contact the PERC at
(540) 731-3679 or email at: perc@rcps.org. You can visit the PERC on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Hours:
Tuesdays 3:30 pm-5:00pm
Thursdays 3:30 pm-5:00pm
*additional hours are available by request
School Administrator Contacts
If you have any questions regarding the special education process or would like to make a referral to have your child evaluated you can contact the following school administrators where your child attends or will attend school:
Dr. Michael Brown Principal McHarg Elementary School 540-267-3239
Tara Grant Principal Belle Heth Elementary School 540-267-3232
Ken Keister Assistant Principal Belle Heth Elementary School 540-731-3653
Jerry King Principal John Dalton Intermediate School 540-267-3247
Jeff Smith Principal Radford High School 540-731-3649
Darden Freeman Assistant Principal Radford High School 540-731-3649
ARC Of Virginia Information
This year the ARC of Virginia conference will be in Harrisonburg, Virginia and one of the strands will be dedicated to inclusive education.
We have designed a special session - Learn to Advocate for Inclusive Education in Your School Division!- and we are looking for family members and youth/young adults with disabilities and educators who have a great passion for inclusive education. We will pay for the ARC conference registration fee for one day for 15 family members/individuals with disabilities with self-reported financial need who reside in Federally designated high poverty areas who agree to attend this special workshop. We will also pay for one night’s lodging at the Hotel.
When: Tuesday July 30th 2:45 pm - 5:30 pm
Where : Hotel Madison, Harrisonburg VA at The Arc of Virginia’s 2019 State Convention
We will present our most current versions of 3 minute, 5 minute and 10 minute PPT presentations and handouts on Why Inclusion, Why Here, Why now? for parents and self -advocates to use to present at SEAC, school board, and school faculty meetings.
We will work in small groups to critique the presentations and materials.
We will work in small groups to brainstorm how best to use these materials, and get them out to the families who really need them.
All attendees will receive jump drives with copies of all materials.
Please share this information with anyone you think might be interested.
You can also contact any of us for more information!
, Governor Ralph Northam extended his order that all public and private K-12 schools in Virginia close in response to the continued spread of COVID-19 for the remainder of the school year. This builds on the Governor’s previous school closure order and previously issued guidance asking child care providers to prioritize services for children of essential personnel, while asking all families to keep their children home if they can. Please note that the March 30, Executive Order 55