Board approves special education annual plan; staff outline maintenance‑of‑effort and set‑aside requirements

The Dinwiddie County School Board approved the division’s 2025–26 special education annual plan after a presentation by the special education director explaining federal requirements and how the division budgets for services.

Why it matters: The annual plan is the formal agreement the division submits to the Virginia Department of Education detailing how federal special education funds will be spent and how the division complies with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Virginia Board of Education regulations.

Miss Peters, who identified herself as the division’s director of special education, told the board the plan certifies compliance with federal and state rules and includes an implementation narrative, maintenance‑of‑effort (MOE) review and, if required, interagency agreements. The director said the division must meet MOE tests covering local and state spending to avoid repaying federal funds and described four MOE tests and how an exception for decreased enrollment can be applied when appropriate.

The presentation addressed funds set aside for students parentally placed in private or home schools. Staff said a state formula requires a set‑aside to serve those children; the presenters noted that many parents do not seek services, and unused set‑aside dollars may be carried forward and reallocated to regular funds if not used within the specified time window. The director described two federal grant pots used for special education: a school‑age flow‑through fund (6.11) that supports teacher and paraprofessional salaries (the presenter cited a current award figure used for planning) and a smaller early‑childhood fund (6.19) that supports a paraprofessional FTE.

Board members asked about changes from prior years and service needs. The director said the division trimmed one position from the application to preserve flexibility and avoid overcommitting funds solely to salaries in the grant. The director also described an increase in students identified for special education services and a rise in parentally placed students that requires set‑aside planning.

Motion and outcome: A motion to approve the special education annual plan passed on a voice vote; the superintendent and board indicated support and no nays were recorded.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the electronic application and submit it to the Virginia Department of Education by the stated deadline; staff will also continue the comprehensive needs assessment process and present any updates to the board.

Provenance: The special education annual plan presentation began when Miss Peters introduced the item and concluded with the board’s approval vote.