Chesapeake Public Schools presents Special Education Part B annual plan; requests board review before May submission
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Summary
The director of exceptional learning reviewed the Part B flow-through application for IDEA funding, reporting 6,683 students with disabilities (16.43% of enrollment) and proposed federal allocations of $9,725,590 (Section 611) and $225,814 (Section 619) for salaries and benefits.
Chesapeake Public Schools staff presented the Special Education Annual Plan (IDEA Part B flow-through) to the school board for review ahead of a May submission to the Virginia Department of Education.
Tawanda Shirley, director of exceptional learning, told the board the division identified 6,683 students eligible for special education services as of Dec. 1, 2024, representing 16.43% of the district’s student population. The figure will be used in the state’s formula to determine federal Part B allocations.
Shirley said the division expects to receive $9,725,590 for Part B Section 611, which supports school-age special education services, and $225,814 for Section 619, which supports preschool special education services. The presentation stated the district proposes to use those funds primarily to cover salaries and benefits for special education teachers, some preschool special education teachers, and certain special education teacher assistants.
Shirley also outlined statutory and regulatory requirements tied to the application: maintaining a maintenance-of-effort (MOE) level for state and local spending on special education, setting aside a proportionate amount of funds to serve eligible students unilaterally enrolled in private schools, and adhering to Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements and the protections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She noted the application must be reviewed by the local Special Education Advisory Committee and approved by the local school board before submission.
Shirley said the proposed plan was reviewed by the Special Education Advisory Committee on March 11, 2025, and that the board will be asked to approve the application by or before April 7, 2025, so the final submission can be sent to the Virginia Department of Education by the May 9, 2025 deadline. Board members did not ask questions during the presentation recorded in the transcript.
The presentation included a breakdown of how eligibility counts inform the division’s Part B allocation and reiterated that Part B funds may be used only for special education and related services.