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Lynchburg officials present special‑education annual plan, outline staffing and assistive‑technology needs
Summary
Special‑education staff outlined program priorities, federal grant allocations and requested resources for personnel, assistive technology and contracted transition services for students with disabilities.
Lynchburg City Schools presented its annual special‑education plan to the school board and described staffing, assistive‑technology and contracted‑services needs tied to federal IDEA funds.
Ashley Burks, director of special education, told the board the department’s guiding principle is "people over programming" and summarized priorities for personnel, training, assistive technology and services for students placed in private settings or regional jails. She said the district’s maintenance‑of‑effort (MOE) for special education for 2025–26 is listed in the plan as $14,965,688.
Burks described several budget lines: a proportionate set‑aside for parentally placed private‑school or homeschooled students (listed in the plan as $172,946), and funds for early‑childhood 2‑to‑5 services under Section 619 of IDEA (the plan text includes an allocation listed as "$13.99" in the meeting materials). She emphasized that funds support personnel such as teachers, school psychologists, board‑certified behavior analysts and related services and also pay for extended‑school‑year services when required.
Burks said special‑education spending also covers contracted services to support transitions for high‑school students, web‑based assessments to track progress, and ongoing training and coaching for classroom and special‑education teachers. She noted that assistive technology (iPads, Chromebooks, adaptive seating and specialized test kits) requires ongoing expense because devices and accommodations are not one‑time purchases.
Board members asked whether the plan is a request for funds or a certification of how the district will spend authorized funds. Burks and staff explained that the plan is submitted to the Virginia Department of Education for authorization under IDEA; funds are generally not competitive and are awarded based on reporting and student needs. Staff also said VDOE monitors spending and can make recommendations.
Burks said the district supports a small number of students placed at Blue Ridge Regional Jail and that it provides services to ensure those students receive a free, appropriate public education.
