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Parents and providers press Board on special-education oversight, private-day school licensing and ITeach access
Summary
During public comment, speakers alleged inadequate oversight of special education, urged action under state law, and requested expanded access to ITeach teacher-licensure pathways for private specialized day schools.
Several members of the public used the board’s comment period to press for changes in special-education oversight, procedural fairness in due-process hearings, and expanded licensing pathways for staff at private specialized day schools.
Dr. Candice Lucas introduced herself as a special-education expert and accused the board and parts of the hearing-officer system of failing families and violating federal special-education law (IDEA). “In Virginia, because the board of education is failing to comply with IDEA 20 USC 1412(a)(11) ... you are engaging in a conspiracy to commit felony child abuse,” Lucas said, repeating claims that hearing officers historically ruled against families. The speaker cited multiple federal statutory provisions by number in the course of her remarks; the board did not respond during public comment.
Kathy Halverson and a young person identified as Alex Halverson described an extended dispute with Powhatan County schools. Kathy Halverson said her son was out of school for 3½ years, alleged falsified records and multiple missed interventions, and urged the board to enforce Code of Virginia § 22.1-214 (as referenced in her remarks) and take action on local oversight. She asked the board to institute the statutory intervention she cited; board members did not take immediate action at the meeting but recorded the comments for follow-up.
Laura Easter, chief operating officer for Elk Hill, a nonprofit that operates three private specialized day schools, asked the board to make the ITeach licensure pathway available to private specialized day schools. She said ITeach would provide an affordable route for behavioral staff, mental-health professionals and career changers at specialized day schools to become licensed special-education teachers. “ITeach fills a crucial need for providing our students with high-quality teachers who ... have an understanding and empathy for students with significant mental-health and behavioral issues,” Easter said.
Helen Wu, headmistress of Virginia International Academy, described losing accreditation recognition from VCPE after staff turnover and a personal health crisis, and asked for help to secure provisional accreditation or other means to reopen as planned in fall 2025; she said the project would create 93 jobs and represented a $4 million investment in Shenandoah County.
Board members did not take immediate policy action in response to these public comments during the meeting but acknowledged receipt and said staff and the attorney general’s office will review issues as appropriate. Several board members publicly thanked commenters and emphasized that the board accepts written comments and investigatory requests through formal channels.
