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SEAC annual report: rising special‑education enrollment and staffing shortfalls prompt recommendations
Summary
The Special Education Advisory Committee reported a rise to 1,584 students receiving services (1,482 enrolled plus 102 served but not counted in enrollment), highlighted increased needs in autism, visual impairment and other health impairments, and urged more staff, training and improved communication; the board and superintendent discussed recruitment, pay and a three‑year road map.
Amber Ham, chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), presented the SEAC annual report and survey results to the Rockingham County School Board, reporting increases in special‑education enrollment and growing service needs.
SEAC data: Ham said the district reports 1,482 enrolled students plus 102 additional individuals receiving services (0–4 placements, private day placements, residential, homebound and parent‑placed students), a combined total of 1,584 students served. Ham highlighted increases in primary disability categories — visual impairment, autism, other health impairments and speech/language impairments — and stressed the district is seeing not only more students but greater severity of need.
Survey findings and concerns: SEAC’s educator and caregiver satisfaction surveys (educators: 134 respondents; caregivers: parent response rate cited in the presentation) showed recurring barriers: staffing shortages, lack of instructional materials/equipment, and communication gaps between schools and families. Ham said 35.8% of educators responding said their school did not provide adequate and equitable services; 29.1% of caregivers said services were denied due to staffing or resource constraints.
Recommendations and district response: SEAC recommended increased funding for special education, prioritized professional development and training (including MANT training), restoring a multiple‑disability middle‑school program, and increasing case‑manager capacity at Rockingham Academy (currently part‑time). District leaders acknowledged recruitment challenges — including fewer local preservice programs — and described efforts such as “grow‑your‑own” pipelines, mentor programs for new special‑education teachers, and consideration of targeted pay adjustments for adaptive teachers.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to present a three‑year roadmap and additional budget requests; the director of special education offered to present a fuller “state of the department” briefing in a future meeting.
