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FCPS special education director to adopt WIAT assessment, renews staffing RFP and outlines ACES law requirements
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Summary
FCPS special education leadership said the district will adopt the WIAT as its new norm‑referenced assessment next school year, is issuing a renewed open staffing RFP to source contracted staff, and will implement ACES law requirements on elopement/wandering by strengthening IEP team review and behavior supports.
At the April 20 CCAC meeting, Director Buckley (Special Education, FCPS) and staff provided operational updates that will affect special education practice in the district next school year.
Director Buckley said the district "landed on a new normed reference educational assessment" — the WIAT — after a committee process that showed majority support (81%) for the vendor's components. FCPS plans to move from the Woodcock-Johnson platform to WIAT next school year, purchase district iPads to run the digital platform, and schedule professional learning days in August for staff to train on the administration and scoring.
Staff also reported a low parental response rate to the state parental involvement survey (10% overall; 18% preschool, 9% school age) and urged CCAC members to encourage participation; the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is conducting a funding-mechanism study for MSDE and stakeholders are asked to provide feedback or participate in interviews.
On staffing, the district described a renewed open staffing RFP to provide contractor support when vacancies occur, including a master-services approach that allows multiple agencies to bid and supply substitute or contracted staff quickly. The RFP was described as an open, ongoing solicitation that agencies can respond to year-round; it is a replacement of a five-year contract that has reached renewal.
Keller (staff) explained the state's recent ACES law update and how the district will treat elopement and wandering: the law now requires IEP teams to review instances of elopement or wandering and, when indicated, perform functional behavior assessments and develop behavior intervention plans. Keller said parents will be notified the same day if a student elopes off school premises and that the district will require training for staff on the updated rules next school year.
Why it matters: switching assessments affects comparability of scores and training needs; the staffing RFP affects how vacancies are filled and service continuity for students; ACES law changes clarify notification and IEP-team responsibilities when students leave assigned areas or premises.
What’s next: FCPS expects to roll out WIAT devices and training in August; staffing vendors will be engaged through the open RFP process; the district will include ACES-law training in teacher modules for the next school year.
At the meeting staff encouraged families to participate in the AIR survey and stakeholder interviews to inform funding discussions.
