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Special education director details expansions and family feedback as CCPS serves nearly 9,000 students with disabilities
Summary
Summer Mano, CCPS special education director, told the board that the division expanded early childhood inclusion and work‑based learning, launched leadership development for special educators and has gathered 287 family responses to a new feedback survey to guide improvements.
Summer Mano, special education director for Chesterfield County Public Schools, told the school board at its Nov. 12 work session that the division is building on gains from 2024–25 while preparing priorities for 2025–26. "This success is truly a shared effort," she said, adding that the division provides support to "our almost 9,000 students with disabilities."
Mano summarized program expansions and system supports that aim to increase inclusion and post‑school readiness. She said the district expanded early childhood special education inclusion from four schools in seven classrooms to five schools in 11 classrooms during 2024–25 and is "on track to reach 10 schools and 20 classrooms" for 2025–26 as space and budget allow. She also described strengthened secondary transition services and growth in work‑based learning participation — from 35 students in 2022–23 to 91 in 2023–24 and 112 last year — to connect classroom instruction to employment pathways.
The director highlighted additional system investments: an evidence‑based behavior team that coaches staff and supports students, instructional specialists in reading and math aligned with general curriculum, and an "aspiring special education leaders academy" that in May 2025 graduated 12 teachers, four of whom now serve as coordinators. Mano said a second cohort of 18 educators began in September to continue building internal leadership capacity.
Mano also announced a divisionwide 2025–26 special education family feedback survey to collect post‑IEP, 504 and eligibility meeting input; she reported 287 family responses as of Oct. 21. She said the survey results will be used with the special education advisory committee (SEAC) to guide program improvements. Board members asked for a summary of the feedback and Mano said monthly updates on the data are available and she would follow up with the board.
Board members questioned how the department is addressing shortages of trained special education teachers. Mano described a layered approach: central office specialists and support staff assigned to schools, targeted professional learning, mentorship opportunities, and collaboration with human resources to recruit and support staff. She offered to provide the board with more detailed fiscal and recruiting needs for the upcoming budget cycle.
Mano closed by reiterating the division's continuing focus on expanding inclusive practices, improving transition services and strengthening family partnership to support meaningful outcomes for students with disabilities.
