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School board approves $14.8 million IDEA Part B local plan for special education
Summary
Chesterfield County Public Schools approved the 2025–26 IDEA Part B local special education annual plan (Memo 055-25), projected to bring $14.8 million in federal funds for fiscal 2026 and effective July 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2027; the board approved the plan by roll call vote.
Chesterfield County Public Schools on April 8 approved the division’s 2025–26 IDEA Part B local special education annual plan, a federally required application that the superintendent must certify and submit to the Virginia Department of Education by May 9, 2025.
Summer Manis, director of special education, told the board the application is projected to provide $14.8 million in federal funding to the division for fiscal year 2026 and outlined the proposed uses: special education staffing (FTEs), temporary summer assignments, assistive technology repairs and purchases, software and assessment kits, and expanded evidence-based literacy and math materials and training.
“Section 611 funding is specifically allocated for supporting special education services for students aged 3 to 21,” Manis said in presenting the plan and described the plan’s required components, maintenance-of-effort expectations, and a proposed effective period from July 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2027.
Board members asked procedural and appreciative questions before moving to a vote. A motion to approve Memo 055-25 carried on a roll call in which Scott Hefron, Dominique Chatters, Steven Pronto, Lisa Hudgins and Anne Coker each recorded “I,” and the memo was approved.
The plan will be certified by the superintendent and filed with the Virginia Department of Education. Manis emphasized that once approved, IDEA (Part B) funds must be used as agreed in the application; the board did not amend the proposal at the meeting.
The approval follows the required local review steps Manis described: review by the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAK), presentation to the school division instructional leadership team, and the current school board presentation. The plan’s budget and programmatic components are intended to ensure services and legal protections for students with disabilities across CCPS.
Next steps include superintendent certification and submission to the Virginia Department of Education by the May 9, 2025 deadline. The board’s vote was procedural; no board member recorded a dissent on the roll call.
The board also discussed related budget issues and requested staff continue to monitor state and federal budget developments that could affect program funding.
