Special education leaders present 2026–29 inclusion plan and annual funding priorities to board

Dr. Fowler, director of special education for Lynchburg City Schools, briefed the board on the division’s 2026–29 inclusive action plan and the 2026–27 annual plan. She said the district serves about 7,437 students and that roughly 15 percent are identified for special education services. The plan aligns inclusion priorities with the district strategic plan and uses staff survey data to set focus areas.

Fowler reviewed 10 quality indicators from Virginia’s inclusive action framework and reported staff survey agreement levels on select measures (example: indicator 1 agreement rose to roughly 75.63 percent; tier-one instructional structures reported agreement near 84.03 percent). She said priorities for the next cycle include building a common language for inclusion, strengthening instructional practice, expanding collaboration, and improving staffing and scheduling to support co-teaching.

On funding, Fowler summarized how federal IDEA Part B and Section 619 flow-through funds would be targeted for the coming year: personnel (a teacher and a speech-language pathologist), contracted services (ABA therapists and speech providers), assistive technology (AAC devices), early-childhood curriculum materials, and professional learning to support co-teaching and compliance. She described partnerships with TTAC and JMU for targeted training and a train-the-trainer model that will include observation and feedback.

Board members praised the emphasis on family engagement and asked for concise briefings for new trustees on key acronyms and processes. Trustees also discussed recruitment challenges for special education staff; Fowler said the applicant pool has shrunk and described outreach to local colleges, mock interviews, out-of-state hiring and virtual options as part of recruitment efforts. No board action was required; the presentation was provided for information.