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"Welcome to the first edition of our Monthly Updates for School Counseling Division Directors for the 2025–2026 school year! If you’re new to these updates, think of them as your monthly go-to resource, a one-stop shop with a little bit of everything to support you and the school counselors you lead."
Cooperative for Effective Behavior Intervention and Supports
Cooperative for Effective Behavior Intervention and Supports
The Cooperative for Effective Behavior Intervention and Supports (CEBIS) promotes the use of systematic, research-based practices to ensure high-quality behavior intervention and supports for educators across Virginia.
Using Functional Behavioral Assessments To Create Supportive Learning Environments
The VDOE Department of Special Populations and Board Operations has released its updated Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans: Guidelines for Effective Development and Implementation. This document has been updated based on guidance from the United States Department of Education. These guidelines also replace the 2015 version and aim to assist Virginia school divisions in implementing effective functional behavior assessment (FBA) and behavior intervention plan (BIP) processes to promote positive behavior, academic success, and overall student well-being and ensuring compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan: Guidelines for Effective Development and Implementation Module Series is a six-part series developed to expand on these guidelines to further support educators about function-based supports, including the use of FBAs and BIPs.
The guidelines are designed to provide Virginia school divisions with practical recommendations and best practices for conducting FBAs and developing BIPs; however, it is not a comprehensive summary or a detailed framework for conducting an FBA or developing a BIP. School divisions should review and revise their existing local policies and procedures, as needed, to ensure consistent practices are in place to promote improved social and academic outcomes.
Resources from the U.S. Department of Education Will Help School Communities Address the Needs of Students with Mental Health Disabilities
The Office for Civil Rights has issued four new resources for schools, stakeholders, students with disabilities, and their families. These documents outline the rights of students with mental health disabilities and the responsibilities of elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and specifically address students with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or bipolar disorder.
Fact Sheet: Section 504 Protections for Students with Anxiety Disorders
Fact Sheet: Section 504 Protections for Students with Depression
Fact Sheet: Section 504 Protections for Students with Eating Disorders
Fact Sheet: Section 504 Protections for Students with Bipolar Disorder
The fact sheets remind schools of the obligation to treat a student with a mental health disability as they must treat any other student with a disability: free from discrimination, and the obligation to provide students with mental health disabilities with the modifications, supports, and services the students need to have equal access to their education. These new resources are part of a larger series on specific medical conditions, which thus far includes fact sheets on diabetes, GER/GERD, food allergies, asthma, cancer, sickle cell disease, and epilepsy.
New One-Pager Resource for Families of Students with Disabilities
New One-Pager Resource for Families of Students with Disabilities
The Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE's) Department of Special Populations has recently released Understanding the Special Permission Locally Awarded Verified Credit (SPLAVC) Accommodation for Students with Disabilities one-pager resource for families.
Special Education Evaluation Process Video Guide
The Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families provides additional guidance to support accurate and consistent eligibility determinations and access to special education services across school divisions.
For questions regarding these video modules, please contact Bonnie English, Specialist-Related Services, Evaluation and Eligibility, at (804) 750-8181 or Bonnie.English@doe.virginia.gov; or Dr. Zenia Burnett, Director of Instructional Services, at (804) 750-8666 or Zenia.Burnett@doe.virginia.gov. For general inquiries, email spedinstruction@doe.virginia.gov.
These video modules will provide parents, families, and other stakeholders with a brief but comprehensive overview of the special education process on the following topics:
Each module is designed to be viewed as a stand-alone resource or viewed in succession.
New Resource for Families of Students with Disabilities
New Resource for Families of Students with Disabilities
A Facilitated Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is a voluntary process that may be requested when the IEP Team agrees that the presence of a neutral third party would assist in facilitating communication and problem-solving.
The VDOE's Facilitated IEP Resource Document provides you with valuable information about this process and includes a link to download a request form for this service.
VDOE - VCCS Course Pairings for Dual Enrollment Coordinators, Instructors, and Administrators
NEW Dual Enrollment Advising Toolkit for Transfer Courses_Table of Contents - DRAFT/COMING SOON
As high schools and their partner colleges develop dual enrollment plans, special attention should be paid to the transferability of the courses selected, the application of those credits to the students’ future plans, and the overall purpose of students earning college credits.
Students should be encouraged to explore areas of interest and to open doors for future study through dual enrollment course offerings. Attention to the depth and quality of learning is important in preparing students to enter into a cohort of students.
The Transfer Virginia (TVA) Dual Enrollment Guides provide in-depth information for staff and students to consider when having discussions and making decisions related to transfer level dual enrollment.
This document and more can be found in the Transfer VA Documents Folder.
CHECK THIS OUT!!!!
CHECK THIS OUT!!!!
We encourage you to utilize the resources in the Learning Center located on VDOE's OBHW VA Career and Learning Center for MH Professionals Website.
SEARCH TOPICS LIKE
SEARCH TOPICS LIKE
Depression/Anxiety. Resilience . SEL . Suicide Prevention . Trauma AND MORE!
Depression/Anxiety. Resilience . SEL . Suicide Prevention . Trauma AND MORE!
Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide Prevention Resources
VDOE Suicide Prevention Webpage - Schools can play a key role in suicide prevention. The task of all professionals involved in and dedicated to the education of children is to help prevent death by suicide whenever possible. When school personnel, families, and communities take an active role in suicide prevention lives can be saved.
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