Madison County Public Schools ensures that all children with disabilities, age 2 to age 21 inclusive, who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, evaluated, and a determination made regarding whether or not the child is eligible to receive needed special education and related services. This includes children who:

• Are highly mobile, such as migrant and homeless children
• Attend private schools, including children who are home-instructed or home-tutored, within the geographic boundaries of the county
• Are suspected of being children with disabilities under this chapter and in need of special education, even though they are advancing from grade to grade
• Who reside within the jurisdiction of Madison County Public Schools, including wards of the state, who are not home-schooled or attending a private school

If you believe that your child may have a disability, please contact Jeanette Alexander, Supervisor of Student Services at (540) 948-3780.

Understanding Special Education Eligibility and Your Rights

Our school district is committed to identifying and supporting every child who may require special education services. Under Virginia law, a "child with a disability" includes individuals who demonstrate a need for specially designed instruction due to specific eligible conditions. These recognized categories include, but are not limited to, Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Speech or Language Impairments, Other Health Impairments (OHI), and Developmental Delays.

We recognize that navigating this process can feel overwhelming, which is why we strictly adhere to state-mandated timelines to ensure your child receives timely support. Once a formal referral for evaluation is made, the district has 65 business days to complete the comprehensive evaluation process. Throughout this journey, your family's rights are fully protected We encourage you to review the VDOE's Procedural Safeguards, which outlines your legal rights, options, and the protections available to you and your child.

To ensure no child is left behind, our district also conducts regular, routine screening procedures. These screenings check for potential barriers to learning - specifically in the areas of hearing, vision, speech, voice, and language, as well as overall developmental milestones - for all new students and specific age groups. If you suspect your child is struggling or may have a disability, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Student Services department to learn more about how we can partner together for your child's success.

Madison County Public Schools also coordinates child find activities for infants and toddlers (birth to age two, inclusive) with the Part C local interagency coordinating council. The local Part C interagency council is Infant Toddler Connection. If you believe that your child ages birth to three may have a disability, please contact Encompass Community Supports at (540) 827-7524.