What is special education?

  • The Individuals with Disability Education Act guarantees a free appropriate public education to all eligible children with disabilities. Special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. The Virginia Department of Education offers extensive information about services, processes and more online: doe.virginia.gov/special_ed. Petersburg City Public Schools procedures for special education are covered in this manual.

Child Find

  • Are you concerned about your child’s development?

    Petersburg City Public Schools regularly holds Child Find events to locate children who would benefit from special education services. Here are upcoming Child Find events, which are open to children from birth to age 21:

    • 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 9, 2019, at Westview Early Childhood Education Center (1100 Patterson St.)
    • 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 15, 2020, at Blandford Academy (816 E. Bank St.)
    • 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 16, 2020, during kindergarten registration day at Cool Spring Elementary (1450 Talley Ave.), Lakemont Elementary (51 Gibbons Ave.), Pleasants Lane Elementary (100 Pleasants Lane) and Walnut Hill Elementary (300 W. South Blvd.)

    Child Find is open to all Petersburg children. This includes children in private schools and children who are homeschooled.

    Petersburg parents who have concerns about their children’s vision, speech, hearing, learning, motor/physical development, behavior, ability to pay attention, understanding or self-help are encouraged to bring them to Child Find. Child Find offers free professional consultation for parents, screenings for children and help referring children for full evaluation for early intervention services or exceptional education services.

    For more information, call Petersburg City Public Schools at 804-861-4563.

Contact Us

  • Petersburg City Public Schools
    Administrative Offices
    255 E. South Blvd.
    Petersburg, VA 23805
    804-861-4563 phone
    804-957-4837 fax

Special Education Advisory Committee

  • What is the Special Education Advisory Committee?

    The Special Education Advisory Committee works with the School Board, administrators, educators and parents of children with disabilities. In Virginia, this committee is mandated for every school district by the regulations governing special education programs for children with disabilities.

    What are the functions of the Special Education Advisory Committee?

    • Advise the School Board of unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities
    • Assist the school division in the formulation and development of long-range plans designed to provide needed educational services for children with disabilities
    • Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of children with disabilities
    • Review the school system's annual updated special education plan and applications for federal funding
    • Assist the local school division to enhance community awareness and understanding of special education services

    Why should you attend the meetings?

    This committee offers a way to get to know other parents, be informed about what is going on in Petersburg City Public Schools and work with the school division and make recommendations to determine how special education can meet the needs of children with disabilities. Meetings are open to the public. If you have questions, please call 804-861-4563. The Special Education Advisory Committee will meet on these dates in the boardroom of the Administrative Offices of Petersburg City Public Schools, 255 E. South Blvd.:

    • 3-4 p.m. Oct. 8, 2019
    • 3-4 p.m. Jan. 14, 2020
    • 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 25, 2020
    • 3-4 p.m. April 21, 2020