What is a Special Education Advisory Committee?
Special Education Advisory Committees (SEACs) are mandated for every school district in the state of Virginia.
Regulations state that ASEAC’s official role is to:
- Advise the local school division of needs in the education of children with disabilities;
- Assist in the development of long-range plans designed to provide needed services for children with disabilities;
- Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of children with disabilities;
- Submit periodic reports and recommendations to the school board;
- Assist the school division in interpreting educational plans to the community for meeting the needs of children with disabilities;
- Review the policies and procedures for the provision of special education and related services prior to submission to the school board; and participate in the review of the school division’s annual plan..
Getting Involved
ASEAC provides an opportunity for parents to have a voice in the way APS provides services to students with disabilities, from preschool to age 21.
A majority of ASEAC members must be parents of students with disabilities, but the committee also welcomes other parents and community members, and must include one teacher.
ASEAC hosts monthly meetings, that are open to the public.
- Parents, teachers, and community members are encouraged to attend.
- Meetings consist of various topics of interest to the community.
- Each meeting alots time to hear the concerns of parents of student with disabilities.
Meeting dates and recordings are posted on the website https://www.apsva.us/special-education-advisory-committee
ASEAC vs SEPTA
While ASEAC and SEPTA can have similar goals and often work collaboratively on numerous issues within APS, there are a number of important differences.
| ASEAC | SEPTA |
|---|---|
Special Education Advisory Committees (SEACs) are mandated in Virginia as an extension of the local school board | Like a school PTA, SEPTA is a member of the National and Virginia PTAs and engage local communities and advocate for children and education. Unlike a school PTA, SEPTA is county-wide with a focus on special education |
| SEAC members are appointed by local school boards to provide reports and recommendations to the board. | SEPTA is run by a board of parent volunteers who are elected annually by its dues-paying members |
| SEACs advise the school board by giving input and recommendations on education policy, practices, and programs that impact the education of students with disabilities. | SEPTAs provide a collective voice for children in special education and advocate for education policy on both local and state levels. |
| As an extension of a school board, SEACs are primarily focused on policy, practices and communication. | SEPTAs often advise on policy, but also offer support to and build partnerships among families, staff, PTAs and the community to make things more inclusive and accessible. |