CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The state Board of Education has received recommendations made by the West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children to aid those students with special needs.

The council, a statewide committee mandated by federal and state law, makes yearly recommendations to the West Virginia Department of Education to address unmet needs of children with exceptionalities. Areas addressed include assessment, discipline, out-of-state placements, professional development, graduation requirements and other support.

Among the recommendations in the council’s recently released annual report are the suggestions that additional training and clarification be provided to eliminate confusion for determining eligibility for special education services; that guidance be made available to school personnel on how to identify and document appropriate levels of student support and improve communications with parents; that a best practices document be developed for life skills training; and that revisions to policy be made to include schedule flexibility so more special education students can participate in career technical education offerings.

West Virginia Department of Education staff members are reviewing the council’s recommendations and will present proposals to address them to the state board at its July meeting.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699.