Cumberland County Public Schools

We will be an inclusive school community that supports an environment for individual excellence while building a sense of belonging which is accessible to all.

Cumberland County Public Schools is committed to providing all children with disabilities a broad spectrum of educational opportunities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that all students ages 2-21 with disabilities be afforded a free and appropriate public education. Educational services must be provided in the student's least restrictive environment. This means that to the greatest extent possible, given the educational needs of a child, each child with a disability will be educated and participate in other school activities with their non-disabled peers. Special education is specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent(s), to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Cumberland County Public Schools provides individualized instruction to eligible children that address the unique needs of the child resulting from the child's disability. Cumberland County Public Schools provides access of the child to the general curriculum, ensuring that the child has an opportunity to meet or exceed the educational standards.

A child may be found eligible for special education services in the following areas: Autism, Deafness, Deaf-Blindness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disability, Hearing Impairment, including Deafness, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Visual Impairment, including Blindness.

The special education process begins with a referral. A referral can be made by a parent, guardian, teacher, or other school-based team. The following steps are involved in the special education process:

• Identification and referral

• Evaluation

• Determination of eligibility

• Development of an individualized education plan (IEP) and determination of services

• Reevaluation

BERNICE FORD

Director of Special Education

Central Office

804-492-4212

bford@cucps.k12.va.us

JOHN VERGA

Special Education Teacher, CMS/CHS Master Teacher

Cumberland High School

804-492-4212

jverga@cucps.k12.va.us

SHALETHA WATSON

Special Education Teacher, CCES Master Teacher

Cumberland Elementary School

804-492-4212

swatson@cucps.k12.va.us

Annual VDOE Special Education Parent Survey

Each school year the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is required to report to the U.S. Department of Education the “Percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.”  Your participation in this survey will help VDOE collect additional information to identify training needs related to the special education processes.  Parents who have more than one child receiving special education services should submit one survey for each child receiving services.  The VDOE will use the results of this survey to improve parental involvement in the special education process and improve outcomes for all students within the Commonwealth.  This survey is not intended to measure your satisfaction with the special education program process.  Rather, this survey is asking you to reflect upon your experiences during the past school year.

It is important to note that your response to this survey is being collected anonymously and cannot be personally linked to your child.  You may also access this survey online at the following website:  

English Version ----- English Version of 2020-2021 Indicator 8 Parent Survey

Spanish Version ---- Spanish Version of 2020-2021 Indicator 8 Parent Survey

The online survey will also provide you with an opportunity to address, in more detail, specific experiences with your school during the past school year.  If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact your child's case manager.