Winchester Public School’s Mission is to provide specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. WPS provides a continuum of services for students with disabilities, PreK through high school, found eligible to receive special education services. Identifying a student as eligible for special education services is a carefully managed process guided by State and Federal regulations.

Individuals with disabilities are valued members of the school community and  entitled to access all opportunities. The Office of Special Education actively promotes the inclusion of all students in the school community to provide access to their same age peers.

Through collaboration of students, families, community partners and employees, our mission is to prepare our students to lead full and productive lives.

Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), through grant funding provided by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD), and assistance provided by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at James Madison University (TTAC) has developed five web-based training modules for parents, school professionals, and other community stakeholders that work with families whom have a child with a disability.  Parents and caregivers have certain goals in mind when their children go to school. Regardless of whether or not their children have disabilities, all parents want their children to learn, explore, and experience as much as they possibly can. Parents strive for their children to complete their public education, obtain a diploma, and be fully prepared to move on toward their chosen path, whether that is immediate employment, higher education, or something else.  In order for children to achieve these goals, there are certain decisions that will have to be made along the way. The modules created relate to the Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities curriculum and are designed to assist participants in understanding four things as they prepare to make these decisions:

• What are some of the keys to a child’s academic success?
• What decisions will need to be made regarding a child’s educational path?
• At what point should we be making these decisions? 
• What information is needed so that we can make the most well informed decisions possible for a child?

The training modules are accessible at the following web link: I'm Determined - Parents - Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities. There are a total of five modules that range in length from three minutes to five minutes, which can be completed in a single viewing or broken up over time to meet individual time constraints. 

The curriculum for these modules are available in print and online.  A fully accessible online version is located at the following web link: Virginia Department of Education’s Special Education - Parents Section.  To obtain a printed copy of the curriculum or to ask questions about the module training opportunities, please contact Mrs. Tracy Lee, Family Engagement Specialist, via email, at Tracy.Lee@doe.virginia.govor by telephone, at (804) 225-3492.