Virginia’s association for private special education, since 1973

Partners & Affiliations

VAISEF is proud to be a partner of many other entities and organizations in the provision of education and related services to Virginia’s youth and families.

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

The mission of Virginia’s public education system is to educate students in the fundamental knowledge and academic subjects that they need to become capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens. Therefore, the mission of the Virginia Board of Education and the superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with local school boards, is to increase student learning and academic achievement. (source)

VAISEF schools (private schools for students with disabilities) are all licensed by the VDOE’s Office of Federal Program Monitoring. As an association, we serve as a communications and advocacy liaison with that office, as well as the overall Department of Education.

Office of Children's Services

The Office of Children’s Services is the state agency responsible for the administrative management of Virginia’s Office of Children’s Services.

The CSA program is governed by the State Executive Council, which is advised by the State and Local Advisory Team. Each of these bodies includes representatives from the private provider community.

VCOPPA

VAISEF is an association member of the Virginia Coalition of Private Provider Associations (VCOPPA).

VCOPPA serves as the unified voice for private providers to advocate for a quality system of services for children and families with special needs and challenges.

Partner & Sponsor Program

VCPE

The accreditation process for VAISEF has been approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education as authorized by 22.1-19 of the Code of Virginia.

From the VCPE website:

What is VCPE?

The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) oversees accreditation of nonpublic preschool, elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth. VCPE facilitates a statewide framework for communication and cooperation among private schools, their public school counterparts, state and local governments, and other agencies and organizations.

What is State Recognized Accreditation?

The Virginia Board of Education has authorized the Virginia Council for Private Education to accredit private nursery, preschool, elementary, and secondary schools. (§22.1-19) State recognized accreditation comes through accreditation granted by any of the VCPE Approved State Recognized Accrediting Members.

All approved accrediting organizations must meet the VCPE core set of standards. A peer review process and an annual reporting requirement have been developed to monitor the standards. Each association has standards that meet and exceed those that are monitored by VCPE and must be considered individually by an interested school.

Accreditation through a VCPE Approved State Recognized Accrediting Member guarantees the transfer of student credits from the state recognized accredited private school to a public school and ensures recognition of teacher licensure credits for time served in an accredited private school.

VCPE is the Virginia affiliate for CAPE.

VCPE was organized in 1974 as the Virginia affiliate of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), a national private school advocacy group headquartered in Washington, D.C. CAPE offers a variety of resources and information about America’s private schools. Click here to visit the CAPE website.