The West Virginia Department of Education is dedicated to ensuring students become engaged, productive citizens of our state, nation and world. We believe that all young people can and will learn and that every young person in West Virginia must be provided with a world-class education. When a student’s individual needs require changes to his or her educational services, the parent and student have special protections, or procedural safeguards, under state and federal law to ensure they are informed participants in the decision-making process.

To facilitate informed parent involvement, this document explains the rights of parents, and students to whom rights have transferred, in the special education process. For situations in which the parent and school district disagree on important matters related to the student’s education, it describes the processes available for resolving disputes.

WVDE Procedural Safeguard Document