Private Day & Residential Schools

News & Announcements

All students and parents of school-aged children with disabilities who receive special education services in a licensed private school for students with disabilities in Virginia are encouraged to complete the Virginia Department of Education’s annual Parent and Student Involvement Survey. The survey will remain open through December 13, 2024. 

• Parent Survey - Online Version
  • Parent Survey - Print Version (PDF)
• Student Survey - Online Version
  • Student Survey - Print Version (PDF)

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Private Day & Residential Schools

In compliance with the Code of Virginia, (§ 22.1-321), the Board of Education has authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue licenses to operate schools for students with disabilities. A school for students with disabilities means a privately owned and operated preschool, school, or educational organization, no matter how titled, maintained or conducting classes for the purpose of offering instruction, for a consideration, profit or tuition, to persons determined to have a disability as defined by the Regulations governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (8 VAC 20-81). No person shall open, operate or conduct any school for students with disabilities in Virginia without a license to operate such school issued by the Board of Education (§22.1-323). The VDOE monitoring specialists in the Division of Special Education and Student Services conduct unannounced reviews of each school at least once every three years. Licenses may be issued for periods of up to three successive years.

• Directory of Private Day & Residential Schools for Students With Disabilities (Word)
• Regulations Governing the Operation of Private Schools for Students with Disabilities (Word)
• Changes in Accreditation Requirements (Word)
• Process for Completing an Application to Operate a Private School for Students with Disabilities (Word)

Private Day & Residential Schools for Students with Disabilities Applications & Notifications Forms

• Application for Approval of Change of Location (Word)
• Application to Change a Program (Word)
• Application for Exemption from Guaranty Requirements (Word)
• Applications for Approval of Modification or Expansion of Current Facilities (Word)
• Application for Approval to Serve Additional Categor(ies) of Students (Word)
• Application for Approval to Serve Disability Categor(ies) Not Indicated on License (Word)
• Application to Increase the Maximum Number of Students Served by the School (Word)
• Application to Merge Schools (Word)
• Notice of a Change to Administration of the School (Word)
• Notice of a Complaint Filed with Child Protective Services (Word)
• Notice of Change in the Name of a School (Word)
• Notice of School-Wide Emergency Situation (Word)