From the Archives: May 21–July 18, 2025
Articles from Special Education Action's Archives, Added to Substack Between May 21st and July 18th.
February 18, 2025, Special Education Action launched on Substack, featuring 85 of its 300+ articles that were published between 2020–2025.
Older articles will be added over time, with updates such as this one, alerting you to articles added to Substack, which you might have missed when they were first published on Special Education Action’s original standalone site.
Some embedded documents, like state complaints and FOIA Responses, will be published separately on the State Complaints and FOIA pages, since some of these originally appeared within the context of other articles. This allows them to be browsed individually. In addition, links to articles addressing specific complaints will be added to the individual complaints page, providing readers more background on the complaints.
Archive Articles Added to Substack Between May 21 and July 18, 2025
Due Process Hearing Officer: “Just Words” Not a Methodology that Addresses Learning Disabilities Associated with Dyslexia; FCPS Continues to Recommend “Just Words” for Students with Dyslexia
From the evidence presented at the hearing, I have learned there are several competing methodologies that address learning disabilities associated with dyslexia. But it is clear to this Hearing Officer that JUST WORDS is not one of them.
Yes, Virginia, There Is Dyslexia
*Thank you Virginia O'Hanlon, for your 1897 Santa Claus letter to the New York Sun—and to Francis Pharcellus Church for the editorial you wrote in response. You inspired this article. (And yes, Francis, many of these words are yours. Good never goes bad.
VDOE Sets Dangerous Precedent; Guidance Includes Get-Out-of-Providing-“Recovery Services” Loophole
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) set a dangerous precedent with the release of its document “VDOE Considerations for COVID Recovery Services for Students with Disabilities”.
Dear VDOE: Is it Okay for Compliance Specialist to Show Bias Against Parent and Editorialize Complaint Letter of Findings?
Last week I shared comments from a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) staff member, which appear in a Letter of Findings (LOF) to which she contributed. (See: “Dear VDOE: Is it Okay for Compliance Specialist to Write “I’m Winging It” in Investigation Letter of Findings?
FCPS IEP Meeting: "Just Words" Not Endorsed for Dyslexia, FCPS Dyslexia Training of Teachers Slow, Not "At the Rate that We Need It"
"How are we going to train all these teachers in Fairfax, you know, at the rate that we need it? We need to build that capacity. Some teachers are going to struggle even with Orton Gillingham, because it does require teachers to be very prescriptive and, well diagnostic first and then prescriptive in how they tailor their lessons." ~Dottie Skrincosky, Fairfax County Dyslexia Resource, Region 5 Point of Contact, Intervention and Accommodation
“It’s Deja Vu All Over Again”: Yogi Berra Said It; FCPS Parents Are Thinking It; Tech Issues Strike Again
“It’s deja vu all over again.”
FCPS Vice Principal Sets IEP Meeting Rules; Full Parental Participation Truncated
August 28, 2020, Daniel Clements, a Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Assistant Principal at Robinson Secondary School sent a set of IEP meeting rules to the parents of one of the school’s students.
U.S. Department of Education to Investigate VA Dept. of Education's Response to Fairfax County Public Schools Civil Rights Violations; What Actions Has VDOE Taken With "Similar" Districts?
United States Department of Education (USDOE) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced its continued investigation into Virginia Department of Education will include examining VDOE's "response to the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) findings that Fairfax County Public Schools failed or was unable to provide a free appropriate public education to thousands of students with services identified in the students’ individualized education programs during remote learning. Specifically, OSEP would like to learn about the actions the State has taken, or plans to take, with similarly situated districts in light of these findings."
Dear VDOE: Is It Okay For Compliance Specialist To Write "I'm Winging It" In Investigation Letter Of Findings?
These are the words of a compliance specialist writing a Letter of Findings in response to a state complaint investigation. They also are the words that no parent wants to see written by a compliance specialist.
Dear VDOE: Is It Okay For Compliance Specialist To Judge, Joke At The Expense Of Parent Advocating For Her Child?
8.27.20: Article first published.