INFORMATIONAL

  I am pleased to inform you of an opportunity for schools to
  participate in the Improving Special Education Experiences
  (ISEE) project, an interagency initiative of the Virginia
  Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD); the Department
  for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities (DRVD); and the
  Virginia Institute for Developmental Disabilities (VIDD). 
  This initiative seeks to improve the experiences of
  students, parents, and school personnel regarding the
  delivery of special education services.
  
  In Supts. Memo. 110,  August 4, 1995, several key activities
  of the ISEE project were outlined, including identifying and
  supporting demonstration schools.  During the 1995-96 school
  year, four identified ISEE school sites strengthened their
  special education services in preparation to become
  demonstration sites.  During the 1996-97 school year, school
  teams are invited to visit these ISEE demonstration sites to
  learn about their delivery of special education services and
  to utilize these sites as resources for training and
  technical assistance.  Visiting school teams will be offered
  a stipend of $250 to assist with the cost of such visits.
  
  The attached flyer outlines information about these
  demonstration opportunities and how schools can participate
  and access stipends.  If you need additional information,
  please contact Melanie Sterling, ISEE Coordinator, Virginia
  Institute for Developmental Disabilities at (804) 828-3876.
  
  RTLaP/jj
  
  Attachments: This memo and its attachment will be sent to
               the superintendent's office
  
  copy:  Principals
         Special Education Directors
         Parent Resource Centers
         Special Education Advisory Councils
                               
                    OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE
           IMPROVING SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES
                      DEMONSTRATION SITE
              TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
                                
  The Improving Special Education Experiences (ISEE) project
  seeks to improve the special education experiences of
  students, parents, teachers/direct service providers, and
  educational administrators.  As one activity to achieve this
  goal, ISEE project funds are available to support up to 80
  schools in visiting one of four ISEE Demonstration Sites.  
  
  School teams of students, parents, teachers/direct service
  providers, and educational administrators may  visit an ISEE
  demonstration site to share information regarding the delivery
  of special education services.  The ISEE project areas of
  demonstration are: effective collaboration and team work, the
  IEP process, and/or the provision of placement choices and
  inclusion opportunities.  Through ISEE project funds, a
  stipend of $250 is available to support up to 80 school teams
  visiting ISEE Demonstration Sites.         
  
  ISEE Demonstration Sites were chosen by the ISEE Task Force
  through a competitive application process.  Selection was
  based on the site's expressed and demonstrated strength and/or
  interest in improving their special education service delivery
  in the focus areas for the ISEE project: effective
  collaboration and team work, the IEP process, and placement
  choices and inclusion opportunities.  These sites, located in
  different areas of the state, are in various stages of
  development of special education services.  They have
  expressed willingness to share their experiences, to dialogue
  with others, and to act as a training and technical assistance
  resource to school teams seeking to strengthen their special
  education services.  The ISEE Demonstration Sites are:
                               
                  York County Public Schools:
   Dare Elementary School, 300 Dare Road., Yorktown, VA 23692 
                               
                Hanover County Public Schools:
     Rural Point Elementary School, 7161 Studley Road,
                  Mechanicsville, VA 23111
     Chickahominy Middle School, 10303 Atlee Station Road,
                  Mechanicsville, VA 23111 
     Atlee High School, 10301 Atlee Station Road.,
                  Mechanicsville, VA 23111
                
               Arlington County Public Schools:
      Taylor Elementary School, 2600 North Stuart Street,
                     Arlington, VA 22207
                               
                  Wythe County Public Schools: 
     Fort Chiswell High School, Route 3, Box 225, 
                    Max Meadows, VA, 24360
     Rural Retreat Elementary School, P.O. Box 10, 
                    Rural Retreat, VA 24368
     Rural Retreat High School, P.O. Box 10, 
                    Rural Retreat, VA 24368
                      
  To visit one of these sites, please complete an ISEE
  Demonstration Visitation Form as attached.  Direct this
  information to the site you wish to visit.  Someone from the
  school will contact you with the dates they have available
  for demonstration.  Visitors will be accepted on a first
  come basis. 
  
  In order to receive the stipend, school teams must complete
  observer evaluation forms, provided by the site.  Following
  the visit, forms should be returned to the address provided. 
  For additional information, contact Melanie Sterling, ISEE
  Coordinator, at (804) 828-3876.