During a recent school board meeting, parents raised significant concerns regarding the state of special education in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Robin DeHart, a parent of a neurodivergent student, highlighted troubling trends in the district's performance over the past three years, noting that only 30% of fourth graders with individualized education programs (IEPs) are reading at grade level, and a mere 7% of eighth graders meet similar standards. Math performance is also lacking, with only 7% to 20% of students in grades four through high school achieving grade-level proficiency, falling short of state targets. While 71% of students with IEPs graduate high school, the dropout rate stands at 23%. DeHart emphasized the need for transparency and effective action rather than unfulfilled promises. In response, the Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) Director of Special Education, Donna Woodson, presented the 2026-2027 Special Education Annual Plan, which aims to address these issues through funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B. This funding will support salaries for additional special education staff and instructional materials, as the plan moves forward for review by the Virginia Department of Education.