wvnews.com

Special education is a key component of public school systems in the state. However, there are several challenges facing individuals who work in these positions. School boards across the state are working on finding ways to improve their special education offerings and address program needs. In Wood County, administrators are working on training their special education staff to make sure they’re prepared for whatever comes their way, said Justin Hartshorn, assistant superintendent of Wood County Schools. “We are really focused this year on providing training to all of our staff,” he said. “One big thing we focused on this past year was compliance. We really struggled with compliance during the 2022-2023 school year extensively.” Since then, significant improvements have been made, with the county now a leader in compliance, said Randy Simmons, compliance specialist at Wood County Schools. “We’re working hard to have all of our students tested within 80 days from the day we receive parental consent,” he said.