Special education in West Virginia

What West Virginia calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in West Virginia

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

IEP team meeting

Eligibility team

Eligibility Committee

Evaluation timeline

80 calendar days. 80 days from consent through eligibility (Policy 2419, ch. 3)

IEP timeline

IEP within 30 calendar days of eligibility

Transition planning starts

14 (WVDE roadmap, being checked in Policy 2419)

Rights transfer to the student at

18 (age of majority notice at 17)

Developmental delay category

3 to 6 (child count; few at 7)

Dyslexia law

yes: W. Va. Code 18-2E-10 (Third Grade Success Act, 2023): K-3 screening incl. dyslexia

State categories

Gifted is included in Policy 2419 exceptionalities

Find your district and schools

67 districts and charter districts. 3 special education schools and 6 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in West Virginia Services for children in West Virginia (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education (833) 627-2833

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

West Virginia Parent Training and Information
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Weston
(304) 472-5697

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights of West Virginia
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Charleston
(304) 346-0847

Advocacy groups in West Virginia

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

West Virginia Medicaid

CHIP

WVCHIP

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes: Children with Disabilities Community Service Program (TEFRA) and Medicaid waivers

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

Autism insurance law

yes. 18 months to 18, diagnosed at 8 or younger; ABA $30,000 for first 3 years, then $2,000 per month

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

universal: Hope Scholarship (universal ESA)

Program page

Official program page

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How West Virginia scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

Rank 24 of 51

State of Support

Rank 39 of 51

Combined

C-

Rank 39 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	D+
Learning together	C+
Results	C-
School funding	B-
Family protections	C
Options and transition	C

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (2 or more years). How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.