| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 8VAC20-81 | Virginia's special education regulations: Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. |
| VDOE | Virginia Department of Education. |
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the federal special education law. |
| IEP | Individualized Education Program: the written plan for a child found eligible for special education. |
| 504 | Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; a 504 plan gives accommodations. See 504 vs IEP. |
| PRC | Parent Resource Center, run by many Virginia school divisions for families of students with disabilities. |
| PEATC | Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. |
| SEAC | Special Education Advisory Committee, a local committee that includes parents and advises the school board. |
| FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education. |
| LRE | Least Restrictive Environment. |
| PWN | Prior Written Notice: the school's written explanation when it proposes or refuses an action. |
| Business day | In Virginia, Monday through Friday, 12 months a year, excluding federal and state holidays (8VAC20-81-10). |
| School-based team | The team at a school that reviews referrals and must meet within 10 business days (8VAC20-81-50). |
| Eligibility group | The group that decides whether a child qualifies for special education. |
| MDR | Manifestation Determination Review. See suspension guide. |
| FBA / BIP | Functional Behavioral Assessment / Behavior Intervention Plan. |
| IEE | Independent Educational Evaluation, an evaluation by someone outside the school. |
| ESY | Extended School Year services. |
| SLD | Specific Learning Disability. |
| OHI | Other Health Impairment. |
| DD | Developmental Delay, a category Virginia uses for young children. |
| VAAP | Virginia Alternate Assessment Program. |
| Ombudsman | VDOE's Parent Ombudsman for Special Education, for informal help with concerns. |
See also the general IEP acronyms list.
Sources
- 8VAC20-81, Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia
- VDOE Special Education
Questions parents ask
What does PRC mean in Virginia special education?
Parent Resource Center, a free center many Virginia school divisions run for families of students with disabilities.
What is 8VAC20-81?
Virginia's special education regulations, the state rules that sit alongside the federal IDEA.
More Virginia guides
All Virginia guides · Evaluation timeline · Request letter · 504 vs IEP · Glossary
Not legal advice. This page shares general information about Virginia and federal special education rules as we read them on November 3, 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules change and school divisions vary. For help with your situation, contact PEATC (Virginia's Parent Training and Information Center), the VDOE Parent Ombudsman for Special Education, or a special education attorney or advocate.