The following resources and programs are offered by Virginia Beach City Public Schools to help your student best reach their potential and keep you informed. Should you have any questions about these resources, please feel free to use any contact numbers listed, or contact your child's school.
Parent/Student Handbook
The parent/student handbook is available online at vbschools.com. It contains general information about the school's program, the school division calendar, the availability of school services and materials, regulations, and general guidelines.
Report Cards
The Report Card formally advises parents of their child's proficiency. It is issued four times a year. Other informal progress reports are sent home at regular intervals. In addition, parents who register for the online Parent Portal can monitor their children’s progress throughout the year.
Elementary School Counseling Program
Each elementary school offers a comprehensive and developmental counseling program that is an integral part of the total educational program designed to promote the academic, social, and career development of all students. As an essential part of the instructional program, school counseling helps to build a foundation for student learning and academic success. Licensed school counselors provide a variety of services, including classroom instruction, crisis intervention, individual and group services, support for parents, teachers, and administrators, and coordination of services with outside agencies.
Gifted
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) offers gifted education services at all levels through a combination of school-based options and division-wide programs. Through a variety of experiences, gifted students engage in rigorous learning opportunities through differentiated instruction that is responsive to the academic, social, and emotional needs of the student.
VBCPS identifies giftedness in the following areas: general intellectual aptitude (GIA) and visual and performing arts aptitude. Please contact the Office of Gifted Testing at 757-263-6870 or visit the Gifted Programs site on vbschools.com for program and application information.
Academic Support
Academic support programs are designed to strengthen and improve the achievement of students who would benefit from additional academic assistance. These programs are available to students in grades kindergarten through twelve. Academic support goals are established for eligible students, and student progress is monitored. For further information, contact the principal of your child’s school.
Special Education
Special education is specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the needs of a student with a disability as described in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) and the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. Through a process of identification, evaluation, and eligibility determination, students determined to require special education and related services are provided specially designed instruction and supports as delineated in an individualized education program (IEP).
The IEP is developed through a collaborative process between parents, teachers, administrators, other service providers, and students, when appropriate. An IEP is implemented according to the agreed-upon services once written parental consent is obtained. For further information about special education, the process and/or delivery of services, please contact the Parent Support and Information Center at 757-263-2066.
English as a Second Language
The vision of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools English as a Second Language program is to empower English learners to master social and academic English; to achieve academic success; to accomplish personal goals focused on college and career readiness; and to navigate the diverse local and global communities. Instruction is designed to meet the needs of students at various levels of English proficiency and build students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Language and culture taught in the ESL program reinforce skills and concepts taught in the standard curriculum. For further information concerning ESL, contact the Title III coordinator for English learners, Department of Teaching and Learning at 757-263-1070.