VAISEF VA Assn. of Independent Specialized Education Facilities

03/01/2026

March 1.

We made it. We survived fake spring, real winter, second winter, and whatever that random 70-degree Tuesday in February was.

There’s something about flipping the calendar to March that just feels different.

It’s not quite spring… but it’s not winter either. It’s that in-between space. The season of “almost.” Longer light in the evenings. A little warmth sneaking into the air. The quiet reminder that things grow again — even after the cold.

March has always felt like a turning point to me.

It’s the month where hope stretches its legs.
Where we start believing in new beginnings again.
Where we shake off what’s been heavy and look toward what’s next.

If January is about resolutions and February is about survival, March is about movement.

So here’s to fresh starts.
To thawing hearts.
To second winds.
To things coming back to life — including us.

Happy March 1. Let’s go make it count.

02/19/2026

01/19/2026

Grateful for the admin staff, teachers, students, and parents at Alternative Paths for such a warm welcome today. And special appreciation to the staff who showed up on a federal holiday just to get things done. That’s dedication, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you. 💙

11/05/2025

Link to Register:
https://vaisef.wildapricot.org/event-6279120

Link to Book Room:
https://book.passkey.com/e/51051449?mode=find-res

10/30/2025

From Insight to Impact: Leading with Intention

We invite you to join us this fall at the historic Hotel Roanoke for a powerful few days of learning, collaboration, and connection. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, this year’s conference theme—"From Insight to Impact: Leading with Intention"—challenges us to reflect on how our insights as educators can fuel meaningful and lasting change.

What to Expect:

Thought-provoking sessions

Hands-on workshops

Dynamic speakers and panels

Valuable networking with fellow education leaders and practitioners

Let’s come together to lead with purpose—and create impact.

Register Today!:
https://vaisef.org/event-6279120

Dates: November 16–18
Location: Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, VA

Special Hotel Rate:
Reserve your room at the discounted conference rate of $189 per night (plus taxes) using the link below by tomorrow, 10/31 at 5pm!

Book Your Room:
https://book.passkey.com/event/51051449/owner/9515698/home?&mode=find-res

We look forward to seeing you in Roanoke!

Best regards,
VAISEF

10/30/2025

Just received this letter from Senator Stella Pekarsky, recognizing Specialized Education School Week across Virginia.

It’s humbling to see the work of VAISEF, our member schools, and every dedicated professional in this field acknowledged at the state level. What we do isn’t easy — but it changes lives every single day.

A heartfelt thank-you to Senator Pekarsky for carrying this resolution and for recognizing the impact that specialized education has on students and families throughout the Commonwealth. And to our member schools — your tireless commitment, compassion, and advocacy make this all possible.

Here’s to another year of growth, progress, and partnership in making sure every student reaches their full potential.

08/29/2025

As I’ve traveled across Virginia these past few months, attempting to visit every single VAISEF school to better understand their successes and challenges, I’ve had the peace of mind knowing that our lobbying partner, McGuireWoods Consulting (MWC), has been carrying forward the strategy they presented at our Spring conference. And they’ve done it with the kind of energy and commitment that makes a real difference.

We are lucky to have such an incredible team representing VAISEF. Mike Thomas, Laura Novey, and Sydney Green are not only well known and respected across the Commonwealth—they’re trusted to the point that they can often secure a meeting with a state official, senator, or delegate simply by stopping by their office. That kind of reputation is rare, and it’s a big part of why our voice is being heard.

Over the past few months, they’ve been out front on so many important efforts: building relationships with new members of the State Executive Council for Children’s Services, keeping a close eye on SEC and State and Local Advisory Team meetings so our leadership stays informed, meeting with policy leads for statewide candidates, and sitting down with members of the Youngkin Administration as budget planning ramps up. They’ve even been working to secure a proclamation from Governor Youngkin for Specialized Education School Week this October.

They’ve also been active with legislators and candidates across Virginia—most recently at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Boston—and continue to monitor developments at the Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, including key conversations around CSA. They even monitor and attend local meetings (school board, board of supervisors, etc.) and stay on top of the things that might most affect our member schools and the children and families we serve.

While I’ve been on the road most of the past months visiting schools and meeting with legislators and candidates myself, Mike, Laura, and Sydney have been making sure those same schools are heard and represented in Richmond and beyond. On behalf of our entire membership, I want to thank them for their outstanding work and partnership. Our schools—and most importantly, our students—are stronger because of their efforts.

— Jerry Baldwin
Executive Director, VAISEF

04/28/2025

We are incredibly lucky at VAISEF to have an outstanding lobby team representing Special Education Private Day Schools across Virginia. Mike Thomas, Laura Novey, and Sydney Green consistently go above and beyond — and they get results!

Last week at our VAISEF Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, they shared their insights and advocacy strategies with our members and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Their expertise, passion, and dedication shine through everything they do, and we are so grateful for their leadership.

Check out a few pics from their fantastic session! Thank you, Mike, Laura, and Sydney — you make a real difference for our schools and our students!

04/04/2025

Just a final push for those involved in, or interested in networking with Virginia’s brightest stars involved in Special Education, VAISEF’s Member Facilities:

Ride the waves of change with us at VAISEF SPRING CONFERENCE, coming to VA Beach April 23rd-25th, 2025.

Learn valuable strategies to navigate through changes and emerge stronger than ever.
Don't miss out!

For registration pricing and more details please visit:

Registration Link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vaisef-spring-conference-2025-riding-the-waves-of-change-tickets-1236432255159?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hotel Booking Link: VAISEF 2025 Spring Conference or https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/orfvhhf-92d-71cdcee5-5a20-4916-8b76-af6733da6c33/

Please be aware that the hotel booking link is experiencing technical issues. If you encounter any problems while making your reservation online, would like to stay additional nights pre/post conference or need a credit card authorization form, please contact the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront at 757-213-3000.

WE are also still looking 👀 for more Sponsors and Exhibitors!:

VAISEF 2025 Spring Conference Exhibitor and Sponsorship form.docx
Fill out the form and return to this Google Folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RHdnMekULZU6dB70ss1wZ-8khQ36wkRx?usp=drive_link

04/03/2025

Boost Your Brand & Support Special Education in Virginia!

VAISEF is now welcoming conference exhibitors, event sponsors, and corporate partners for 2025-2026! This is your chance to promote your organization while making a meaningful impact on Virginia’s special education and private day school programs, which play a vital role in the state’s educational continuum alongside public schools.

As a VAISEF corporate partner, you won’t just gain visibility at our conferences and special events—you’ll also have a foot in the door with specialized education facilities across Virginia. This is an opportunity to connect with decision-makers and build lasting relationships in a critical sector.

Want to learn more? Let’s talk! Reach out here to explore how your organization can get involved.

Thanks!

Jerry Baldwin
Executive Director
VAISEF: Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities

03/13/2025

This morning, VAISEF spoke before the State Executive Council on Children’s Services to highlight concerns about funding changes that impact Special Education Private Day programs.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg and Delegate Carrie Coyner, who continue to advocate for students in specialized education settings. Their efforts helped secure an important budget amendment that will provide much-needed data on why some localities have higher referral rates and challenges reintegrating students into public schools.

However, concerns remain:
➡️ The new 5% reimbursement cap shifts more financial responsibility to local governments, which could impact their ability to serve students in need.
➡️ The $5 million redirection of CSA pool funds to public school programs goes against CSA principles—these funds should remain within CSA to support children who require specialized services.

VAISEF supports adequate funding for all special education settings, but policies must be fair and sustainable. We will continue working with policymakers to ensure that funding decisions prioritize students—not just budgets.

02/26/2025

Celebrating a Big Step for Specialized Education in Virginia!

Today, VAISEF sent a letter of gratitude to Senator Stella Pekarsky for her leadership in carrying SJ261, which designates a Specialized Education School Week in Virginia. This resolution is a huge step forward in raising awareness about the vital role our member schools play in providing specialized education services to students who need them most.

By recognizing this important work at the state level, SJ261 creates opportunities for legislators and local leaders to engage with our schools, educators, and—most importantly—the students and families we serve.

We are incredibly thankful to Senator Pekarsky for her commitment to this cause and look forward to honoring her at our spring conference in Virginia Beach this April.