The IDEA requires a state educational agency (“SEA”) to publish Hearing Officer Decisions in due process cases. VDOE protects school divisions by redacting their names when it publishes these decisions – despite that there is nothing confidential about a school division’s name. VDOE’s blanket redaction of that information ignores federal guidance, which requires a case-by-case determination whether to redact information.

The IDEA does NOT require an SEA to publish a Letters of Findings (“LOF”) issued for a State Complaint. At least thirty-five states and the District of Columbia promote transparency and publish LOFs. Virginia Department of Education – VDOE is NOT among those states. For unknown reasons, VDOE chooses not to publish these important guidance documents.

VDOE issued more than 150 LOFs for Complaints filed during the 2024-25 fiscal year; the school division was found in non-compliance (either entirely or partially) about 50% of the time. Although 2025-26 fiscal year data is not yet complete, currently available data shows that school divisions were in non-compliance (either entirely or in part) in almost 60% of the LOFs issued so far.

Do you want to know why Virginia Department of Education – VDOE does not publish its Letters of Finding? So do we! Ask ODRAS@doe.virginia.gov.