Initiatives

T-TAC ODU provides quality training and technical assistance to educators in response to local, regional, and state needs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The center strives to improve educational opportunities for children with developmental delays and disabilities including individuals with intellectual disabilities (through age 21). T-TAC ODU also provides training and support to teachers regarding assistive technology that will assist students with communication needs and provide access to the general education curriculum. Services at T-TAC ODU are generally free of charge and are designed to meet the needs of special education professionals in Regions 2 and 3.

The Center for Social Behavior Support (CSBS) provides support for sustainable PBIS implementation through training, coaching, and technical assistance to education systems to include states agencies, school districts, Pre-K-12 schools, alternative education, juvenile justice, and other organizations. CSBS is a partner with the OSEP funded National PBIS Technical Assistance Center and aims to develop the capacity of schools to prevent problem behaviors, promote positive school culture, and to evaluate the impact on both social and academic success of all youth, including those with the highest level of need.

CIEES faculty members serve as program evaluators for the VDOE’s implementation of the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS), actively participating in VTSS state leadership, evaluation, and implementation teams. VTSS is the VDOE's scope and sequence for implementation of a Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) that aligns academics, behavior, and social-emotional wellness into a single decision-making framework to establish the supports needed for schools to be effective learning environments for all students.

The Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Programs (CSEEP) provide a readily accessible path to full licensure for provisionally licensed special education teachers and other qualified school personnel to ensure a high-quality education for Virginia's children with disabilities.

The VDOE Office of Student Services has developed a one-stop professional development and resource collection for specialized instructional support personnel such as school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, and administrators. Learning modules include Mental Health in Schools, Chronic Absenteeism, Defusing Disruptive Behavior, and Refining Your Toolkit. Resources are available for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses.

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services presents series of modules to inform Virginia school personnel on the Regulations Governing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia. There are 5 modules and a cumulative quiz that will provide a certificate of completion.

The Office of STEM and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) partnered with the Center for Implementation and Evaluation of Education Systems (CIEES) at Old Dominion University to develop a series of asynchronous learning modules, videos, and resources to support the effective delivery of virtual instruction. This professional development website offers research-based guidance to support school leaders, educators, and key staff in navigating both blended and fully online environments.

The Ultimate Behavior Toolkit: What Works series provides busy teachers with quick, evidence-based information on practices that are critical to creating a positive classroom environment. In positive classroom environments, the students are able actively engage with the subject matter because their teachers have developed effective classroom management procedures. Take a look inside the Ultimate Behavior Toolkit to find evidence-based tools to common classroom problems!