The Office of Special Education is responsible for improving results for children and youth with exceptionalities, primarily through leadership and financial support to local education agencies and for the administration of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).

The West Virginia Legislature has designated the third week of October as Disability History Week. all public schools (including charter schools) are required to provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement. Instruction may be integrated into the existing school curriculum through supplemental lesson plans, holding school assemblies, or other whole-school activities intended to promote awareness and understanding of disability history and the disability rights movement.