Classroom Accommodations
Georgia Virtual School (GaVS) provides accommodations in our online classrooms for students with a current Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 plan, EL/TPC/English Development plan, hospital homebound services, or medical/health plan. GaVS also provides individualized support for students who have been displaced as well as students in residential settings. To apply accommodations to GaVS online courses, we must receive the current plan. The plan should be securely uploaded to the GaVS student account by the GaVS facilitator at the local school, or documentation of the disability should be provided to GaVS by the parent or guardian of private and homeschool students.
Georgia Credit Recovery (GaCR) will not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of disability. Many accommodations normally found in an IEP or 504 Plan are naturally integrated in the design of the credit recovery program's courses. The local school system maintains responsibility to ensure they meet all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504.
Placement Considerations
GaVS serves students with disabilities in the general education classroom. While our online courses naturally integrate many accommodations commonly outlined in individualized plans, GaVS can also implement other accommodations, such as extended time on assessments and assignments. However, some plan provisions may not be conducive to the GaVS online model and, therefore, cannot be implemented. GaVS staff will work with the local school or parent/guardian to answer questions about placement. However, the local school and/or parent/guardian have ultimate responsibility for making placement decisions.
The local school continues to maintain all aspects of the individualized education program, Section 504 Plan, or other formal accommodations plan to include progress monitoring towards goals and providing instructional and related services. For English learners, the local school will provide required ESOL language instruction services.
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensures that programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance don’t discriminate or harass individuals based on disability.
Students qualify under Section 504 if:
- They have a physical or mental impairment; and
- The impairment substantially limits at least one major life activity.
Section 504 Documents
- Notice of Rights of Students and Parents Under Section 504
- Section 504 Formal Grievance Procedure
- Students with Disabilities in Georgia Virtual School
For more information and/or assistance regarding Section 504, please submit a GaVS help desk request.
Classroom Accommodation FAQs
You can submit a helpdesk ticket and select the Classroom Accommodations category. A member of the GaVS team will then contact you.
Georgia Virtual School will not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of disability.
The local public school system maintains full responsibility to ensure they meet all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504. The current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan must be provided to GaVS by the local school system. If the plan or eligibility changes while the student is enrolled with GaVS, the public school should provide the updated plan for us as soon as it’s finalized. Georgia Virtual School will follow all applicable provisions in the IEP or 504 Plan, however there may be some provisions that can’t be implemented. In such a case, the local school determines whether the student should be placed with Georgia Virtual School.
Private school and homeschool students can receive appropriate and reasonable accommodations as required under Section 504. Parents or guardians of homeschool or private school students should inform GaVS if their child has been previously identified as having a disability. With the consent of the parent or guardian, GaVS student services team will determine Section 504 eligibility. If the student is found eligible, the team, which includes the parent or guardian, works together to determine appropriate accommodations.
If a parent or guardian of a homeschool or private school student enrolled in GaVS believes their child may have a disability, they should submit a helpdesk request for information regarding the GaVS Section 504 process.
Georgia Virtual School can be an excellent option for students receiving hospital/homebound services. The local public school should submit hospital homebound paperwork on behalf of their student. Private or homeschool parents or guardians should provide a doctor’s note describing the student situation. This documentation should be uploaded to the student account by the GaVS facilitator or sent into GaVS via the helpdesk.
Georgia Credit Recovery will not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of disability. The Credit Recovery Program’s courses naturally handle accommodations normally found in an IEP or 504 Plan. For example:
- Courses allow several times the original time for post-tests to meet various learners’ needs.
- All notes and lessons are included in the courses via the Content pages.
- The CR course structure allows students to do as little or as much as they need to prepare for unit post-tests.
- Students have the ability to work at their own pace within the 26-week timeframe.
Accommodations beyond what are already integrated into the courses must be provided by the local school. The local school system maintains full responsibility to make sure they meet all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504.