Academics
We’re Here for You
Georgia Digital School (GDS) offers robust special education services to support students and meet their needs, empowering them to thrive in school and beyond. With high-quality, personalized learning and the help of teachers and support staff, students with special needs can achieve their academic goals, build their confidence, and pave a path to success.
Child Find
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes the Child Find mandate. Child Find requires all school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, regardless of severity. If you have questions or feel like your child may need specialized services, please contact:
Carrie McClain
[email protected]
English Learners
A Home Language Survey (HLS) is required to be on file for every student enrolled at Georgia Digital School. GDS uses the home language survey responses to begin identifying English language learners. Identified English Language Learners are provided supplemental support through English Language support and instruction and, when applicable, supplemental curriculum. The coordinator/teacher serves as an advocate and support system while helping the student gain proficiency in English. The person providing English Language support and instruction will partner with the student, the Learning Coach, and the general education teachers.
If your student may need ELL services, please contact the EL Coordinator:
Carrie McClain
Section 504 and Health Plan Supports
Georgia Digital School provides 504 accommodations, adaptations, and assistive technology supports for students with disabilities according to their 504 or health plan developed by GDS’s teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. GDS is responsible for the development of the 504 or health plan, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s 504 or health plan. If you have questions regarding the implementation of accommodations, curriculum or course adaptations, or assistive technology, please contact:
Carrie McClain
Parent Language Interpreters or Accommodation Needs
Parents/guardians of students with disabilities may request professional language interpreter services at any time by contacting:
Carrie McClain
Additionally, if any parent/guardian has a disability or other limitation that would impact their ability to participate fully in their child’s educational planning process, GDS would be happy to discuss accommodations that may be available to maximize the parent/guardian’s participation. Individuals seeking to discuss accommodations for this reason may contact:
Carrie McClain
Admission of Homeless Children and Youth
The McKinney Act of 1987, or P.L. 100-77, ensures that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth shall have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youth. Under the Act, schools are prohibited from delaying a homeless child’s entry into school due to delays in obtaining school records. Rules regarding guardianship must be waived for homeless students living with foster parents or relatives other than their legal guardians. Individuals seeking to discuss accommodations for this reason may contact:
Carrie McClain
The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless
Georgia follows the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in ensuring that disputes regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment for students experiencing homelessness are resolved promptly, fairly, and with student continuity in school as a priority.
The state’s procedures are laid out on the Georgia Department of Education website.
Advanced Learners
GDS’s goal is to provide a quality education and ensure appropriate learning opportunities that foster the maximum mental, physical, and emotional development of each student. Some children demonstrate a potential for remarkably high accomplishment when compared to other children of similar age, experience, or environment. These children may perform at a very high level in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, showing an unusually high capacity for leadership, or excel in a particular academic field. GDS will provide extension activities, accommodations, adaptations, and assistive technology supports for students identified as gifted according to their gifted plan developed by their resident district’s teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. GDS is responsible for the development of gifted plans, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s gifted plan. If you have questions regarding the implementation of accommodations, curriculum or course adaptations, or assistive technology, please contact:
Carrie McClain
[email protected]
Anti-Bullying Resources
Learn how to stop bullies and keep your kids safe at school. For GDS’s complete policy, please refer to the GDS Student Handbook.
- StopBullying.gov: Provides information on identifying and preventing bullying
- Cyberbullying: Dedicated to bullying prevention and response
- KidsHealth.org: Provides resources for parents to help kids deal with bullies
Child Abuse Hotline
Any person may report suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Anonymous reports are accepted from individuals who are not mandated by occupation to report, but please consider identifying yourself. Being able to contact you later helps the Children’s Division staff complete a more thorough investigation. They may also need to ask you for more information during the investigation process.
When making a report, be sure to have the following information:
- Name of the child
- Name of the parent(s)
- Name of the alleged abuser
- Where the child can be located
To learn more about Signs of Safety, please visit https://www.signsofsafety.net/
The Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (CA/NHU) is toll-free and answered seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 1.800.392.3738.
Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Compliance Act Coordinator/Special Programs Manager
Identification of Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Compliance Act Coordinator/Special Programs Manager
Carrie McClain
Procedural Safeguards Notice
Parents and guardians of children eligible for or currently receiving special education services have certain state and federal rights. For more information, the Georgia Department outlines the procedural safeguards and Federal IDEA rights for families of children with disabilities in Special Education: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Rights and Responsibilities.
Annual Public Notice of Special Services & Programs
In accordance with federal and state regulations, Georgia Digital School will provide an annual public notice to families informing them of Georgia Digital School’s Child Find responsibilities, procedures involved in the identification of educational disabilities, and determination of students’ service and support needs.
Special Education
GDS provides a complete special education program for all students that qualify. Accommodations, adaptations, assistive technology, and other supports for students with disabilities are provided according to individualized plans developed by GDS teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. GDS is responsible for the development of the IEP, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s IEP. Please contact your GDS if you have any questions or need support. GDS’s special education administrator:
Carrie McClain
Special Education Grievances or Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution Options
IEP Facilitation — IEP facilitation is a voluntary process that can be used when all parties at an IEP meeting agree the presence of a neutral third party would help facilitate communication and the successful drafting of the student’s IEP. This process is not necessary for most IEP meetings. Rather, it is used most often when participants sense that the issues at the IEP meeting are creating an impasse or an acrimonious climate.
Mediation — A voluntary process in which both parties seek to resolve issues with an unbiased, third-party mediator from the Georgia Department of Education. The mediator will write up the details of the agreement the parties reach during the mediation conference; both parties sign the agreement, and it is mandated to be implemented. This process is less time-consuming, stressful, and expensive than a due process hearing (see below).
Formal Due Process
Families are NOT obligated to pursue the above alternatives to due process should they feel their concerns can only be resolved through a formal due process hearing. If a formal complaint against Georgia Digital School is submitted to the Georgia Department of Education Division for Exceptional Children (GaDOE), the complaint must be written and include a statement that the local education agency (LEA) has violated a requirement under IDEA, Part B; the facts on which the statement is based; and the signature of the person(s) filing the complaint.
Special Education Grievances or Disputes
Dispute Resolution Options
Foster Care Coordinator
Carrie McClain
Under the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Georgia Digital School shall identify all students in foster care, develop a foster care plan, and collaborate with the Child Welfare Agency to implement Title I educational stability provisions.