Special Education
Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School is committed to providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to all students with disabilities, in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and all applicable Georgia laws and State Board of Education rules.
CHILD FIND
In accordance with IDEA and Georgia law, GFACS conducts Child Find activities to identify, locate, and evaluate students who may have a disability and need special education or related services. Child Find applies to all children in the school community, including those who are homeless, highly mobile, migrant, wards of the state, or parentally placed in private schools.
Parents, teachers, or community members who suspect that a child may have a disability may request an evaluation at any time. Evaluations are provided at no cost to families and are conducted in all areas of suspected disability by qualified professionals. Once written parental consent is received, evaluations are completed within 60 days, as required by Georgia regulations.
SPED SERVICES
Eligible students with disabilities receive services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed to meet their unique needs, through a continuum of services that ensures students are served in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs. Services may include specialized instruction, related services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or counseling, accommodations, modifications, and supplementary aids and supports. Placement and services are determined through the IEP process in collaboration with parents.
Parents are full partners in the IEP process and have rights to procedural safeguards, also known as Parent Rights in Special Education. A copy of the Georgia Department of Education’s Parent Rights in Special Education is provided annually, upon initial referral, upon request, when a state complaint is filed, and when a disciplinary change of placement occurs.