The Charter Institute at Erskine 

Cyber Academy of South Carolina 

ANNUAL NOTICE OF CHILD FIND 

(SPECIAL EDUCATION REFERRAL AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES) 

Upon request, The Charter Institute at Erskine is required to evaluate the child for eligibility for special education services.  A request for evaluation is known as a referral.  When the district receives a referral, the district will appoint and Evaluation Planning team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services.  The district locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in schools within the school district. 

A school staff member who reasonably believes a child may be a child with a disability has a legal duty to refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child is in enrolled.  Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child’s parent that the referral will be made. 

Others, including parents, who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school or district in which the child is enrolled. 

Referrals must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability.  A referral may be made by contacting Jackie Reed, Special Programs Administrator, Cyber at Academy of South Carolina, jreed@cyberacademysc.org, or by writing her at 330 Pelham Road, Suite 101A, Greenville, SC 29615. 

South Carolina's mandate regarding medical homebound instruction appears in State Board of Education Regulation 43-241. Put in the simplest terms, R 43-241 defines "homebound instruction" as teaching that is offered to the student who has an acute or chronic medical condition that prevents him or her from attending classes at school, takes place "in a room especially set aside for the period of instruction, " and is conducted by an individual who holds a South Carolina teacher's certificate.

Specifically, Regulations 43-241 says that students who cannot attend public school because of illness, accident or pregnancy, even with the aid of transportation, are eligible for medical homebound instruction. A physician must certify that the student is unable to attend school but may profit from instruction given in the home. Any student participating in a program of medical homebound instruction must be approved by the district superintendent or his or her designee on standardized forms provided by the State Department of Education. All approved forms must be maintained by the district for documentation. 

 Medical homebound instruction is a service that is available for students who cannot attend school for a medical reason.

*A physician must certify that the student has such a medical condition but may benefit from instruction, and must fill out the medical homebound form that the school district provides. The form for Medical Homebound can be picked up from the school or by contacting Jackie Reed, Special Programs Administrator, at 864-202-6547 or jreed@cyberacademysc.org.

*The school leader then decides whether to approve the student for medical homebound services.

*The school will consider the severity of the student’s illness or injury, the length of time that the student will be out of school, the impact that a long period away from school will have on the student’s academic success, and whether the student’s health needs can be met at school virtually.

The goal of homebound medical homebound instruction is to provide continuity of instruction and to facilitate the student’s return to a regular school setting as quickly as possible. State Board of Education Regulation 43-241 outlines the provision of medical homebound services.

For further information please contact Jackie Reed, Special Programs Administrator, at 864-202-6547 or jreed@cyberacademysc.org.

SC LEARNS Gavin's Law Compliance Policy, to be implemented for all virtual academies, including:

Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina and Cyber Academy of South Carolina

Effective Date: November 21st, 2023

Purpose:

This policy is established to ensure compliance with Gavin's Law, Act 54 of 2023, within Heron Virtual Academy, and to promote safety and awareness among our students, parents or guardians, the public, and school personnel regarding the dangers and consequences of sexual extortion.

GAVIN'S LAW POLICY 

The Cyber Academy of South Carolina does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or immigrant status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle the nondiscrimination policies. For questions pertaining to Section 504 contact Rebecca Dopson, 504 Coordinator, at redopson@sclearns.org or 864-251-5727. For questions pertaining to Title IX contact Kelly Uzas at kuzas@cyberacademysc.org, at 864-648-9647, or via mail at Cyber Academy of South Carolina, 330 Pelham Rd Ste 101A, Greenville, SC 29615. For additional details on Title IX grievances, click here. You may also contact the Office of Civil Rights at 800-421-3481 or OCR@ed.gov