We appreciate the feedback from our CMCSS families. Below are questions submitted by families the past few weeks. If you have additional questions please visit our contact page to reach out to the Department of Special Populations.
Q: How will the process work after we complete the application for CMCSS K-12 Virtual?
A: Great question! Here are the steps:
A: Great question! Here are the steps:
Complete the application.
If the student attended CMCSS last year, we should have the current IEP, 504 Plan, and Eligibility.
If you are transferring from another district please email jodie.lee@cmcss.net and nicole.coleman@cmcss.net and include a phone number where you can be reached.
Mrs. Lee or Ms. Coleman will reach out to see if you as the parent or guardian have the records in digital form or need to set up a time for you to drop off the necessary records.
A representative from the Department of Special Populations will review the records to gather information on necessary services and accommodations.
The representative will contact the student's school-based case manager to request they set up an IEP or 504 team meeting, which could be held remotely or face to face, depending on the time frame and circumstances.
The IEP or 504 team (all required members) will meet to discuss the CMCSS K-12 Virtual option and determine if that is the least restrictive environment (LRE) for the student.
If the determination is yes, the IEP or 504 plan will be written for the virtual setting, ensuring all areas of need are addressed.
*It should be noted that IEP teams are not required to convene prior to beginning CMCSS K-12 Virtual as a parent can choose virtual for the setting due to COVID-19. There will be further clarification provided in regards to the development of an IEP where virtual is the LRE as opposed to an IEP written with a different LRE that may require a continuous learning plan that covers the need for virtual due to COVID-19 only.
Q: Our son will be starting 6th grade this year. How will his special education classes be handled if we choose virtual learning or if at some point the school moves from traditional to remote? We are leaning towards sending him to traditional but need more information on how this will be handled.
A: As stated in the K12 Virtual Handbook, at any time an IEP or 504 team may convene to determine if the traditional or virtual setting best meets the needs of the student.
Q: Will my child’s IEPs still be valid for CMCSS K-12 Virtual?
A: Yes, your child's IEP will still be valid for CMCSS K-12 Virtual, if it is determined by the IEP team that virtual school is appropriate.
Q: Are there particular hours for CMCSS K-12 Virtual schooling? My husband and I both work full-time.
A: CMCSS K-12 Virtual requires logging on to the SchoolsPLP platform four hours per day (20 hours per week). They are not required to be consecutive hours. There will also be some online communication directly with a teacher.
Q: Will my child’s special education teachers reach out to us to let us know what is going on and the expectations?
Q: When will parents be contacted by Case Managers regarding specific IEP needs and how the school will meet those needs?
A: No, but we can have a coordinator or consulting teacher follow up if you have specific questions that have not been answered on this site.
Q: Who will be the members of my child's IEP team if we move to virtual?
A: IEP teams will consist of the required team members, along with any necessary stakeholder working with the student. There will be a virtual team member included in the team if virtual is determined to be an appropriate option.
Q: My daughter is supposed to be starting the special education Pre-K. We had her final IEP meeting in May. Please address the special education preschool setting.
A: CMCSS K-12 Virtual is not an option for Pre-K, but we will be opening our traditional brick and mortar schools and will be serving our Developmental Pre-K as we would during a traditional school year. Should we have to transition to remote learning, there will be a plan in place to address the needs of our Early Childhood population.
Q: We would like our daughter to enroll in CMCSS K-12 Virtual, but I am not clear on how this would pertain to her or others in the special needs programs. Is every school equipped for this option. How do we decide?
Q: My daughter goes to middle school and last year she had trouble getting her assignments off the computer. She has an IEP and I do not want her to fail 7th grade because she does not have enough instruction. I would send her to school but I am afraid of the virus. What steps can we put in place for her?
Q: My child is entering kindergarten this fall. He is on the spectrum and I'm trying to figure out what CMCSS K-12 Virtual would look like for him.
A: CMCSS K-12 Virtual is a full-time virtual school option provided by CMCSS at no cost to parents as a choice setting, provided that virtual is determined to be an appropriate setting by the IEP team. As the parent, you would fill out the enrollment for CMCSS K-12 Virtual. Then someone will reach out to set up an IEP team meeting, which could be remote or face to face, depending on the time and needs of the team members.
Q: I am trying to figure out how CMCSS K-12 Virtual is going to work with students that have IEPs.
A: If a student with an IEP or 504 plan is enrolled in CMCSS K-12 Virtual, it is the responsibility of CMCSS to ensure the school system meets all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IEP) Act and Section 504. CMCSS K-12 Virtual will follow the services determined by the IEP team and documented on the IEP or 504 plan as appropriate.
Q: My student was in a virtual high school and it did not work for her. The school confiscated her computer because she was on banned sites and did not follow the digital usage rules. Her teachers had to go to paperwork only. She has an IEP and I would like to have suggestions.
A: Students will need to comply with the rules under the digital usage for the district. The IEP team needs to convene to determine the least restrictive environment for the student.
Q: If the school cohorts students, will they be placed with other gifted students? If not, how will we have gifted class?
Q: If I choose CMCSS K-12 Virtual for my studentl will there be gifted classes?
A: If a student with an IEP or 504 plan is enrolled in CMCSS K-12 Virtual, it is the responsibility of CMCSS to ensure the school system meets all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IEP) Act and Section 504. CMCSS K-12 Virtual will follow the services determined by the IEP team and documented on the IEP or 504 plan as appropriate.