Meet South Carolina's First Virtual Alternative Education Campus!

HVASC Title IX Coordinator

Kelly Uzas

864-648-9647

kuzas@cyberacademysc.org 

330 Pelham Rd Ste 101A, Greenville, SC 29615

Title IX Policy and Procedures

Title IX Formal Complaint Form 

Title IX Training 

The Cyber Academy of SC Title IX team received training from the Charter Institute at Erskine and through Institutional Compliance Solutions‘s Title IX U https://titleixu.com/

The training materials are available here.

Jennifer Matthews

jmatthews@heronacademysc.org

Phone: 864-236-4006

Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina (HVASC) is committed to providing an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, which includes gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence, as regulated by Title VII and Title IX, and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding all forms of sex discrimination and sexual harassment Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina reserves the authority to independently deal with sex discrimination and sexual harassment whenever becoming aware of their existence, regardless of whether a complaint has been lodged in accordance with the grievance procedure set forth below.

Rebecca Dopson

redopson@cyberacademysc.org

Phone: 864-251-5727

Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina (HVASC) is committed to providing an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, which includes gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence, as regulated by Title VII and Title IX, and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding all forms of sex discrimination and sexual harassment Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina reserves the authority to independently deal with sex discrimination and sexual harassment whenever becoming aware of their existence, regardless of whether a complaint has been lodged in accordance with the grievance procedure set forth below in Information and Assistance.

Upon request, Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina (HVASC) is required to evaluate a child for eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral. When the school receives a referral, the school will appoint an Evaluation Planning team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services. The school locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina.

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 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, Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina, at (864) 202-6547, or by writing her at Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina, 330 Pelham Road 101-A Greenville, SC 29615.

Heron Virtual Academy 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@cyberacademysc.org or 864-251-5727, questions pertaining to Title IX contact Kelly Uzas by phone at 864-648-9647, or via mail at Heron Virtual Academy 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

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 at jreed@heronacademysc.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 jreed@heronacademysc.org or 864-202-6547.

Any individual, who believes he/she may have experienced any form of sex discrimination or sexual harassment, or who believes that he/she has observed such actions taking place, may receive information and assistance regarding the School’s policies and reporting procedures from any of the following:

Definition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (for Students):

• Sex discrimination occurs when a person, because of his or her sex, is denied participation in or the benefits of any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

• Sexual harassment is conduct that: 1) is sexual in nature; 2) is unwelcome; and 3) denies or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from a school's educational program or activity. Sexual harassment can be verbal, nonverbal or physical.

Definition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (for Employees):

• Sex discrimination occurs when a person who is qualified for a position at issue is subjected to an adverse employment action because of his or her sex.

• Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: 1) submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of employment; 2) submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting the individual; or 3) the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

Heron Virtual Academy South Carolina (HVASC) 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, and inquiries can be directed using the contact information below. You may also contact the Office of Civil Rights at 800.421.3481 or OCR@ed.gov

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