Special Services

Section 504 Education Policy

North Carolina Virtual Academy’s (NCVA’s) policy is to provide a free and appropriate public education to each student with a disability enrolled in the school, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. NCVA does not discriminate based on disability with regard to admission, access to services, treatment, or employment in its programs or activities.

NCVA’s intent is to ensure that students who are disabled within the definition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are identified, assessed, and provided with appropriate educational services. NCVA will provide reasonable accommodations to students in accordance with the student’s 504 Plan developed by a team of individuals who are knowledgeable of the student, the evaluation results, and available services.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Public law 93-112 is a comprehensive law that addresses the rights of handicapped persons and applies to all agencies receiving federal financial assistance. Eliminating barriers to education programs and services, increasing building accessibility, and establishing equitable employment practices are thoroughly and specifically addressed in Section 504 regulations.

Under this policy, a student with a disability is one who (a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, or working—examples include Tourette’s Syndrome, epilepsy, sickle-cell anemia, asthma, or a serious long-term illness or injury—if there is a resulting impact on a major life activity such as learning; (b) has a record of such impairment; or (c) is regarded as having such impairment. Students may be disabled under Section 504 even though they do not require services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Due process rights of students with disabilities and their parents under Section 504 will be enforced.


Laura Gray Lefcoski, 504 Coordinator