Special Education and Services for Special Populations

Like all charter schools, Global Village Academy (GVA), is a public school. GVA serves students with disabilities and English Learners and provides services to students as required by state and federal law. Charter schools are subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, need for special education services, and certain other grounds. Laws applicable to students with disabilities include the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In most cases, the services required by a student with disabilities can be provided at Global Village Academy. In some cases, a student’s individual needs require that they be placed in a different program or location as determined by an IEP or Section 504 team. Under IDEA, students with disabilities are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).  The services a student requires under IDEA are described in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  Under Colorado law, the provision of FAPE and specific services required by a student’s IEP is a joint responsibility of the charter school and their authorizer, in most cases the local school district. 

Applicants to Global Village Academy are not required to identify whether the applicant has an IEP and the school admits students without considering a student’s disability. After a student with an IEP is initially enrolled in the school, an IEP team meeting may be required to determine whether this school is an appropriate placement for the student based on their needs. In most cases, the services required by a student’s IEP can be provided at Global Village Academy. In some circumstances, a student’s individual needs require that they be placed in a different program or location. For more information on our programs and services please contact Chris Denmark, Executive Principal, at [email protected].