Academic Programs

Program Overview

In partnership with general education, our Department of Special Education seeks to provide services for students with disabilities which facilitate an educational progression. These services support the school system's goals and are delivered through a variety of models. The Individual Education Program (IEP) specifies educational placement and programs for students along a continuum of services. Our department collaborates with community service providers to provide optimal opportunities for students in Vidalia City.

Students with disabilities benefit from an array of instructional opportunities. The general education curriculum is followed when possible and modifications to curriculum are made to meet individual needs. Alternative curricula are designed to meet the needs of students who require different options. We serve students ages 3-21.

Special instruction is provided for students who qualify in one or more of the following areas:

Autism
Emotional Behavioral Disorders
Hearing Impairments
Intellectual Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairments
Other Health Impairments
Significant Developmental Delays
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech-Language Impairments
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Visual Impairments
Assistive Technology

Special education students may also receive related services in the areas of transportation, occupational therapy & physical therapy, audiology, orientation & mobility, interpreter services, related vocational instruction, adaptive physical education, and assistive technology.

Special education students benefit from an array of instructional opportunities. Regular curriculum is followed when possible and modifications to curriculum are made to meet individual needs. Alternative curricula are designed to meet the needs of students who require different options.

Georgia Department of Education Special Education Services and Supports

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Pages/default.aspx  

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

IDEA is our nation's special education law.  IDEA stands for Individual with Disabilities Education Act. The IDEA was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to make sure that children with disabilities had the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education(FAPE), just like other children. The law has been revised many times over the years. The most recent amendments were passed by Congress in December 2004, with final regulations published in August 2006.

IDEA guides how states and school districts provide special education and related services to several million eligible children with disabilities. Click here to learn more about this federal law.   


Psychological Services

Schools today serve increasingly diverse and dynamic student populations. Every child brings unique strengths and challenges to the learning process. School psychologists are a vital part of the effort to unlock each child's potential for success.

Please Contact:

Ms. Aimee Hart, School Psychologist, Ed.S.
912-537-3088 ext. 2018

You can find great resources for parents and educators at the website of the National Association of School Psychologists!


Gifted Education Program

The Vidalia City School System is committed to the belief that children have the right to an educational program based on individual needs. According to definition, a gifted student is one "who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative abilities, or excels in specific academic fields and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his/her abilities." Therefore, competencies in the areas of cognitive skills, learning skills, research and reference skills, communication skills and meta-cognitive skills are extended through gifted education programs beyond what is experienced in the regular classroom. The Vidalia City Schools' Gifted Education Program was developed under the standards and guidelines provided by the state of Georgia.

Please Contact:

Katrina B. Woodard
Special Education Director
912-537-3088 ext 2010

Stakeholders/Proportionate Share Meeting

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), local systems have the responsibility to identify all Students With Disabilities and allocate a proportionate share of funds for services for Students with Disabilities.

The Vidalia City Schools Special Education Department will be holding a Stakeholders/Proportionate Share Meeting on June 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. at the Vidalia City Schools' Board of Education Building located at 1001 North Street W, Vidalia, Georgia 30474.

Participants invited to attend include, but are not limited to the LEA, representatives of private elementary and secondary schools in the district’s jurisdiction, representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities, and parents of eligible homeschooled Students with Disabilities.

The purpose of the meeting will be to determine the services provided, by whom, and where for Students with Disabilities.

For more information, contact Katrina Blount-Woodard at 912-537-3088 ext.2010 or kbwoodard@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us.