Special Programs for Online School

Missouri Virtual Academy offers robust special education services to support students and meet their needs, empowering them to thrive in school and beyond. With high-quality, personalized learning and the help of teachers and support staff, students with special needs can achieve their academic goals, find their confidence, and pave a path to success.
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Child Find

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes the Child Find mandate. Child Find requires all school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. If you have questions or feel like your child may need specialized services, please contact Kylee Angell at [email protected] or call 314.594.7650

English Learners

A Home Language Survey (HLS) is required to be on file for every student enrolled at MODA and MOVA. Missouri STRIDE Schools use the home language survey responses to begin the identification process of English language learners. Identified English Language Learners are provided supplemental support through English Language support and instruction and, when applicable, supplemental curriculum. The coordinator/teacher serves as an advocate and support system while helping the student gain proficiency in English. The person providing the English Language support and instruction will partner with the student, Learning Coach, and general education teachers.

If your student may need ELL services, please contact the EL Coordinator, Mychelle Sloan at [email protected] (MOVA) or 314.300.9924.

Section 504 and Health Plan Supports

MOVA provides 504 accommodations, adaptations, and assistive technology supports for students with disabilities according to their 504 or health plan developed by MOVA’s teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. MOVA is responsible for the development of the 504 or health plan, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s 504 or health plan. If you have questions regarding the implementation of accommodations, curriculum or course adaptations, or assistive technology, please contact Diana Mitchell at [email protected] or call 314.936.6463

Parent Language Interpreters or Accommodation Needs

Parents/guardians of students with disabilities may request professional language interpreter services at any time by contacting Mychelle Sloan at [email protected] or call 314.300.9924

Additionally, if any parent/guardian has a disability or other limitation that would impact their ability to participate fully in their child’s educational planning process, MOVA would be happy to discuss accommodations that may be available to maximize the parent/guardian’s participation. Individuals seeking to discuss accommodations for this reason may contact Mychelle Sloan at [email protected] or 314.300.9924.

Admission of Homeless Children and Youth

The McKinney Act of 1987, or P.L. 100-77, ensures that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth shall have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youth. Under the Act, schools are prohibited from delaying a homeless child’s entry into school due to delays in obtaining school records. Rules regarding guardianship must be waived for homeless students living with foster parents or relatives other than their legal guardians. Individuals seeking to discuss accommodations for this reason may contact Diana Mitchell at [email protected] or call 314.936.6463

The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless

Missouri follows the requirements of the McKinney‑VentoHomelessAssistanceAct and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in ensuring that disputes regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment for students experiencing homelessness are resolved promptly, fairly, and with student continuity in school as a priority.

The state’s procedures are laid out in the MissouriDESEMcKinney‑Vento Dispute Resolution Process (June 2022), and elaborated through recommended LEA-level processes used statewide.

Admissions of Youth in Foster Care

The “Foster Care Education Bill of Rights” requires public school districts and child-placing agencies in Missouri to ensure youth in foster care do not fall through the cracks when it comes to receiving an education because of situations they experience while in care. The Foster Care Education Bill of Rights requires school districts to designate a staff person as the educational liaison for foster children. The liaison shall do the following in an advisory capacity:

  • Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement and enrollment in school and check out from school of foster children;
  • Assist foster care pupils when transferring schools by ensuring proper transfer of credits, records, and grades;
  • Request school records within two business days of a foster child in a school; and
  • Submit records of a foster child within three business days of receiving a request for school records.

Additional information about supports are available by contacting Diana Mitchell at [email protected] or call 314.936.6463.

Advanced Learners

MOVA’s goal is to provide a quality education and to ensure appropriate learning opportunities that will foster maximum mental, physical, and emotional development of each student. Some children demonstrate or show a potential for demonstrating a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to other children of similar age, experience, or environment. These children may perform at a very high level in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, showing an unusually high capacity for leadership, or excel in a particular academic field. MOVA will provide extension activities, accommodations, adaptations, and assistive technology supports for students identified as gifted according to their gifted plan developed by their resident district’s teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. MOVA is responsible for the development of gifted plans, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s gifted plan. If you have questions regarding the implementation of accommodations, curriculum or course adaptations, or assistive technology, please contact Kylee Angell at [email protected] or call 314.594.7650.

Career Education

MissouriConnections.org is available to Missouri students, parents, guidance counselors, educators, and job seekers at no charge, and can help determine career interests, explore occupations, establish education plans, develop job search strategies and create résumés.

Missouri Career Education combines academics and occupational skill training to prepare students of all ages with programs designed around the 16 career clusters.

Anti-Bullying Resources

Learn how to stop bullies and keep your kids safe at school. For MOVA’s complete policy, please refer to the MODA Student Handbook.

Child Abuse Hotline

Any person may report suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Anonymous reports are accepted from individuals who are not mandated by occupation to report, but please consider identifying yourself. Being able to contact you later helps the Children’s Division staff complete a more thorough investigation. They may also need to ask you for more information during the investigation process.

When making a report, be sure to have the following information:

  • Name of the child
  • Name of the parent(s)
  • Name of the alleged abuser
  • Where the child can be located

The Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit utilizes Signs of Safety when screening calls. To learn more about Signs of Safety, please visit https://www.signsofsafety.net/

The Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (CA/NHU) is toll-free and answered seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 1.800.392.3738.

Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Compliance Act Coordinator/Special Programs Manager

Identification of Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Compliance Act Coordinator/Special Programs Manager

Kylee Angell
12645 Olive Blvd #214
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
[email protected]
314.594.7650

Procedural Safeguards Notice

Parents and guardians of children eligible for or currently receiving special education services have certain state and federal rights. For more information on parent rights in special education, a copy of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Parent Rights in Special Education and Notice of Procedural Safeguards is available through the link and on the State of Missouri website.

Annual Public Notice of Special Services & Programs

In accordance with federal and state regulations, Missouri STRIDE Schools will provide an annual public notice to families informing them of Missouri STRIDE Schools’ Child Find responsibilities, procedures involved in the identification of educational disabilities, and determination of students’ service and support needs.

Special Education

MOVA provides a complete special education program for all students that qualify. Accommodations, adaptations, assistive technology, and other supports for students with disabilities according to individualized plans developed by their MOVA’s teachers, parents, counselors, and other professionals. MOVA is responsible for the development of the IEP, evaluation, and services, as defined by the student’s IEP. Please contact your MOVA if you have any questions or need support. MOVA’s special education administrator, Kylee Angell at [email protected] or call 314.594.7650.

Special Education Consent to Evaluate

Missouri STRIDE Schools cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of a student’s parents/legal guardians. For additional information related to consent, please refer to the Procedural Safeguards Notice [PDF].

Once written parental/guardian consent is obtained, Missouri STRIDE Schools will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent disagrees with the evaluation results, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense.

Special Education Grievances or Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution Options

IEP Facilitation—IEP facilitation is a voluntary process that can be used when all parties at an IEP meeting agree the presence of a neutral third party would help facilitate communication and the successful drafting of the student’s IEP. This process is not necessary for most IEP meetings. Rather, it is used most often when the participants sense the issues at the IEP meeting are creating an impasse or acrimonious climate.

Mediation—A voluntary process in which both parties seek to resolve issues with an unbiased, third-party mediator from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The mediator will write up the details of the agreement the parties reach through the mediation conference; both parties sign the agreement, and the agreement is mandated to be implemented. This process is less time-consuming, stressful, and expensive than a due process hearing (see below).

Formal Due Process

Families are NOT obligated to pursue the above alternatives to due process should they feel their concerns can only be resolved through a formal due process hearing. If a formal complaint against Missouri STRIDE Schools is submitted to DESE, the complaint must be written and include a statement that the local education agency (LEA) has violated a requirement under IDEA, Part B; the facts on which the statement is based; and the signature of the person(s) filing the complaint.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Special Education Services
205 Jefferson Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573.571.5739

Special Education Grievances or Disputes

Dispute Resolution Options

Foster Care Coordinator
Diana Mitchell
12645 Olive Blvd #214
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
[email protected]
314.936.6463

Under the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA),Missouri STRIDE Schools shall identify all students in foster care, have a foster care plan developed, and collaborate with the Child Welfare Agency to implement Title I educational stability provisions.