Supporting Learners from the Start with Veronica Williams and Martell Shavers: Child Find & IDEA in a Virtual School

Before a student receives special education services, they must first be identified, evaluated, and given access to the support they need. In a virtual school, this process requires careful coordination between compliance, instruction, and family partnership.In this episode of GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, we’re joined by Veronica Williams and Martell Shavers of Georgia Cyber Academy. Together, they explain how Child Find and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guide the identification, evaluation, and support of students with disabilities in a virtual environment.The conversation explores what happens from a family’s first concern to the delivery of services, how compliance and instructional teams work together, and how early identification helps students access meaningful support. Veronica and Martell also address common questions about whether virtual schools can meet the needs of students with disabilities and reflect on lessons that apply across educational settings.This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools build systems that ensure students are identified early and supported effectively.Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at: https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmutedYou can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions