Family Engagement Team & Educational Stability Program
Family engagement is a top priority of GCVS, with a dedicated Family Engagement Team that seeks to work in partnership and support families based on their needs. GCVS’s Family Engagement Team includes a family engagement coordinator and seven liaisons who live in different geographic areas throughout the state, allowing them to focus on families and students who reside in the same region.
The Family Engagement Team is a fundamental part of GCVS. As a virtual public school, communication and relationship building are key to student success and creating a positive school culture. Our Family Engagement Team focuses on supporting our learning coaches in their role, supporting students with ways to have a successful experience in school, and connecting families to resources in their community.
We Work in Partnership & Provide Support
- Attendance & Engagement
- Social Emotional Learning
- Time Management & Organization
- Motivation & Focus
- Home Visits
- School Event Information
- School and Community Resources
Educational Stability for Students
Homeless
The Greater Commonwealth Virtual School complies with all requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized in January 2002. This requires that school districts immediately enroll and provide support to homeless students. Parents/guardians should contact the Director of Family Engagement (homeless liaison) at 413-475-3879, ext. 140 for additional information.
Foster Care Students
The law requires that foster care students continue to attend their school of origin, unless after a collaborative decision-making process it is determined to be in the student’s best interest to enroll in and attend school in the district in which a foster care provider or facility is located (if different). The law also requires that when it is not in the student’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the student is immediately enrolled and attending in a new school district, even if records normally required for enrollment cannot be quickly produced. Additionally, the law requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF), The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the school district designate points of contact. GCVS has established a point of contact for foster care students through the School Nurse at 413-475-3879, ext. 36.
Military Children and Families
In an effort to facilitate the placement, enrollment, graduation, data collection and provision of special services for students transferring into or out of districts because of their parents/guardians being on active duty in the United States Armed Services, the district supports and will implement its responsibilities as outlined in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The Board of Trustees believes it is appropriate to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of their parents’/guardians’ frequent moves and deployment. Parents/guardians should contact the GCVS School Nurse at 413-475-3879, ext. 36 regarding information.