Section 5 — Student Services and Supports

School Counseling Services

Every ECS school has a guidance counselor available to help students with academic, career, and personal concerns. Students and parents are encouraged to reach out to their school's counselor at any time.

Counselors can assist with:

Academic planning and course selection
College and career exploration
Scholarship and financial aid information
SAT/ACT testing dates and preparation resources
Personal and social concerns
Referrals to additional support services

Parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment to discuss their child's progress or concerns with a counselor, faculty advisor, or teacher.

8th Grade Note: Students and families will be notified by April 1 each year about Dual Enrollment opportunities available for the following school year.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

MTSS is ECS's framework for identifying and supporting students who need extra help to meet their educational goals. Teams of teachers at each grade level review student data and design targeted intervention plans for students who need additional support.

Students identified as needing intervention are supported through the Pyramid of Intervention.
The MTSS team writes and implements Tier 2 Intervention Plans, which include regular progress monitoring to track each student's growth.
If a student continues to struggle, the team may recommend additional levels of support, including referral for special education evaluation.

Special Education Services

ECS Special Education Programs serve students ages 3 through 21. A range of services and delivery models are available to help each student meet their individual goals.

All special education decisions are made through a committee team approach, ensuring that the most appropriate environment and services are chosen for each student.
Programs follow all federal and state guidelines and regulations.
ECS collaborates across agencies, schools, and departments to help every student reach their potential.
Special education promotion decisions are made by the student's IEP Placement Committee.

Contact your school's counselor or administrator for information about how to request a special education evaluation.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Plain-English Summary: Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that protects students with disabilities from discrimination. If your child has a physical or mental condition that significantly affects their daily functioning, they may qualify for accommodations at school — even if they do not qualify for special education services. The goal is to give students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in school, not a guaranteed outcome.

Official Policy Language

Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs that receive federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; have a record of such an impairment; or be regarded as having such an impairment. Section 504 requires school districts to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students.

Child Find Responsibility: ECS is obligated to identify students who may have a disability and need related services or accommodations. A student does not have to demonstrate a need for a 504 Accommodation Plan to be determined eligible — eligibility and the need for a plan are separate determinations.

Evaluation and Eligibility: A Section 504 evaluation draws from a variety of sources, including cumulative records, work samples, observations, and interviews with students, parents, and school staff. A physician's diagnosis alone is not sufficient for eligibility, though medical documentation may be one source of information. The 504 team must include people knowledgeable about the student, evaluation data, and available placement options.

504 Accommodation Plan: A student who is eligible and requires accommodations to have their educational needs met as adequately as non-disabled peers will have a 504 Plan developed. The plan provides equal opportunity — not a guaranteed equal outcome — and is based on the student's individual needs and least restrictive environment.

Contact your school's Section 504 Coordinator for more information: Demita Clarke-Hubbard, Director of Student Services

Gifted Education

The ECS Gifted Program serves students in all grades. Referrals for screening may be made by administrators, teachers, parents, or automatically if a student scores at or above the 90th percentile in reading or math on a standardized achievement test.

Evaluation Areas:

Area	Description
Mental Abilities	Cognitive reasoning and thinking skills
Achievement	Academic performance and knowledge
Creativity	Ability to think flexibly and originally
Motivation	Drive, persistence, and engagement in learning

A student must qualify in 3 of the 4 areas to be eligible for gifted services. Eligibility is based on Georgia State Board of Education guidelines.

Criteria for continuation of gifted services will be shared with students and families at the beginning of each school year.

Immunizations

No student may be admitted to ECS without a current Certificate of Immunization on file.

Key Requirements by Grade:

Grade / Situation	Requirement
Entering or transferring into 6th grade	2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine on or after the first birthday
Entering or transferring into 7th grade	Whooping cough (Tdap) booster and meningococcal vaccine
Entering or transferring into 9th grade	Tetanus and pertussis (Tdap) booster (if not already received at age 14)
Entering or transferring into 11th grade	Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) booster, unless initial dose was given on or after the student's 16th birthday
Out-of-state transfer students	Must meet all Georgia immunization requirements; documentation must be on Georgia Form 3231

Waivers:

A 30-day waiver may be granted if documentation shows immunizations are in progress.
A 90-day waiver may be granted for out-of-state transfers or students entering kindergarten or 1st grade from out of state, provided immunizations are actively being received on schedule. This waiver cannot be extended.
Vaccines for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella may be waived with serologic proof of immunity.
Parents with religious objections must provide a notarized affidavit stating the immunization requirement conflicts with their religious beliefs.

During an epidemic or disease outbreak, unimmunized students may be excluded from school until they are immunized or the threat has passed.

Direct questions to your child's school nurse. Reference: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-771 and Chapter 290-5-4 (Rules of DHR and PH).

Medication at School

ECS encourages families to administer medications before and after school whenever possible. When medication must be given during the school day, the following procedures apply.

Authorization Requirements:

A completed "Authorization of Medication Administration" form is required for every medication — prescription and non-prescription.
A new form must be completed each school year, even if the medication has not changed.
A new form is also required any time a dosage changes.
Medications will not be given within one hour of school dismissal.

Delivering Medication to School:

Type	Container Required	Additional Requirement
Prescription	Original pharmacy-labeled container with student name, date, medication name, dosage, and expiration date	Signed physician's order required
Non-prescription	Original manufacturer's container with directions clearly visible	Physician's order required if given more than twice per day or more than 3 consecutive days

Medications in baggies, envelopes, or any unofficial packaging will not be accepted. Medications will not be sent home with students. Parents must pick up all medications by the last day of school.

Special Medication Notes:

Aspirin and salicylates (Pepto-Bismol, Excedrin, Alka-Seltzer, etc.) will not be administered without both a physician's written order and parent/guardian consent, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.
Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and dietary supplements will not be administered by school staff unless prescribed by a physician.
Students with diabetes will have an individualized health plan developed in coordination with their physician.
Specialized health procedures (catheterization, tube feeding, ostomy care, etc.) require both a physician's order and parent/guardian consent. Parents are responsible for supplying all necessary equipment and supplies.

Self-Administration — Inhalers and Epi-Pens:

Students with asthma or severe allergies may carry and self-administer their inhaler or Epi-Pen during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, and on the school bus — provided all of the following are on file:

Physician approval
Parent/guardian approval
Completed "Authorization for Student to Carry a Prescription Inhaler or Epi-Pen" form

This permission must be renewed each school year. Inhalers must be labeled with the student's name in permanent ink. Epi-Pens must have the pharmacy label and directions attached.

Per Georgia Senate Bill 126, school nurses and employees may administer a stocked Epi-pen or albuterol/Xopenex to any student or staff member experiencing an actual or perceived allergic or respiratory emergency — regardless of whether that person has a prescription. School employees acting in good faith are immune from civil liability in these situations.

Important — Medication Misuse:

The sale, transfer, or unauthorized possession of any drug or medication — or the creation of the appearance of doing so — is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and will result in disciplinary action.

School Nutrition

All ECS students are encouraged to participate in the school breakfast and lunch programs. Meals are prepared daily and meet USDA dietary guidelines.

Meal Costs — 2026–2027:

Meal	Student Cost	Visitor Cost
Breakfast	Free (CEP Program)	$5.00
Lunch	Free (CEP Program)	$6.00
After-school tutoring snacks	Free	N/A

Parents are welcome to visit their child's school at mealtime with prior reservations.

À La Carte Items:

Students may purchase extra items such as additional milk, fruits, vegetables, or approved smart snack items.
Payment is due at the time of purchase — no charging allowed for à la carte items.
Prepayment may be placed in the student's meal account. Send payment in a sealed envelope labeled with the student's full name and payment amount. Include the student's name on any checks.

Meal Selection by Grade:

Grade Level	Breakfast	Lunch
Pre-K – 2nd grade	Non-select (set meal)	Choice of entrée; no choice of sides
3rd – 12th grade	Choose 3–4 items from offerings	Choose 4+ food group components

All students must include at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetable at both breakfast and lunch as required by the USDA School Nutrition Program.

Restaurant-purchased meals may not be delivered to students for lunch.

Food Allergies:

Parents of students with food allergies must provide the school nurse with physician documentation before the start of each school year. Documentation should include:

Specific foods causing the allergy
History of anaphylaxis, if applicable
Emergency treatment procedures
Signs and symptoms of a reaction
Prescribed medications and the student's readiness for self-administration
A list of acceptable substitute meals

The school nurse will share this information with school nutrition staff. Lactose intolerance is not considered a food allergy — Lactaid milk is available at all schools.

Menus are posted on each school's webpage and in the cafeteria. Questions? Contact the Director of School Nutrition at 478-237-6673.