Welcome to Frequently Asked Questions for The Villages Charter School’s Autism Center (TVCS AC). Here, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our specialized programs, enrollment criteria, and daily operations. We are committed to providing a supportive and transparent environment for our families. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.
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The Villages Charter School Autism Center (TVCS AC) is a Charter School in the Workplace and a special education school.
TVCS AC is a subsidiary of The Villages Charter School (VCS), which was founded by The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. and is provided funding by The Villages’ family of companies. Both TVCS AC and VCS were founded primarily for the benefit of the children of employees of The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. and those Business Partners who have in the past and continue to participate in the development of The Villages. Additionally, TVCS AC was founded to provide educational services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Eligibility (1st Grade and above)
Student must have a public school IEP reflecting eligibility for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services and placement.
Eligibility (Kindergarten)
Student must meet at least one of the follow criteria:
Student must have a public school IEP reflecting eligibility for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services and placement.
OR
Student must be medically diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) AND student must have a public school IEP reflecting eligibility for Developmental Delay.
If your child is 3 to 5 years of age, who is not enrolled in public school, and who has or is at risk of developing disabilities via medical needs, or who may have difficulty with learning, speaking, behaving, seeing, walking, listening, and sensory needs receive a diagnostic screening for potential eligibility for IEP services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, you can obtain a screening. Information on free screenings conducted through the Florida Diagnostic Learning Resource System (FDLRS) for parents/guardians is based on county of residence:
The Villages Charter School Autism Center is serving students grades kindergarten through 5th grade for the 2024-25 school year. In August 2025, we will begin serving 6th and it is our goal to add at least one grade level every school year, ultimately serving kindergarten through high school. Eligible kindergarteners must be five years of age by September 1st of the current school year.
Our classrooms have a ratio of one staff to three students, ranging from 9 to 12 students per classroom maximum. Each classroom is staffed with a certified ESE Teacher, ESE Paraprofessional, and Behavior Technician.
No, TVCS AC is a public charter school and families are not required to pay tuition.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is not necessary and it is the parent’s responsibility to terminate FES-UA with the state, if applicable. For more information, please visit FES-UA Handbook and see page 10 under Actions That May Lead to a Loss of the Scholarship heading for more information.
No, we do not offer transportation services. Families are responsible for the pick up and drop off of their child.
Our program does not currently offer half day school. However, we understand that some students may need to arrive late or leave early occasionally for private therapy.
Families are required to fulfill twenty (20) hours of parental involvement (PI) time per student per building per school year. Ten (10) of these hours must be of informational nature. For more information on PI hours, please visit our parent organization, Buffalo HERD website.
Yes, our students follow a uniform policy similar to TVCS with some exceptions. All students are required to wear a polo with TVCS AC logo displayed, solid-colored bottoms (khaki, navy blue, black, or grey), and sneakers. All students wearing shorts, skorts or jumpers must follow the appropriate length guideline of no more than 2” above the knee and maybe not have any embellishments such as contrast stitching, sparkles, glitter, lace, holes, or frayed hems. Our students are not required to wear a belt. Please be aware that Crocs and sandals are not permitted.
In addition, all outerwear must have a TVCS AC logo and must be purchased at the school store or through school programs.
Website Accessibility: The Villages Charter School Autism Center (TVCS AC) is committed to ensuring that its website is accessible to everyone, regardless of abilities. Assistive technology can be launched by tapping the person icon in the lower corner of your screen and can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of needs. If you are still experiencing difficulty accessing information on this site, please contact info@tvcsac.org to gain access to inaccessible online content or functionality. To file a formal grievance under Section 504 and Title II, please contact The Villages Charter School Autism Center at 352-259-6868.
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