Primer for Charter School Operators: Special Education Requirements and Including Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools

Overview & Synopsis

The purpose of this document is to provide operators with implementation and operational technical assistance related to special education in charter schools. Special education is a very complicated component of public education and providing operators with technical assistance regarding special education is particularly challenging. This primer opens with a general background on legal issues and responsibility for special education in charter schools. It is not intended to be a complete treatment of special education law or classroom practice. In fact, due to the legal foundation upon which special education is built; operators are strongly urged to consult an attorney and experienced special education professionals to assist in the development and implementation of the charter school. This primer includes the questions that should be asked about students with disabilities at each life stage of a charter school. The answers to these questions and suggestions for where to go for more information are intended to provide assistance that is critical to successfully designing and implementing the special education component of a charter school. Appended are: (1) Glossary; (2) Matrix: Selected Special Education Characteristics in Charter Schools; and (3) Charter Schools and the Education of Children with Disabilities. (Contains 9 footnotes.)