Special Education 101 for the Charter Sector

Resource Selection
Start Date
11 Mar, 2021
End Date
11 Mar, 2021

One goal of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is to "Expand opportunities for students with disabilities (SWDs)... and other traditionally underserved students to attend charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards." But how does this goal work in practice? How can charter schools and charter support organizations ensure that students with disabilities are receiving a high-quality education?

The National Charter School Resource Center has created an introductory primer for charter sector stakeholders to help support the sector in serving students with disabilities. This 30-minute virtual learning opportunity provides the following to viewers:

  • Review of the major provisions of federal law and their impact on charter schools;
  • Overview of the responsibilities of charter schools for the provision of a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities;
  • Strategies for providing services for students with disabilities in a virtual learning environment; and
  • Additional resources for providing services for students with disabilities in charter schools.

Additional Resources

Council for Exceptional Children, CEEDAR Center, High Leverage Practices in Special Education
National Center for Special Education and Charter Schools, Key Trends in Special Education in Charter Schools in 2015-2016: Secondary Analysis of the Civil Rights Data Collection
National Center for Special Education and Charter Schools, Resources for Educating Students with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Crisis
National Center for Special Education and Charter Schools for NACSA, Special Education Toolkit: Guidance for Charter School Authorizers
National Council on Disability ESSA and Students with Disabilities, Every Student Succeeds Act and Students With Disabilities
U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Statute and Regulations

U.S. Department of Education, IDEA ESSA Technical Amendments
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation; Know Your Rights: Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools Services
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, Plan and deliver: Educating students with disabilities in remote settings

Additional Resources