Special Education in Charter Schools
Charter schools are part of the public education system. They must follow federal special education law and regulations. The federal laws that are most relevant to special education in charter schools are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004; the Elementary and Secondary Education Act recently reauthorized as No Child Left Behind Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
Authorizers
Charter school law in Idaho (Title 33, Chapter 52) allows for two authorizing groups: the local board of trustees of a school district (LEA) who may authorize a petition to form a new charter school in that district and the Idaho Public Charter School Commission who may authorize a petition to form a new charter school to be recognized as a separate district (LEA). One of the main functions of authorizers’ with special education law and requirements in charter schools is to guarantee petitioners are aware of their responsibilities related to special education.
Operators
Linkage defines how operators carry out special education in the charter school. If a charter school is partial link, meaning part of an existing district (LEA) they share responsibility with the district. If the charter is no link, meaning that it is its own district (LEA) they are fully responsible for the special education program of the school.
*Below is a set of 3 downloadable ( or viewable ) training modules developed from the SDE Primer on Special Education in Charter Schools.
Training Module I ~ Background Information - download by clicking here (PowerPoint file)
View online by clicking here (Internet Explorer only)
or download as PDF
Training Module II ~ Guidance for Authorizers - download by clicking here (PowerPoint file)
View online by clicking here (Internet Explorer only)
or download as PDF
Training Module III ~ Guidance for Operators - download by clicking here (PowerPoint file)
View online by clicking here (Internet Explorer only)
or download as PDF
Contact Information:
Jean Taylor
Special Education Director
Division of Student Achievement & School Accountability
E-Mail – JETaylor@sde.idaho.gov
Phone: 208-332-6918