Pre-Applicant Training| SC Public Charter School District| Beckie Davis Serving Students with Special Needs

Charter schools are public schools

As public schools, charter schools must open their enrollment to any student and must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) by offering services as needed for students with disabilities. To ensure that a FAPE and a continuum of services, including transition and technical assistance, will be provided in the initial year of operation, the application must include a budget that reflects the employment of at least one special education teacher starting with the initial year. The applicant’s plan should follow the policy established by their proposed sponsor. Global Reminder

Be prepared to serve any and all students who walk through your doors.

 a clear indication that the prospective charter school understands requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)* and plans to comply with these requirements, which include appropriately certified personnel, documentation, assessments, adaptations, and modifications. – What does this look like:  Includes a philosophy for educating all students with disabilities  Includes a clear understanding of the key concepts of IDEA (Child Find, evaluation, reevaluation, progress monitoring, compliant IEPs, procedural safeguards, …)  Includes the designation of someone at the school who is responsible for the implementation of IDEA and Section 504 – Things to keep in mind:  Must go beyond just saying “we will comply with IDEA”  Copying/pasting IDEA regulations doesn’t demonstrate that the applicant fully understands the requirements *will be discussed in a separate session Charter Application Must Include

Students with disabilities are general education students first. The 504 plan or IEP is the vehicle through which the student accesses the general education curriculum and instruction.

 a description of the plan to provide a variety of service delivery and placement options – What does this look like?  The application provides a thorough description of specific instructional programs, practices, and strategies the school will employ to provide a continuum of services; ensure students’ access to the general education curriculum; and ensure academic success for special needs students. – Addresses the needs of learners with more significant disabilities – Describes how the daily schedule, staffing plans, instruction, and support strategies (i.e. service providers, nursing, instructional assistants, …) will meet or be adjusted for the diverse needs of the students – For Section 504, describes what the school’s plan is to provide reasonable accommodations to students who have Section 504 protections across school settings – Things to Keep in Mind:  The application must go beyond the statement of “we will educate students in the regular education environment” and “we believe in inclusion”  “We can’t serve that kind of kid here” is not an option Charter Application Must Include

 a description of the plan to include needed staff, adequate funding, evaluation of program success, flexibility to add contracted services as the need arises for the initial year of operation; and – What does this look like:  A description of the staffing plan and contracted plan (more than “we’ll deal with it when it arises”). – Does the application have a plan in place to assist in areas/situations where additional resources/supports may be needed?  A description of the relationship with the SCPCSD – We provide policies, clearly defined expectations, technical assistance, training, and oversight/monitoring/feedback – Things to Remember:  Yes, the law says the sponsor is ultimately responsible for the provision of FAPE, but that does not mean that we are expected to do it for you. A Charter Application Must Include

It’s not enough to simply hire a “good special education teacher”. You need someone who not only understands how to be a good teacher, but also understands the processes involved in special education (referral, initial evaluation, eligibility, reevaluation, progress monitoring, annual reviews, transition, exiting, …).

 plans for transitioning students out of special education – What does this look like:  Describing the process of progress monitoring and recognizing when a child no longer is a child who meets the criteria of IDEA and needs special education services  Describing the “transition” process between being a child under IDEA to a child who might meet the criteria of Section 504, to being a child who needs no supports to access the general curriculum – Things to Keep in Mind:  We’ll give it a trial run before we identify isn’t allowed  A parent cannot waive “portions” or their IDEA rights/services Charter Application Must Include

 a description of the plan to provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in the manner necessary to afford children with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation in school or district activities. – What does this look like:  There is a plan to allow for equal access to nonacademic and extracurricular activities through services provided by the school under IDEA or through reasonable accommodations under Section 504  a description of how the school will address discipline for students with disabilities within the school’s discipline policy – What does this look like:  There is a plan that describes how the disciplinary process will be applied to students with disabilities A Charter Application Must Include

 Clearly describe how the school will meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in the charter school’s unique environment – If your school’s instruction is using the Montessori approach, how will you meet the needs of students with disabilities using that approach  Clearly describe how you will identify needed resources and supports for not only students, but also for staff – If you have a student with significant behavioral difficulties enroll, how will you identify the needs of staff (training/professional development) to appropriately meet the student’s needs Charter Applications must:

A charter school is a public school. A charter school is a choice option. The parent gets to choose the school; the school cannot choose the child. Be prepared to serve any child who walks through your door.