CACSA Releases Studies on Students with Disabilities
CACSA released two studies this week. The studies conducted by the Center for Learner Equity examined issues related to educating students who require more intensive supports and the experience of families of students with disabilities attempting to navigate school choice.
- Expanding Access, Improving Quality: How Local Education Agencies and Charter Schools Can Equitably Provide High-Quality School Choice Options to All Students with Disabilities in Colorado, examines how districts and charter schools work together to serve students with disabilities requiring moderate to severe supports. This study examined districts like Denver Public Schools that have created programs to support center-based programs in charter schools. The report draws lessons from other states where policies were changed to allow charter schools to serve as their own Local Education Agency (LEA).
- Elevating Family Voices: An Exploration of How Families of Students with Disabilities Experience School Choice in Colorado, is based on interviews, focus groups, and surveys of parents of students with disabilities. These parents shared their experiences as they searched for a school or chose schools. It describes their experiences with charter schools, district-operated schools, as well as inter- and intra-district school choice.
Chalkbeat Colorado covered our report, as well as another report on the increased charter enrollment in Colorado during the pandemic released by the Keystone Policy Center (which I also recommend to all Colorado authorizers).
CACSA’s reports inform two ongoing policy discussions in Colorado.
This month the State Board of Education (SBE) released a second round of proposed revisions to state board rules. Following on the earlier round that addressed when charter schools should inquire about disability status, the second set of revisions address how districts and charter schools should manage the process for a student whose disabilities require they be served in a school other than the one the family chose. These rules are available for public comment and will be considered for final approval by the SBE at their April meeting.
A second policy discussion arise as the Colorado League of Charter Schools continues work on drafting a bill that would allow charter schools to join an Administrative Unit (AU) for the purposes of special education that is separate from their district’s AU. Under the proposed legislation, charter schools could join the Charter School Institute AU, and charter collaboratives and charter networks could form their own AU. In these cases, the charter schools would remain authorized by their original district authorizer. Additional information on this legislation will be available after the bill is introduced.
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Quarterly Authorizer Meeting In-Person and Remote: Feb. 28
The quarterly authorizer meeting hosted by CACSA and CDE is scheduled for Monday, February 28, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We are excited to offer both an in-person and remote opportunity to participate. Enough registrants have indicated plans to attend in person to make this a great opportunity to sit down with your colleagues to discuss timely issues, including:
- Workshop on District Accountability Committee (DAC) involvement in application and renewal processes;
- Trends in granting short-term charter renewals, building on a recent CACSA podcast and CACSA Blog;
- Updates on policy changes related to charter schools and authorizing; and
- Trends in enrollment and their impact on charter schools.
The agenda is available here. The in-person location is at The Westin Westminster, 10600 Westminster Blvd, Westminster – Flatirons Room.