One of CACSA’s priorities is to help authorizers and charter schools improve their practices so that charter schools are better able to all serve students, including disadvantage students, students with disabilities, English learners. As part of its work under the Tri-State Alliance project, CACSA has prioritized work expanding access and improving outcomes for students with disabilities in charter schools. Through this grant, CACSA is developing tools and convening professional learning opportunities designed to improve access, services, and outcomes for students with disabilities in charter schools.
In Colorado, charter schools are legally treated as part of the local education agency (LEA) for the purposes of special education. This means that the responsibility to provide a free and appropriate public education to students with Individualized Education Plans is shared between the charter school and its authorizer, or district. You can learn more about CACSA’s analysis of special education issues in charter schools and its action plan in the documents below.
