The discussion of enrollment of students with disabilities in charter schools focuses on fundamental questions related to equal access and has not typically explored the quality of special education programming available. However, absent quality support and services, access to charter schools is essentially a hollow promise. This report examines…

School choice is increasingly the new normal in urban education. But in cities with multiple public school options, how can civic leaders create a choice system that works for all families, whether they choose a charter or district public school? To answer this question, the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) researchers surveyed 4,000…

As bilingual education emerges after the 1974 Lau decision, the additional need to test the language proficiency of bilingual education teachers is recognized. Examination of possible means of validating language proficiency of bilingual education teacher certification candidates shows several alternatives, some desirable and some not. A review of…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that surveyed charter school principals and special education directors in Colorado to determine their attitudes about charter school services for students with special needs, to determine how charter schools fund special education services, and to create a data-based foundation for making…

In June 1983, the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) appointed a sub-committee on the Quality of Education to consider the recommendations of recent national and state-level reports on the status of education. The sub-committee identified a number of issues relative to the quality of public education.…

The purpose of these guidelines is to assist local boards of education, charter school organizers, and charter school governing boards in identifying legal, procedural, and funding issues related to serving students with disabilities in Colorado charter schools. As a best practice, charters should contain a specific plan for compliance with…

This report analyzes how charter schools handle the education of students with disabilities, with a focus on charter schools in Colorado. It first defines charter schools and notes ambiguities in the legal responsibilities of charter schools and/or their host school districts regarding students with disabilities. The Colorado information is based…

The handbook is designed to help Colorado school systems address the linguistic and educational needs of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students and to provide administrators, school boards members, and educators with resources for understanding state and federal requirements. It is intended to help design and establish local policies and…