The Charter Friends National Network (CFNN) has issued a revised (May 2001) edition of this useful publication, prepared by Elizabeth Giovannetti, Eileen Ahearn and Cheryl Lange. This 30-page paper seeks "to provide charter school developers and operators a concise and understandable explanation of current special education laws and requirements." CFNN also aims to anticipate Congress's upcoming review of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the principal federal special ed program. CFNN director Jon Schroeder urges charter school "leaders and advocates" to begin examining needed changes in IDEA. This is important, as current special ed law is out of whack with the theory and practice of charter schools. IDEA assumes, in effect, that the school district is the responsible party in the delivery of education to children with disabilities, yet many charter schools have no relationship (or sometimes a frosty one) with their local school systems. IDEA also assumes that a disabled child will have his/her educational needs met in essentially the same way no matter where he/she goes to school. Yet the essence of charter schools is the distinctive differences they develop from one another with respect to educational philosophy, structure and delivery. Today, from the charters' perspective, special ed is the most rigidly restrictive area of federal (and state) policy, the area where waivers and variances are hardest to obtain. It is also the case that many charter schools aren't adequately prepared or knowledgeable about their obligations to disabled children. This handbook clearly sets forth what they must do-and offers useful advice as to how-even while it paves the way, we may hope, for needed changes in the law itself. You may obtain a copy from CFNN at 1295 Bandana Boulevard, Suite 165, St. Paul, MN 55108. Phone (651) 644-6115, fax (651) 644-0433 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.charterfriends.org/cfi-specialed.html. You can also contact Jon Schroeder at [email protected].
