Family Resources

Students with disabilities and their families face a complex maze of policies and procedures when seeking the education and services they are legally entitled. Through our research, the Center has found that navigating special education within the charter system can be particularly daunting and many families are not aware of their children’s right to attend a charter school. That’s why we seek opportunities to better understand the factors influencing family choices related to where their children attend school through research projects that include family surveys and targeted family groups.

While not a family advocacy organization, the Center aims to support families and organizations that partner with families in becoming informed about their options and rights. Several of our recent projects can provide valuable insight for families. Additionally, our Know Your Rights guides are designed to give families a base level of knowledge regarding the rights of students with disabilities.

Know Your Rights

Laws governing public education for students with disabilities are complex and can be difficult to navigate. Our Know Your Rights guides are designed to give families the knowledge they need to identify when their rights are being violated.

Ensuring Student Rights in a Virtual Setting

During the COVID-19 pandemic, students with disabilities across the country have lost access to education and services despite their schools’ obligations to continue to provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). This guide, while designed to help teachers translate IEPs to a virtual environment, can also provide families valuable information about possible approaches to remote education and services.

Principles of Equitable Schools

The Center’s Equity Coalition created the Principles of Equitable Schools to establish a standard of equity intended to help school leaders educate all students and to help families weigh their options when choosing a school.

Infographic: Understanding Charter School LEA Status

A charter school’s legal status as part of a larger local education agency (LEA) or independent LEA affects the autonomy, funding, and programming of the school—and is essential to understanding what entity is responsible for educating students with disabilities. Nevertheless, LEA status can be confusing, especially since approaches vary by state and even by school. This infographic outlines the different approaches and their implications for students with disabilities.

School Discipline During COVID-19

Students with disabilities have long been subject to harsh disciplinary practices at a disproportionate rate. Additional rules during COVID-19 raise the stakes even higher. Read our guidance for school discipline during COVID-19 to gain an understanding of how your child’s school can handle disciplinary issues without causing instructional loss.

Top Tips for Parents of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19

If you’re a parent whose world has been turned upside down by COVID-19, you’re certainly not alone. And as students around the world have transitioned to remote learning, parents of students with disabilities are facing particular challenges. While everyone’s situation is different, we’ve compiled a few tips to consider as you move forward.

Additional Resources

While we are not able to provide individualized support, the following list of resources provides helpful information on a variety of topics impacting families.

• National Parent Training and Information Centers – Center for Parent Information and Resources
• Find a Technical Assistance Center near you:
  PTACS – Parent Technical Assistance Centers
• A List of Legal Resources from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
• Charter Schools and Special Education:
  A Fresh Look at Data and Questions to Ask
• Understood.org
• Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
• PREP – Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program