Washington, D.C.– The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) condemns the Trump Administration’s gutting of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) through its massive Reduction in Force (RIF) of thousands of staff this week, and will continue to oppose any related federal actions that abolish its important role protecting the rights and preventing discrimination of students with disabilities.
CLE responds to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear the Oklahoma case on religious charter schools, standing with the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s June 25, 2024 decision that ruled religious charter schools unlawful.
As an advocate for students with disabilities and charter schools, I am appalled at the current situation at Franklin Towne Charter High School and urge the Philadelphia School Board to pursue steps to close the school due to discriminatory practices dating back to 2016.
While CLE is not advocating for the IDEA to be amended during the current Congress, we do believe that, at the appropriate time, Representative Molinaro’s bill would be a big step in the right direction in making sure that parents of students with disabilities are able to meaningfully participate in the IEP process.
Given the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board’s decision to approve the charter application of the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, we at the Center for Learner Equity feel it is imperative to reinforce that charter schools are public schools that must be accessible and inclusive for students with disabilities and, we believe, must be non-sectarian.
CLE supports ban opposing the use of corporal punishment in all public schools by passing the Protecting All Students in Schools Act.
In response to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) release of new guidance packages designed to clarify schools’ obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the use of disciplinary practices on students with disabilities, the Center for Learner Equity (CLE) releases a statement.
The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) is pleased to see that the final Charter School Program regulations released by the US Department of Education reflect many of our recommendations.
Paul O’Neill shares educational progress occurring for students with disabilities in Camden, New Jersey.
Lauren Morando Rhim quoted in “GAO recommends minimizing virtual charter schools’ management risks” on K-12 Dive.
