With their increased autonomy and flexibility, charter schools can be a promising educational option for students with disabilities. However, during the inception of the charter movement, very few people were focused on ensuring that charter school policies addressed the needs of students with disabilities.
In response to persistent challenges associated with ensuring that New Orleans’ families and students with disabilities can access high-quality supports and services across the city’s uniquely decentralized, all-charter school system, The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) sought to understand the root causes of these challenges and surface viable systemic solutions through in-depth interviews with local stakeholders.
On July 24, 2023, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) of the U.S. Department of Education (US ED) released a Dear Colleague letter (DCL) and lengthy guidance related to the responsibilities states have to oversee the education of students with disabilities in their schools and to ensure that those students are afforded all of their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Read about why this matters and how it impacts charter schools in the full report.
“Enabling Meaningful Inclusion: Lessons from School Leaders” explores how various school districts across the country intentionally create learning environments for students with disabilities.
The Inclusive School Spotlight Series is back with Season 2! The podcast collaboration between CLE and EALA highlights schools that are using innovative practices to educate students with disabilities.
CLE released “How has the pandemic affected students with disabilities? An update on the evidence: Fall 2022”, a report exploring evidence on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected America’s students.
In collaboration with the Camden Education Fund, CLE explores Uncommon Camden Prep High School’s experience in developing a continuum of placements for students with disabilities.
The Center for Learner Equity partnered with the Camden Education Fund, a non-profit organization in New Jersey dedicated to accelerating progress in Camden’s public school system to publish two case studies.
The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) has conducted a secondary analysis of the 2017-2018 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) released in 2020. The CRDC is the nation’s leading data set on civil rights indicators related to access and barriers to educational opportunities.
CLE’s latest brief, How Has the Pandemic Affected Students with Disabilities? A Review of the Evidence to Date, examines the impacts of COVID-19 on students with disabilities based on a review of hundreds of studies. In particular, the report highlights widespread disruptions to student’s Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans. It also examines significant disparities in access to specialized services and draws attention to areas of further inquiry.
