Federal Guidance Confirms Charter Schools Must Provide Special Education Services

On May 14, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released guidance clarifying that charter schools must provide special education services and ensure that students with disabilities are not discriminated against.  The guidance confirmed that the federal civil rights laws that apply to other public schools apply equally to public charter schools. Students receiving special education services represent about 12% of all students in the United States. About 8% of students in charter schools receive special education services, according to a 2012 report by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO).  The GAO advised the Department . . .