By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire - The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) creates the possibility for
children with special needs to live powerful lives. One such way
is to require public schools, including charter schools, to
provide children with special needs educational services beyond
teaching the “3 Rs”— reading, writing and arithmetic. In fact,
many children with special needs require additional services to
participate in the classroom with their typically developing
peers, socialize with their friends, participate in extra
curricular activities, learn how to manage frustration and other
emotional needs, and progress toward becoming independent, self-
sufficient individuals before graduating from high school. To
accomplish this important task, the IDEA requires public and
charter schools to provide these Related Services to children
with special needs. Related Services are expansive and are
designed to help students access and benefit from their
educational program, learn how to interact ap