this approach (e.g., cost of providing Internet or Board of Cooperative Educational Services). access and potentially specialized hardware and software to accommodate students with disabilities)? Facility The physical plant, Charter school facilities need to comply with local Does the school have a plan to secure a facility school’s including classrooms, and state health and safety requirements as well as that is accessible to students with limited administrative space, and the the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and mobility? external spaces used by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Does the school have a plan to secure a facility students. Providing individuals with mobility impairments that includes space to provide support services ready access to school facilities should be one of the outside of the general education classroom? criteria charter applicants use when seeking an Does the school have a plan to secure space to appropriate facility for their school. The program store student records that meets federal privacy offered by the school needs to be accessible when requirements? the school first opens in anticipation of a student or parent having a disability as opposed to retrofitting an inaccessible building when needed. An inaccessible building is a potential deterrent that may limit the number of students with disabilities who enroll in the school. It is important to note, though, that federal rules require that a school’s program be made accessible, not necessarily that every space within the facility is made accessible. For example, it may be that certain program elements can be relocated from a high floor to the ground floor to accommodate student or parent need. Building renovations must comply with applicable rules and could trigger additional responsibilities related to access. Discipline Policies and procedures that Applicants should anticipate the need to have What is the plan to develop a discipline policy, outline behavioral expectations thoughtful and fair discipline policies that reflect including the ways in which it affects students and consequences for students their educational philosophy and best instructional with disabilities? who do not meet expectations. practices. This policy should be consistent with If adopting an existing discipline district’s applicable laws and regulations relating to policy, do school personnel fully understand disciplining students with disabilities. The goal of the nuances of the policy as applied in a charter discipline is to teach children how to behave and setting and as applied to students with provide a safe environment in which all students can disabilities? succeed absent distractions. Do the school leaders plan to devote time and resources to train all personnel regarding the
this approach (e.g., cost of providing Internet access and potentially specialized hardware and software to accommodate students with disabilities)? or Board of Cooperative Educational Services). Facility The school’s physical plant, including classrooms, administrative space, and the external spaces used by students. Does the school have a plan to secure a facility that is accessible to students with limited mobility? Does the school have a plan to secure a facility that includes space to provide support services outside of the general education classroom? Does the school have a plan to secure space to store student records that meets federal privacy requirements? Charter school facilities need to comply with local and state health and safety requirements as well as the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Providing individuals with mobility impairments ready access to school facilities should be one of the criteria charter applicants use when seeking an appropriate facility for their school. The program offered by the school needs to be accessible when the school first opens in anticipation of a student or parent having a disability as opposed to retrofitting an inaccessible building when needed. An inaccessible building is a potential deterrent that may limit the number of students with disabilities who enroll in the school. It is important to note, though, that federal rules require that a school’s program be made accessible, not necessarily that every space within the facility is made accessible. For example, it may be that certain program elements can be relocated from a high floor to the ground floor to accommodate student or parent need. Building renovations must comply with applicable rules and could trigger additional responsibilities related to access. Discipline Policies and procedures that outline behavioral expectations and consequences for students who do not meet expectations. What is the plan to develop a discipline policy, including the ways in which it affects students with disabilities? If adopting an existing district’s discipline policy, do school personnel fully understand the nuances of the policy as applied in a charter setting and as applied to students with disabilities? Do the school leaders plan to devote time and resources to train all personnel regarding the Applicants should anticipate the need to have thoughtful and fair discipline policies that reflect their educational philosophy and best instructional practices. This policy should be consistent with applicable laws and regulations relating to disciplining students with disabilities. The goal of discipline is to teach children how to behave and provide a safe environment in which all students can succeed absent distractions.