Do charter schools serve students with special needs and students who are English language learners?
. Yes. Charter schools cannot discriminate in admissions on the basis of special need or English language proficiency. Once admitted, students who are special needs or English language learners must be appropriately identified, assessed, and served in accordance with federal and state requirements. For special education, this requires a full- or part-time special education administrator and additional staff to meet the needs of student’s Individual Education Programs. The number of staff required varies by level of services required and by the size of the school. See http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/laws.html for more information on special education laws and regulations. English language learners must be identified and supported in their acquisition of the English language through a program of sheltered English immersion and instructed by appropriately qualified and certified staff. See http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr14.html for more information on the laws and regulations relatin
