How can I introduce potential charter school applicants to the rationale behind special education laws?
Introducing charter developers to the reasons underlying special education may help lower barriers to implementing special education programs. In other words, authorizers should consider teaching potential operators why special education exists. Furthermore, it may be helpful to acknowledge that, while special education policies and procedures can admittedly be cumbersome, they have evolved over many years and they stem from documented exclusion of children with disabilities. Charter developers may require that charter applicants attend a brief introduction to the civil rights origins of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
