Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools

Given the increased enrollment of students with disabilities in charter schools, it is important to examine the special education services provided within these settings. The authors examined charter school court cases from the last twenty years to understand the procedural, substantive, and implementation dimensions of free, appropriate public education (FAPE). The Three Dimensions of FAPE Rubric, based on peer-reviewed literature, was used to code court cases. Nine FAPE components were analyzed: individualized assessment, present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, measurable goals, special education services, monitoring student progress, parent involvement in the individualized education program (IEP), placement decision, IEP team members, and implementation of the IEP. Results indicate that the existing court cases involve multi-faceted decision-making, regardless of who brings the claim.