Skip to main content U.S. flag
          An official website of the United States government
            Here’s how you know
          Here's how you know **The .gov means it’s official.**
                
                Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure
                you’re on a federal government site.
 **The site is secure.**
                
                The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
                information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.


NCD Logo
    
    NCD.gov
          National Council on Disability
        An independent federal agency committed to disability policy leadership since 1978
 Menu


close About the Council
              Misson
                
                Council Members
                
                Council Staff
                
                Email Directory
                
                Council Meetings
                
                Feedback
          
        
          
            
            
            Newsroom
            
        
          
            
            Policy Advice
              Letters
                
                Reports
                
                Testimony
                
                Toolkits
                
                Progress Reports
                
                Frameworks
                
                Fact Sheets
                
                Resources
                
                FAQ
          
        
          
            
            Policy Areas
              Civil Rights
                
                CRPD
                
                Cultural Diversity
                
                Education
                
                Emergency Management
                
                Employment
                
                Financial Assistance and Incentives
                
                Health Care
                
                Housing
                
                International
                
                Long Term Services and Support
                
                Technology
                
                Transportation
                
                Youth Perspectives Font Size:
 A
      Font Size Normal
 A
      Font Size Large
 twitter logoTwitter
 instagram logoInstagram
 linkedin logoLinkedIn
 facebook logoFacebook
 youtube logoYoutube
 Contact Us
          
          Accountability Search small
      Search


NCD Letter to Dept. of Ed. Regarding Charter School Grant Recommendations Friday, April 19, 2019
 
 Allison Holte
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5W106
Washington, DC 20202– 5970 RE: ED–2018–OII–0062 Dear Ms. Holte: I write to you on behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency charged with providing advice and recommendations regarding disability policy to the President, Congress, and other federal agencies, to offer advice regarding the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Innovation and Improvement’s Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria— Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program; Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools. NCD acknowledges and is grateful for the service of the Department of Education in designating grantmaking priorities with the improved educational opportunities of students with disabilities in mind, as we also recognize that charter schools are in a unique position to provide pioneering solutions in achieving improved outcomes for students; but it is nonetheless strongly advised that related grantmaking priorities  are mindful of the particular rights of students with disabilities so that these students are able to maximize the potential benefits born out of a charter school education. The following recommendations come from two school choice reports NCD recently published based on data collected nationally over the course of several months. **Recommendation:** Grant applicants should be notified of their obligations with respect to inclusivity; that students with disabilities that are enrolled should not exclude students with more significant disabilities, and that students with disabilities should be educated in the least restrictive environment as per their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. *Rationale:* With the exception of schools focused on serving students with specific disabilities, charter schools have tended to enroll larger numbers of students with mild disabilities—such as learning disabilities, behavior disabilities, or mild intellectual disabilities—and smaller numbers of students with low-incidence or more significant disabilities.  Subsequent studies examining charter school enrollment data for disability categories by states or districts similarly found lower percentages of students with more significant disabilities (e.g., students with intellectual disabilities) in charter schools as compared to traditional public schools. Also, as compared to traditional public schools, charter schools have enrolled lower percentages of students with developmental disabilities (0.92 percent versus 2.07 percent) and lower percentages of students with intellectual disabilities (3.64 percent versus 5.89 percent).[[1]](https://ncd.gov/publications/2019/ncd-letter-dept-ed-regarding-charter-school-grant-recommendations#_ftn1) **Recommendation:** Provide notification to grant applicants focusing on high school students to provide a framework for transitioning students with disabilities to fulfill their educational, independent living, and employment goals upon graduation. *Rationale:* To better prepare their students for employment opportunities in their locality, involvement by educators concerning transition goals is vital. Educators must incorporate both academics and functional learning into their curricula. If educators understand how services including the One Stop Career system works, they can inform their students about how to best utilize the services offered. **Recommendation:** Provide notification to grant applicants of the rights of students with disabilities regarding discipline. *Rationale:* The strict codes of conduct that are characteristic of many charter schools may be particularly at odds with the extensive requirements pertaining to students with disabilities (including, but not limited to, those students with an “individualized education plan”) and discipline under IDEA. It is vital that applicants are aware of these requirements so that the rights of students with behavioral disabilities are not violated. Thank you for your time and consideration of our recommendations concerning this matter. Sincerely, Neil Romano
Chairman  [[1]](https://ncd.gov/publications/2019/ncd-letter-dept-ed-regarding-charter-school-grant-recommendations#_ftnref1) National Council on Disability. 2018. “Charter Schools-Implications for Students with Disabilities.” 58-59.


Budget and Performance Congressional Budget Justification
            
            Financial Audits
            
            Buy American Act
            
            Government Performance and Results Act
 Resources Bylaws
            
            Strategic Plan
            
            Authorizing Statute
 Agency Governance News
            
            FOIA
            
            Contact NCD
            
            Subscribe for NCD News
 Policies / Statements No FEAR Act Data
            
            Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
            
            View accessibility statement
            
            View Equity Action Plan


twitter logoTwitter
 instagram logoInstagram
 linkedin logoLinkedIn
 facebook logoFacebook
 youtube logoYoutube
 
 Phone


NCD.gov
        An official website of the
          National Council on Disability