It’s an important topic that doesn’t get much attention: How charter schools can better serve students in special education.
In the latest episode of District Administration‘s “Talking Out of School” podcast, Lauren Morando Rhim, executive director of the Center for Learner Equity, details her organization’s pivotal two-year study of how charter schools support students with disabilities.
“Collectively, traditional and charter, we are not doing what we should be doing for kids with disabilities,” says Rhim, named one of District Administration’s Top 100 Education Influencers. “So let’s be honest about that, and say, ‘How do we improve?’ How do we make sure that parents of kids with disabilities can find a school that works for their child?'”
The Center for Learner Equity study offers models and insights to education leaders and policymakers working to enroll and enable students with disabilities to succeed in charter schools. Charter schools have thrived under less regulation than traditional K12 schools and Rhim fears that policymakers may introduce new legislation if charters do not more proactively address the needs of kids with disabilities.
“I would love to see charters that are creating great learning environments and having great outcomes for kids who have long been marginalized, kids who are from low-income communities, kids of color,” she continues. “Because there’s lots of intersection—it’s not like kids are one thing or the other.”
Small charter schools should consider partnering with nonprofits, other charter systems and community organizations to maximize resources. Education leaders in the charter and traditional sectors facing staff shortages should also look at how to reorganize schools to improve the climate for teachers.
For more of Rhim’s insights—including how education leaders can tackle the challenge of expiring COVID relief funds—listen to the podcast below, or on Podbean, Apple or Spotify.
