Connecticut's Charter School Program: Questions and Answers
by
Joseph C. Maya on Mar. 20, 2017
Other Education Criminal Juvenile Law
Summary: Blog post on the topic of charter schools in Connecticut.
If you have a question or concern about special education law, school administration, federal standards, or the overall rights of a student, please feel free to call the expert education law attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. in Westport today at (203) 221-3100 .
What are the purposes of charter schools?
The general purpose of charter schools is to establish an alternative means of education within the existing public school system, which provides innovative learning opportunities to improve the education of students.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are run independently of the school district and may also have a specialized focus. Charters are granted by the State Board of Education and schools may enroll students in Grades PK-12 as established in their charters.
Who is eligible to attend?
Charter schools are open to all students, but the charter may limit the geographic areas from which students may attend. The charter school holds a lottery if there are more applicants than spaces available. Districts are required to give charter school personnel access to schools for recruiting purposes.
Who pays for these schools? Will the parent have to pay tuition for the student?
Parents do not pay tuition to send their child to a charter school. Operating costs for state charter schools are funded through a state grant of $11,000 per student enrolled in the school. Charter schools are also eligible for federal and state competitive grants, including a federal charter school start-up grant.
How will my child get to school?
The local or regional board of education where the charter school is located must provide transportation for students attending the charter school who live in the district. Parents of students who live out of the district where the charter is located may need to provide transportation for their child if the charter school does not.
Does the school provide for the needs of special education students?
Yes. In the case of a charter school, the responsibility for holding the planning and placement team (PPT) meeting belongs to the district where the student lives. The charter school is responsible for ensuring that the student receives the services required by the student's individualized educational program (IEP), whether those services are provided by the charter school or by the school district in which the student lives. For more information, contact the Bureau of Special Education via telephone at 860-713-6910 or visit the Web site Staff Directory.
If you have a child with a disability and have questions about special education law, please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq., at 203-221-3100, or at JMaya@mayalaw.com, to schedule a free consultation.
Source- http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2681&q=335074
