Special Education in Charter Schools Event
SPECIAL EDUCATION IN CHARTER SCHOOLS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 • 8 AM – 5 PM
PHILIP H. CORBOY LAW CENTER
KASBEER HALL, 15TH FLOOR
Charter schools, like all public schools, are obligated to serve students with disabilities. Yet for many charter schools in Chicago and throughout the country, a variety of obstacles make meeting this obligation extraordinarily difficult.
This conference, designed for educators, lawyers, and policymakers, explored the legal and policy context for special education in charter schools, discussed the current state of special education in Chicago’s charter schools, and provided examples of best practices, both locally and nationally. Paul O’Neill, an education law professor, attorney, and charter school founder who is among the nation’s foremost experts on charter schools and special education, provided the luncheon address. The program also included training sessions on school discipline and implementation of special education services led by representatives from Chicago Public Schools, Illinois State Board of Education, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Franczek Radelet, and Loyola University Chicago School of Education.
To download a PDF copy of the event information, please click here.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
| 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome Hillary Coustan Michael Kaufman, moderator |
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| 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. |
The Basics of Special Education in Charter Schools Eileen Ahearn, PhD During this session, Dr. Ahearn explained how certain aspects of a state’s charter school law— including whether a charter school is its own district (also known as local education agency (LEA)) or part of another LEA for purposes of special education — determines allocation of responsibilities for special education. |
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| 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
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Chicago Charter Schools and Special Education Rod Estvan Maureen Komperda Michael Kaufman, moderator |
| 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. |
Break |
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| 10:45 - 12:15 p.m. |
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Best Practices Eileen Ahearn, PhD Parker Baxter Teri Pettit Andrew Broy, moderator |
| 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. |
Lunch & Keynote Address Paul O’Neill Charter Schools and Special Education: |
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| 1:30 - 1:45 p.m. | Break | |
| 1:45 - 3:15 p.m. |
Developing a Special Education Program and Infrastructure Hank Bohanon, PhD Juana Burchell Kathleen Gibbons Bruce Boyer, moderator This panel discussed the types of policies, procedures and infrastructure that charter schools should implement to ensure that they have complied with their obligations under federal law. Panelists addressed enrollment, identification of students with disabilities, services, staffing, and budgetary planning, among other topics. |
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| 3:15 - 3:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. |
Special Education and Discipline Andrea Brown-Thirston, PhD Erin Han Darcy Kriha Miranda Johnson, moderator Hypothetical Examples: Charter School and School Discipline This panel considered schools’ obligations to students with disabilities within the context of school discipline. Working through various hypothetical scenarios, panelists will discuss student handbooks and codes of conduct, disciplinary policies and procedures, and accommodations for students with disabilities. |
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
| Eileen Ahearn | Project Director, National Association of State Directors of Special Education |
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| Parker Baxter | Consultant, Center for Reinventing Public Education | |
| Hank Bohanon |
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Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago School of Education |
| Andrea Brown-Thirston | Chief Academic Officer, Chicago International Charter School | |
| Andrew Broy |
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President, Illinois Network of Charter Schools |
| Juana Burchell | Principal Consultant (Special Education Services), Illinois State Board of Education |
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| Rod Estvan | Education Policy Analyst, Access Living | |
| Kathleen Gibbons | Attorney, Chicago Public Schools | |
| Erin Han | Staff Attorney, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago | |
| Miranda Johnson | Salisbury Clinical Teaching Fellow in Child and Family Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law |
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| Michael Kaufman | Associate Dean and Director, Loyola ChildLaw and Education Institute | |
| Maureen Komperda | Chicago Public Schools, Office of Special Education and Supports | |
| Darcy Kriha | Partner, Franczek Radelet | |
| Paul O'Neill | President and Founder, Tugboat Education Services | |
| Teri Pettit | Public School Academy (charter school) Consultant/Liaison for the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services |
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| Elizabeth Purvis | Executive Director, Chicago International Charter School | |
| Rachel Shapiro | Staff Attorney, Equip for Equality |