3 Things Families Look for When Choosing a Charter School

Originally published by the DC Special Education Cooperative

By Monica Lesperance

Here in DC, 16% of students enrolled in public schools have disabilities and hundreds of students are entering DC Charter schools every year. With 60 schools on over 100 campuses, families looking for high quality special education programming have a lot of research to do!

Charter schools have worked hard over the years to develop strong programs and attract more students. At the same time, parents have become savvy consumers of education and are more selective as they look for a school that’s a good fit for their child.  For parents of children with disabilities, the issue of fit is complex.  Parents are looking for more than just a good reputation and schools are rising to the challenge. So what are parents looking for? Read on for steps schools can take to show parents that they are a good fit for children with disabilities.

1) School-Child Fit:

Each charter school has a unique mission and vision, and families are seeking programs that speak to them and their children. They’re examining special programs and will want to know how the school’s curricular focus will be aligned with their child’s services.

Schools can do this:

  • Think about your school’s focus and programs and how they may be perceived by families of children with disabilities. For example, if you offer language immersion or college prep, how do you make sure that students with disabilities are able to participate in meaningful ways?
  • Many families will assume that your school is not for them if your focus seems to conflict with their child’s academic or social emotional needs. Be prepared to answer questions and give examples of how your program enriches the educational experience for all students.

2) Rigorous Academic Program that is Accessible to All Students:

If a school’s program isn’t academically rigorous in general, then it’s not likely to be rigorous for a student with a disability. DC CAS and other test scores don’t tell the whole story. Parents want to see that a school has a plan for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to a high quality core curriculum.

Schools can do this: Show families more than test scores – introduce them to the aspects of your learning environment that will best suit their child. Consider highlighting:

  • Lower student/teacher ratios and co-taught classrooms with both a general and special education teacher collaborating.
  • Ongoing professional development and training for general education teachers on providing access to the core curriculum for students with disabilities.
  • Administrators who can explicitly state how ALL students have access to the core curriculum.
  • A continuum of services in place that allows students to get the support they need while maintaining access to the core.
  • Use of evidence based interventions for students with disabilities
  • Collaboration, team approach to teaching and learning (specialists including OT, PT, SLP, etc. are meeting with teachers and therapy integrated into classroom activities whenever appropriate)

3) Inclusive Culture:

When students feel like a part of community and have a strong sense of belonging, they are much more open to learning. Show your visiting families how special education is perceived by the administration, staff, and school community.

Schools can do this:

  • Educate all staff about special education, and ensure they have foundational knowledge of special education laws and the rights of students with disabilities.
  • Show you value having students with disabilities in your school by including language in your school philosophy about all students.
  • Showcase positive behavioral norms and shared-beliefs about disability and differences (e.g.: adults in the community use person-first language and welcome opportunities to discuss differences with students.)
  • Showcase parent support – training or support groups for parents of students with disabilities or ways your school connects parents with outside resources.
  • Highlight your PBIS plan and show commitment to positive discipline and developmentally appropriate responses to classroom behaviors.

With 60 schools on over 100 campuses, families looking for high quality special education programming have a lot of research to do!