Special Populations Oversight
Overview
The School Reform Act of 1995 (D.C. Code §§ 38-1802 et seq.) requires the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) to monitor each public charter school’s progress toward its charter goals, student academic achievement, compliance with health and safety regulations, and adherence to all applicable laws. This includes laws related to students with disabilities (SWD), compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and laws governing English learners (EL), including Limited English Proficient and Non-English Proficient students.
DC PCSB’s Role in Special Education Oversight
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) directly monitors schools’ compliance with DC Municipal Regulations related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). DC PCSB monitors OSSE’s findings and the effectiveness of the school practices that inform IDEA compliance of charter schools’ special education programs through its Special Education Audit and Monitoring Policy. DC PCSB staff reviews the criteria and the effectiveness of school-wide practices that impact students with disabilities on a routine basis. The procedures of DC PCSB’s audit intervention may vary depending on the criteria met and the information reviewed. Learn more about the Special Education Audit and Monitoring procedures.
DC PCSB’s Role in EML Oversight
DC PCSB uses the term emerging multilingual learners (EML) to describe students who are learning English. The term is used to embrace the linguistic assets of these students and can be interchanged with the federal term, “English Learner”.
DC PCSB monitors compliance with local and federal laws governing EMLs on a routine basis through our Emerging Multilingual Learner Audit and Monitoring Policy. The policy seeks to ensure that schools effectively provide services that enable students to achieve English proficiency and to meet grade-level standards.
The procedures of DC PCSB’s audit intervention may vary depending on the criteria met and the information reviewed. To learn more about the Emerging Multilingual Learner Audit and Monitoring procedures, click the button below.
