WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

IDEA ALLOCATION TO CHARTER SCHOOLS

FLORIDA CHARTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 2011

Panelists:O Bambi Lockman, Deputy

Superintendent for Instructional Services, Volusia County School District

O Deborrah Metheny, Education Consultant, Retired Supervisor Choice and Charter Schools, Sarasota County School District

O Susan Onori, Principal, Imagine-Chancellor Charter School (located in Boynton Beach)

Moderator:O Melissa Gross-Arnold, Esq., The

Arnold Law Firm

IDEA CHARTER SCHOOL PROVISIONS

FederalO Statute:

O 20 USC 1413(a)(5)

O Regulation:O 34 CFR s.

300.209

StateO Statute:

O Fla. Stat. ss. 1002.33(17)(c) & (e); 1003.571

O Rule:O FAC s. 6A-

6.03028(2)

Federal ProvisionsO For charter schools that are public schools

of the LEA (in FL this is usually the SD), the LEA must:O “Serve children with disabilities attending

those charter schools in the same manner as the LEA services children with disabilities in its other schools, including providing supplementary and related services on site at the charter school to the same extent to which the LEA has a policy or practice of providing such services on the site to its other public schools; and”

Federal Provisions, cont.

O “Provide [IDEA] funds . . . to those charter schools-O On the same basis as the LEA provides funds

to the LEA’s other public schools, including proportional distribution based on relative enrollment of children with disabilities; and

O At the same time as the LEA distributes other Federal funds to the LEA’s other public schools, consistent with the State’s charter school law.” O 20 USC s. 1413(a)(5); 34 CFR s. 300.209(b)

State ProvisionsO Federal IDEA is adopted and all

implementing regulations are to be consistent with it.O Fla. Stat. s. 1003.571

O Students attending charter schools retain all rights under Federal and State IDEA laws of students attending school district schools.

O Adopts Federal IDEA language pertaining to treatment of charter schools.O FAC s. 6A-6.03028(2)

State Provisions, cont.O Florida’s Charter Statute:

O “If the district school board is providing programs or services to students funded by federal funds, any eligible students enrolled in charter schools in the school district shall be provided federal funds for the same level of service provided students in the schools operated by the district school board.”

O Fla. Stat. s. 1002.33(17)(c)

IDEA Fund Distribution to School Districts

O FDOE (SEA) requests applications each year for IDEA Grants.

O School districts submit applications, including proposed budgets.

O As a condition for the funding, school districts must agree to certain assurances, including compliance with the Federal requirements relating to treatment of charter schools.