CHARTER SCHOOLS 2 ___________________________________ - PDF document

Slide ___________________________________ 1 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ CHARTER SCHOOLS ___________________________________ UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’S RIGHTS ___________________________________ HOSTED BY NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR TOURETTE ___________________________________ SYNDROME AND ASSOCIATED DISORDERS Presented by: REBECCA K. SPAR, ESQ. Slide ___________________________________ CHARTER SCHOOLS 2 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Overview of Presentation ___________________________________ ___________________________________ This webinar is for parents, educators and others interested in understanding the rights of children with Tourette Syndrome or other associated disorders who are attending or want to ___________________________________ attend a New Jersey charter school; when information requested on application forms may be discriminatory; ___________________________________ 2 Slide ___________________________________ CHARTER SCHOOLS 3 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ in determining whether accommodations or modifications must be offered; in providing special education or related ___________________________________ services; in responding to bullying, harassment or intimidation by other students or by teachers; when disciplinary action may ___________________________________ violate your child’s rights and when your local school district may become involved in your child’s education in a charter ___________________________________ school. ___________________________________ 3 Ju

Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 4 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY ___________________________________ ___________________________________ How many charter schools are there in New Jersey? ___________________________________ Currently there are 89 charter schools in New Jersey. ___________________________________ For 2016-2017, New Jersey has approved seats for 50,711 students. 4 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 5 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ For the 2014-2015 school year, 27% of Newark students attended charter schools. ___________________________________ For the 2017-2018 school year, this is expected to grow to 40% ___________________________________ of the Newark student population. ___________________________________ 5 June 22, 2016 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 6 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ What did the New Jersey legislature intend as the ___________________________________ mission of New Jersey charter schools? ___________________________________ To assist in educational reform and offer a mechanism for a variety of educational approaches which were not available ___________________________________ in a traditional public school. ___________________________________ Some question whether most charter school do assist in educational reform or if they use different educational approaches. 6

Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 7 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ What has to happen before a charter school can ___________________________________ open? Charter schools operate under a five year charter granted by ___________________________________ the Commissioner of Education. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 7 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 8 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ How are charter schools funded? ___________________________________ Charter schools receive funding from the school districts that send children to the charter school. ___________________________________ Generally, a charter school receives around 90% of the ___________________________________ program budget per pupil for the specific grade level in the district. ___________________________________ 8 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 9 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Charter school is also entitled to any additional aid provided by state and federal governments for low-income, special ___________________________________ needs, and Limited English Proficient children. ___________________________________ Some charter schools receive funds from private sources and in-kind donations. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 9

Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 10 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ How are charter schools governed? ___________________________________ Charter schools are managed by boards of trustees ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 10 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 11 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ How are charter schools evaluated? ___________________________________ The Department of Education decides whether charter schools will remain open or be closed. ___________________________________ New Jersey Department of Education’s website contains ___________________________________ information on each charter schools such as the number of students with disabilities, enrollment by race and ethnicity, how the students performed on statewide assessments, ___________________________________ number expected to go on to college. 11 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 12 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Are charter schools public schools? ___________________________________ Yes, charter schools are public schools. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 12

Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 13 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ What federal and state laws apply to charter schools? ___________________________________ Charter schools must always comply with laws and regulations which govern other New Jersey schools pertaining to: ___________________________________ assessment; testing; civil rights and student health and safety. ___________________________________ Upon request of the charter school, the Commissioner of Education may exempt it from other state regulations concerning public schools if the exemption advances the ___________________________________ educational goals and objectives of the school. 13 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 14 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Are charter schools required to provide services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ___________________________________ (“IDEA”)? ___________________________________ Yes. Charter schools are governed by the same federal and state requirements concerning special education services as ___________________________________ other public schools are. ___________________________________ 14 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 15 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Do other civil rights laws apply to charter schools? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Yes. Charter schools must comply with all federal and state civil rights laws. ___________________________________ This includes laws which prohibit discrimination against ___________________________________ students with disabilities such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 15

Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 16 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ How are students admitted to a charter ___________________________________ school? Each charter school has its own admission process. ___________________________________ Generally, a student has to be enrolled in his/her ___________________________________ district of residence and then request to move to ___________________________________ the charter school. 16 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 17 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Charter schools must give preference for enrollment to students who reside within the school district in ___________________________________ which the charter school is located. ___________________________________ Charter schools may also give preference to siblings ___________________________________ of existing charter students. ___________________________________ 17 Slide ___________________________________ BASIC INFORMATION 18 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ If more students want to attend than the school can accommodate, the charter school must hold a ___________________________________ lottery and create a waiting list. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 18