Charter schools are required by law to serve students who are English Language Learners and those who have IEPs. When a student who has an IEP is offered admission to a charter school, a district-appointed representative from the Committee on Special Education (CSE) works with families to determine the child’s specific needs.
In some cases, a charter school may not have the resources to provide the best education for that student. In these special circumstances, a student may not be recommended for enrollment at the school. This is done on a case-by-case basis in the best interest of the child, with a goal of helping the student find the school that is best able to serve him or her. However charter schools can accommodate most students. In Rochester for the 2022-23 school year, charter schools enrolled 785 students with disabilities and 388 English Language Learner students.
CSE evaluations and placements are done in district schools as well, as students are assigned to school locations that offer the resources most aligned to serve their special needs.
