Chartering New Territory: Cyber Schools, Charter Schools, and Virtual Special Education—Pitfalls, Obstacles, Dilemmas, and Solutions

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

The delivery and instruction of students served under IDEA (2004) has taken center stage for charter schools since their birth almost twenty years ago. Since their evolution, special education laws have changed and traditional brick and mortar schools have attempted to change with the law. However, information technology is everywhere, and special educators, school leaders, teachers, parents and students have attempted to keep pace. With the increase of individualized learning focused on the identified students education, what does Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) look like and in what ways can charter schools measure academic and functional performance using innovative technologies and while working within the confines of IDEA?

Sub Unit

• SIG-Charter School Research and Evaluation

Chair

• York Williams, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Participant

• Merridith Murray, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

Papers

• A Legal Framework for Special Education and Charter Schools - Kevin M McKenna, Latsha, Davis & McKenna

• Cyber Charters and Special Education - Nicole Snyder, Latsha Davis & McKenna

• Technology, Free Appropriate Public Education, and Progress Monitoring: Glows and Grows - Michele Moser, The George Washington University

Discussant

• York Williams, West Chester University of Pennsylvania