The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is issuing this guidance to provide charter schools, States, State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), other public agencies, parents, and other stakeholders with information regarding the rights of children with disabilities attending charter schools and their parents under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA or Act). Specifically, the guidance emphasizes that children with disabilities who attend public charter schools and their parents retain all rights and protections under Part B of IDEA just as they would if the children were enrolled in other public schools. The Questions and Answers included in this document also address questions regarding IDEA requirements governing the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to IDEA-eligible students attending charter schools, child find and evaluations, placement procedures, procedural safeguards, IDEA funding and IDEA obligations related to charter school closures, and other topics.
