Parents

The Co-operative helps DC charter schools improve their programs for students with special needs. We know that parents play a critical role in their child’s school success. We believe that parents can be a great resource to schools striving to improve the quality of their special education programs. The information on this page can help inform and empower parents to work collaboratively with schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child with special needs go to a charter school?

Yes! Charter schools are public schools and are open to any child living in DC. All Charters must provide special education and related services for students with disabilities. Charters can’t refuse to enroll a child because he/she has an IEP or disability. If a child is enrolled in a charter school and the IEP team feels it can not meet the student’s needs, the team may request a change in placement and works with a representative of OSSE to find a more appropriate school for the child.

How do I choose the right charter school for my child?

Many charter schools have unique programs that may be a good fit for your child. For example, some focus on technology or arts or provide some instruction in another language. Many follow an inclusion model for meeting student needs. Call schools and ask about their programs. Consider your child’s interests and strengths and how they fit with the school’s program. Attend open houses where you can meet teachers and visit classrooms.

List of Charter Schools in DC

How do I enroll my child in a charter school?

Contact the school and ask for an application. The application deadlines for most charter schools are in March or April. If a charter school has more applicants than spaces, it is required to hold a lottery and maintain a waiting list. Once your child has been offered a space at the school, share copies of his or her IEP and evaluation reports. The school cannot require this information until you have been offered a space and can not make it a contingency to hold the space.

Children with Special Needs and Public Charter Schools – an information sheet for parents

Ninos con Discapacidades y Escuelas Publicas Charter

Resources for Parents

Information about disabilities and special education:

The Ivymount School released a directory of summer camp options for exceptional children.
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has just launched a New to Disabilities page on their website. There’s helpful information for parents and educators.
Parents are often the best advocates for their children. This article from the National Association of Learning Disabilities lists tips on how to be the best advocate for your child.
LD.org has a Parent Guide to Response to Intervention to help families understand this approach to meeting student needs.
Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
At the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities, you will find educational consultants, psychologists, diagnosticians, health care specialists, academic tutors, speech language therapists, advocates, and attorneys. You will also find government programs, grassroots organizations, special education schools, and parent support groups.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America has resources to help parents understand the early signs of learning disabilities, assessments, and ways to help their children.
LD OnLine LD OnLine offer FAQs About learning disabilities, updates on IDEA 2004, LD Resources, Forums, Yellow Pages and the LD OnLine Store.
Writghtslaw is a site for information on special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities
The Co-operative’s list of advocacy links includes national disability organizations and DC advocacy organizations
The National Center for Learning Disabilities has many resources to help parents. Coping: Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities is a good place to start.
Your child with an IEP may not qualify for ESY, but a quality summer program is still important. Read this article on selecting a summer camp for kids with learning or attention problems from Greatschools for tips on how to select a summer program for your child.

Activities and materials you can use with your child at home:

Starfall.com has great activities for beginning readers.
Do2Learn This site has tools geared toward children with Autism and has great picture cards and templates to make your own schedules.
Handwriting for Kids Download various types of lined paper to make handwriting worksheets for your child.
Books for children on disabilities (in English and Spanish) This is a list of children’s books about disabilities
Books for children on disabilities recommended by Disability World

More information for families:

The Matrix Parent Center’s IEP Meeting Toolkit may be helpful as you prepare for your child’s IEP meeting
Tips on communicating with a non-verbal child
Benefits for children with disabilities – this booklet describes the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and health benefits for a child with a disability. Also in Spanish: Beneficios para niños con incapacidades
How autism emerges: Patterns of onset in the first years of life – A 44-minute video from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
LD.org has a reader’s guide to A Special Mother: Getting through the early days of a child’s diagnosis of learning disabilities and related disorders, a book by Anne Ford that gives support to mothers just starting out on their “LD journey”.
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Guide for Parents – This booklet is a guide for parents who think their child may have symptoms of bipolar disorder, or parents whose child has been diagnosed. Published by the National Institute on Mental Health, it is available in PDF format on the web and can be requested in hard copy.
Is your child ready for college? Disability Friendly Colleges has resources to help you and your child select a school that will meet their needs.
Disability Law Handbook Available in Spanish and in English. This handbook is written in FAQ format and answers questions about the ADA, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.

Resources for Parents in Spanish:

NICHY en Español – NICHCY es la sigla del Centro Nacional de Diseminación de Información para Niños con Discapacidades.
Beneficios para niños con incapacidades
Books for children on disabilities (in English and Spanish)
Disability Law Handbook

DC Organizations

Advocates for Justice in Education (AJE). AJE’s mission is to educate parents, youth, and the community about the laws governing public education, specifically for children with special needs.

Spotlight on Good Practice

LAMB Public Charter School partnered with the DC Special Education Co-operative to produce this parent engagement manual for schools. It offers practical suggestions about how to build positive relationships with parents of students with special needs.