The Toolkit
Root Cause Analysis & Needs Assessment
Identify which practices, policies, and procedures contribute to the under-enrollment of students with special needs in individual charter schools
Create targeted intervention plans to address those underlying causes
Implement and monitor identified solutions
Accountability Driver
Take an active approach to collecting data, tracking trends, and measuring access for students with special needs in individual charter schools
Respond with individualized support or action to revise internal accountability systems, measure student- and school-level data, and take corrective action
School Website Audits
Understand how schools communicate their processes around enrollment
Identify potential barriers for students with special needs and their families
Self-evaluate to improve content on websites and in enrollment materials
Mystery Shopper Program
"Shoppers" examine how charter schools respond to parent questions about application and enrollment
Self-evaluate to improve how you communicate with families about enrollment, identify potential barriers, and develop a plan for addressing identified issues
Strengthening the LEA/School Relationship
Promote a shared vision of inclusive teaching and learning
Use policy to formally organize and integrate initiatives and programs, address and remove barriers to success, and address ways to more effectively use resources
Actionable steps to develop strong LEA/School relationships
Reports on Enrollment & Outcomes
Provide transparent, reliable, comparable information through publicly available reports on enrollment and outcomes for different student populations
Identify areas of strength and areas to improve
Leveraging policy to increase access and quality opportunities for students with special needs in charter schools
Model Policy Guides
Identify areas in which model and charter school contracts can be strengthened
Complete a strategic examination of the contracts in alignment with the model policy guide
Communicate and support the implementation of amendments
SWIFT Fidelity Integrity Assessment (FIA)
Examine the current implementation status of school-wide practices that have been demonstrated through research to provide a basis for successfully including all students who live in the school community.
Targeted Technical Assistance
Build out a wider continuum of services at individual schools
Improve multi-tiered systems of support and response to intervention systems
Develop the capacity of special education leaders
Collaboration facilitated by oversight entities
Shared Responsibility, Shared Accountability
An analysis of enrollment of students with disabilities in Colorado's charter sector, November 2020
Addressing the Enrollment of Students with Disabilities on School Websites
A Website Review Checklist schools can use to audit their own websites for alignment with best practices
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the enrollment process for students with disabilities
Sample Language to consider as a starting point for incorporation within your school’s website or other promotional material