Feds remind charters of civil rights obligations
(District of Columbia) Despite the claims of some critics that charter schools are largely unaccountable to key education mandates, the U.S. Department of Education issued clear noticethis week that federal civil rights protections apply to all public schools.
That is, charters must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which broadly prohibit discrimination based on race or sex. Charters are also bound by the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
“Charter schools play an important role in the educational landscape and are serving more and more students all over the country,” said Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights, in a statement.
“Since our last guidance on the topic in 2000, thousands of new charter schools have opened,” she said. “This guidance underscores that charter schools must satisfy the requirements of the federal civil rights laws.”
National data generally shows that charter schools struggle with federal civil rights mandates as often and in many of the same ways as traditional public schools. But there are some notable exceptions when it comes to admission policies as well as services to students with disabilities and English learners.
Just this month in fact, federal investigators confirmed a probe into the enrollment procedures at two charters in the Washington D.C. area after complaints were made that both improperly excluded immigrant children.
Court intervention was also sought last year by civil rights groups in Louisiana in response to Feds remind charters of civil rights obligations :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:
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