Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Charter Schools with Spotlight on Special Education

On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing, “Meeting the Individual Needs of All Students: The Role of Charter Schools.” Chairman Cassidy emphasized school choice and the Committee’s responsibility to parents in his opening remarks. Witness Debbie Vaughn, who co-founded Lakes and Bridges Charter School in South Carolina after her son with dyslexia struggled to learn to read in their public school. She discussed the values and challenges of creating and operating a charter school, as well as the importance of providing parents of children with dyslexia with choice. 

Witness Jennifer Coco, Esq. Interim Executive Director of the Center for Learner Equity discussed her organization’s work to remove systemic barriers that exclude students with disabilities from high-quality learning opportunities, so families have true access to choices and robust support in charter schools. She presented recommendations to Congress, including fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, preserving the U.S. Department of Education and its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which serves as the federal infrastructure that provides technical assistance and oversight, and focusing resources on improving the quality of charter schools, rather than simply expanding their number. During a question-and-answer session, Committee members built on these points.

To view the hearing, go here.