FCSA & School Leaders Advocate in Washington, D.C. on Behalf of Children with Special Needs

April 22, 2016 – 

The FCSA’s Director of Government Relations, Ralph Arza, and a group of charter school leaders from Florida went to Washington, D.C. this week to advocate on behalf of students with special needs.
During their meetings with Senator Marco Rubio; Congressman Carlos Curbelo; Gregg Corr, Director of Monitoring and State Improvement Planning at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP); and OSEP Deputy Director, Ruth Ryder, the group discussed the need for appropriate funding for all special needs students, and a decision by the Palm Beach School district to change the IDEA formula for charter school students.
IDEA meeting DC - Rubio 4-21-16Based on the “Estimated FY17 Charter School IDEA Allocation” outlined in a letter the School District of Palm Beach County sent to charter schools last month, IDEA funding for children with special needs attending charter schools will be reduced by an estimated 97%.
Charter school leaders have requested mediation with the district, and asked FCSA for help.  FCSA has met with Palm Beach Superintendent Dr. Avossa and will continue to support efforts to secure an amicable solution.
Photo: Senator Marco Rubio speaks to charter school leaders about IDEA funding.
“We went to D.C. to discuss this new formula with representatives from the Department of Education and key elected officials.  The goal is to get clarification on the legislative intent for proportional distribution of IDEA funds,” explains Arza.
The Florida Charter School Alliance, a non-profit statewide charter school support and advocacy organization, has been helping bring the IDEA issue in Palm Beach to light and supporting efforts by charter school leaders in Palm Beach County to reverse the District’s decision.
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Photo: (Second from right) Gregg Corr, Director of monitoring and state improvement planning at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and OSEP Deputy Director, Ruth Ryder met with charter school leaders from Florida (Left to Right) Tim Kilpatrick (Kids Community College); Lilian Salazar (Academica, National Director for Special Education and Student Support); and Tom Sutterfield (Learning Excellence Foundation of South Palm Beach County) to discuss a decision by the Palm Beach School District to change the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) distribution formula which will hurt thousands of special needs children attending charter. 
 
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