GovTech

This fall a handful of New Orleans schools will have access to centralized special education services, the first step in an effort to help autonomous charter schools join forces to serve students with disabilities. The new program will provide participating schools with shared special education technology, services, and training. The first of its kind in the district, the opt-in program will be run by an “education service agency,” a public entity authorized by law to coordinate and provide services. The governance model is still being worked out, but eventually, an advisory board made up of representatives from the participating schools will oversee the program. The model is meant to make it easier for smaller and single-site charter schools to provide students with disabilities a range of specialized services, which can be financially and logistically challenging, and equalize special education access across the district.