About the DC Special Education Co-operative
DC has a number of charter schools, each of which is responsible for developing its own special education programs. The DC Special Education Co-operative provides assistance to charter schools in developing programs for students with disabilities. The Co-operative was formed in 1998 by special education leaders, charter school teachers and administrators, and chartering authorities. While this was the first such program in the United States at the time, the program’s success has led to its replication around the country.The Co-operative offers all of its services for a fee, which helps to ensure that it meets the rigorous demands of its clients. Charter schools can hire the organization to oversee the development of their special education program. Known as “Compliance and Program Quality Services,” the Co-op’s assistance in this area includes strategic planning, mentoring for program coordinators, staff candidate searches, and secondary transition planning and support.Another branch of the Co-op’s services is called “Professional Development and Training.” Here, the group provides training for the special education teachers and school administrators who will be in charge of overseeing the program. These training sessions deal with such intimate topics as legal issues, policy and advocacy, and interacting with the parents of the children. Finally, the Co-Op also will assist charter schools in managing Medicaid funds for their eligible students.While the DC Special Education Co-operative’s list of services may seem extensive now, expect it to grow even larger in the future. Announced upcoming services include the Satellite Classroom project, which will be aimed at “students with high intensity needs in member schools,” and the Parents as Partners project, which will allow for more collaboration between parents and school teachers and administrators. Meanwhile, the group is experimenting with how webinar technology will allow for improved communication for all partiesthis upcoming service is known as ConnectCoop.Every August, the Co-op hosts an annual Jumpstart Conference to prepare schools for the upcoming year. Dr. Anita Archer, author of the REWARDS reading program, was the keynote speaker at the 2010 event. Information about the upcoming year’s conference is released in the spring, so remember to keep checking the Co-op’s website if you’re interested in participating.
