The key word is public – if a public Texas charter school is not following federal and state special education rules, it would fall to TEA (Texas Education Agency) to enforce them under the dispute resolution processes. Information on the laws and regulations that Texas charter schools must follow is at http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/Charter_Schools/Charter_Schools_-_Resources/

On December 28, 2016, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) released a Guidance Package developed to provide parents and the charter school community with information about the rights of charter school students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities who are enrolled in public charter schools, like students with disabilities enrolled in other public elementary or secondary schools, have important rights under two federal laws.

Students with disabilities who seek to enroll in public charter schools or traditional public schools have important rights secured by these two laws.

These documents provide information about how to provide equal opportunities in charter school recruitment, application, admission, enrollment and disenrollment, accessibility, nonacademic and extracurricular activities.

The Guidance Package includes:

1.  OSEP / OCR  Dear Colleague Letter that updates educators, parents, students, and others about the rights of students under Section 504 and IDEA.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201612-504-charter-school.pdf

2.  Frequently Asked Questions about the Rights of Students with with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

  • Explains that charter school students with disabilities have the same rights as other public school students.
  • Describes the right to nondiscrimination in recruitment, application and admission to charter schools.
  • Clarifies that during the admission process, a charter school generally may not ask a prospective student if he or she has a disability.
  • Reminds charter schools and parents that students with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education under Section 504.

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-faq-201612-504-charter-school.pdf

3. Frequently Asked Questions about the Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

  • Emphasizes that children with disabilities who attend charter schools and their parents retain all rights and protections under IDEA, including the right to a FAPE, as they would at other public schools.
  • Explains that a charter school may not unilaterally limit the services that will be provided to a student with a disability.
  • Reminds charter schools about the least restrictive environment provisions that require students with disabilities to be educated with students who are not disabled, to the maximum extent appropriate.
  • Clarifies that students with disabilities who attend charter schools retain all IDEA rights and protections included in the IDEA discipline procedures.

https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/faq-idea-charter-school.pdf

4. Know Your Rights: Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools provides a brief overview of the rights of public charter school student with disabilities and legal obligations under  Section 504 and IDEA

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-factsheet-201612-504-charter-school.pdf

Article by The Wrightslaw Way to Special Education Law and Advocacy Blog