Chicago Charter School Faces Oversight Due to Special Education Violations

The Illinois State Board of Education has imposed stringent sanctions on the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, a charter high school in Little Village, Chicago, following an investigation that uncovered three years of “repeated and unresolved” violations related to special education services. As a result, the school will now be under intensified oversight from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

The publicly funded but privately operated charter school attributed its difficulties to the unexpected resignation of its entire special education staff just one day before the start of the school year three years ago. This staffing crisis, coupled with ongoing challenges in recruiting qualified teachers and clinicians for students with disabilities, has hindered the school’s ability to meet its obligations.

In a statement, the nonprofit organization that manages the school, Instituto del Progreso Latino, emphasized its commitment to students, stating, “We want to be clear that these violations did not stem from a lack of commitment to our students or a disregard for their needs.”

At a recent meeting of the Chicago Board of Education, CPS’s special education chief, Josh Long, read a letter detailing various failures. Among the significant issues highlighted was that some students went without required services for up to three years, while others completed their high school experience without necessary support such as aides.

The state estimated that around 100 of the approximately 500 students enrolled at Instituto last year missed between 12,000 and 80,000 minutes of instruction and essential services. The letter also noted that the school repeatedly failed to provide make-up services, even after being instructed to do so by state authorities.

As part of the sanction, the state mandates that CPS conduct bi-weekly meetings and monthly visits with Instituto to ensure compliance. CPS, which holds the authority to oversee charter schools like Instituto, is responsible for guaranteeing that students with disabilities receive the educational support they require.

Despite these violations, CPS has noted that Instituto is not alone in its challenges. When the school board renewed Instituto’s contract in April 2023, it received a “needs improvement” rating for both its special education and English Learner programs. In fact, CPS found that nearly all of the sixteen charter schools approved in the spring needed to enhance their services for students with disabilities, as many institutions face similar staffing shortages.

During the board meeting, Alberto Mendez, the school’s principal, pointed out the nationwide shortage of special education staff. He mentioned that Instituto has secured five of the eight required special education teachers this year and has filled other essential roles, including a social worker and case manager.

School personnel voiced their support for leadership at the meeting, highlighting the progress made in response to the concerns raised in the state’s letter. Jaqlyn Grandsart, a social worker at the school, explained that the departure of the special education department left the institution without the necessary infrastructure to provide adequate services.

“Over the past year, we have intentionally rebuilt staffing, systems, and oversight,” Grandsart asserted, adding, “We are now currently at 100% compliance. While this letter reflects past failures, it does not fully capture the work that has been ongoing with systems now in place to prevent these issues from reoccurring.”

Special education teacher Dessie Marek echoed these sentiments, noting improvements in student outcomes, including increased attendance and academic performance. Marek shared a success story about a student who, after struggling to engage in class and complete assignments due to unmet needs, is now regularly attending class and earning passing grades.

“I have seen measurable progress in our special education program,” Marek said, expressing optimism about the future of special education at Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy.

As the school moves forward under increased scrutiny, the focus will remain on ensuring that all students receive the support they need to succeed academically. The commitment from both the administration and staff appears to be strong, with hopes of rebuilding trust and providing a better educational experience for all students.