Parent FAQ

The Board has included below answers to questions that are frequently asked by parents. The answers will guide you to further information on our website or the websites of other entities. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Education’s website includes frequently asked questions related to a variety of subjects.

Educational Program

Who do I contact if I have a complaint about the special education program or services at a charter school?

Answer

All issues and complaints relating to special education services provided at a charter school must be submitted to Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Dispute Resolution Unit. For more information about addressing concerns about special education, please visit Dispute Resolution’s website. Submit a complaint online.

Who do I contact if I have a complaint about the English language learner program or services at a charter school?

Answer

For issues regarding services to English language learners, contact the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition Services at (602)542-0753 or [email protected].

Enrollment Practices

My student was previously expelled from another educational institution. Does a charter school have to accept my student?

Answer

No. A.R.S. §15-184(F) allows a charter school to refuse to admit any pupil who has been expelled from another educational institution or who is in the process of being expelled from another educational institution. However, based on their mission or other factors, some schools will accept students who have been expelled. If the charter school of your choice does not accept expelled students, you may want to consider an alternative school and a distance learning charter school. View a list of alternative schools (please select the “Alternative Schools List” tab).

I would like to send my student to kindergarten but he does not turn five years of age until October and I know the cutoff date for kindergarten is September 1.

Will a charter school accept my student for the upcoming year even though he won’t be five by the cutoff date?

Answer

If a school does have a kindergarten program, a child is eligible for admission if the child reaches five years of age before September 1 of the current year. However, A.R.S. §15-821(C) allows a charter school to admit a student, who reaches five years of age by January 1 if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child. Because each situation is unique, parents should contact the charter school of their choice to determine the school’s policy.

Operations

How do I view a charter holder’s public file?

Answer

The charter holder’s public file is available for public inspection at the Board’s office located at 1616 W. Adams Street, Suite 170 in Phoenix. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for State holidays. No appointment is required.

I do not agree with some of the charter school’s policies regarding bullying, disciplinary actions, and/or other policies currently in place at my child’s school. How can I address my concerns?

Answer

Per, A.R.S. §15-183(E)(8), “the charter of a charter school shall ensure that it provides for a governing body for a charter school that is responsible for the policy decisions of the charter school.” As provided in this statute, charter schools are responsible for the development, implementation, enforcement and modification(s) of the policies developed by their board, including outlining the daily operations of the charter school such as: dress code, student discipline, personnel practices, grading practices, discipline appeals, etc.

How do I submit a complaint if I feel discrimination has occurred against my student at a charter school?

Answer

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. If you feel your child has been discriminated against, you may file a complaint with OCR. Learn more about the complaint process with OCR.

What do I do if I have concerns regarding a teacher, principal, and/or other authority figure mistreating my student and/or behaving unprofessionally?

Answer

If the teacher is certificated and you believe that he/she has engaged in unprofessional conduct, you may file a complaint with the State Board of Education Teacher Investigative Unit at (602) 542-2972.

What is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?

Answer

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

How do I complain about violations of Open Meeting Law?

Answer

The Attorney General’s Office has established the Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team (OMLET) to handle inquiries and conduct investigations and enforcement proceedings relating to complaints of violations of Open Meeting Law. Learn more about the complaint process through OMLET.

School Funding

Is there a way to find out online how much state equalization assistance a charter holder received or is expected to receive?

Answer

Information about the amount of state equalization assistance received by a charter holder and when those monies were received during the fiscal year may be reviewed on the Arizona Department of Education’s website. Once on this website, select the charter holder of your choice from the dropdown and press “Go”. Then click on “Reports/Data” (gray box). If you change the “Fiscal Year” to “All Fiscal Years” and change the “System” to “CHAR”, you will be able to review reports for several years. The report you want to review is the “Charter Payments Report (CHAR64-1).

Is there a way to find out online how a charter holder received or is expected to receive in federal grants?

Answer

Grants Management at the Arizona Department of Education provides public access to information for certain federal grants, including budgets and details for each grant. To access this information, please select the “Fiscal Year” and “Entity” and then click on “Show Projects”. Please note that this site does not include monies a charter school may receive through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

Primary tabs

Educational Program

Who do I contact if I have a complaint about the special education program or services at a charter school?

Who do I contact if I have a complaint about the English language learner program or services at a charter school?

Enrollment Practices

My student was previously expelled from another educational institution. Does a charter school have to accept my student?

I would like to send my student to kindergarten but he does not turn five years of age until October and I know the cutoff date for kindergarten is September 1.

Will a charter school accept my student for the upcoming year even though he won’t be five by the cutoff date?

Operations

How do I view a charter holder’s public file?

I do not agree with some of the charter school’s policies regarding bullying, disciplinary actions, and/or other policies currently in place at my child’s school. How can I address my concerns?

How do I submit a complaint if I feel discrimination has occurred against my student at a charter school?

What do I do if I have concerns regarding a teacher, principal, and/or other authority figure mistreating my student and/or behaving unprofessionally?

What is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?

How do I complain about violations of Open Meeting Law?

School Funding

Is there a way to find out online how much state equalization assistance a charter holder received or is expected to receive?

Is there a way to find out online how a charter holder received or is expected to receive in federal grants?

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