Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Compliance Tool

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Compliance Tool


The Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Compliance Tool, developed by the Florida Charter Institute, is a comprehensive self-assessment resource designed to help charter schools evaluate their compliance with federal and state special education laws. Built with a collaborative spirit, the tool guides school teams through key compliance areas such as nondiscrimination, inclusive school culture, MTSS frameworks, IEP development, service delivery, behavioral supports, and transition planning. Rather than a punitive checklist, the tool fosters school-wide reflection, promotes shared responsibility, and supports continuous improvement of ESE programming and outcomes for students with disabilities.

This user-friendly instrument encourages schools to engage a multidisciplinary team—typically including a school leader, an ESE lead, and an MTSS/intervention coordinator—to individually and collectively review their practices. The tool helps clarify complex legal and procedural requirements and provides a structure for schools to document strengths and identify growth areas. Ultimately, it empowers charter schools to align their supports and systems in ways that are student-centered, equity-focused, and legally compliant.

If you would like to learn more about this tool or how to use it at your school or within your portfolio of authorized charter schools, please reach out to Reagan Chalmers at rchalmers@flcharterinstitute.org.


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