Office for Civil Rights investigates Seminole charter school
SANFORD — A charter school in Seminole County is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights after a complaint alleging the school refused to admit a handicapped student.
The discrimination complaint filed by a prospective kindergarten student's mother charges that the Choices in Learning Charter School in Winter Springs would not accept the girl because she is autistic. Seminole school-district officials were notified last week of the complaint filed last month and the agency's decision to investigate.
The complaint is directed against the school district, aggravating district officials who have little say over the independently operated charter school, which nonetheless under Florida law is considered a Seminole County public school.
"We are responsible for something over which we have no control," School Board Attorney Ned Julian said.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-feds-investigate-seminole-charter-20120526,0,4322977.story
