Charter Schools Deliver Academic Gains for Special Education Students
A major new study from Michigan is turning conventional wisdom on its head. For years, people have debated whether charter schools properly serve students with disabilities. This research provides compelling evidence that many special education students actually perform better academically after moving to charter schools.
Tracking Student Performance Across Michigan
Researchers examined records from over 1.7 million elementary and middle school students in Michigan. They focused on children who transferred from traditional public schools to charter institutions between 2013 and 2018. The team carefully analyzed test scores, attendance patterns, and special education service delivery.
Their goal was straightforward: determine whether charter schools help, hinder, or simply maintain outcomes for students receiving special education support. What they discovered surprised many education experts.
Clear Improvements in Test Scores and Attendance
The study revealed significant academic gains for both special education students and their general education peers. Math and reading scores improved noticeably after students enrolled in charter schools. These positive effects persisted for at least two years following the transition.
Attendance patterns also changed for the better. Absence rates dropped substantially when students moved to charter institutions. This suggests stronger engagement with school life and better connections to the educational environment. Researchers emphasized that children with disabilities experienced academic benefits comparable to those of general education students.
Changing Patterns in Special Education Delivery
The research uncovered interesting shifts in how schools delivered special education services. Students with Individualized Education Plans spent less time in separate special education classrooms after switching to charter schools. Instead, they participated more frequently in general education settings alongside their peers.
Before transferring, these students typically spent about 2.3% of their school day in special education environments. This figure dropped to 1.2% immediately after charter enrollment, though it gradually returned to previous levels by the third year. Despite receiving less intensive support on paper, students demonstrated improved academic performance.
Study author Scott Imberman noted this finding suggests some charter schools might be using particularly effective instructional approaches. These methods deserve closer examination by education researchers and policymakers.
Important Limitations and Considerations
The research also highlighted crucial distinctions about which students benefit most. Charter schools tend to attract students with milder or less complex disabilities. Children requiring expensive, specialized services for severe needs enroll less frequently in these institutions.
This means the positive outcomes may not apply equally to all students with disabilities. Imberman stressed that while charter schools offer valuable options for many families, they often lack resources to support students needing highly intensive therapies or one-to-one assistance.
Ongoing Concerns About Compliance
The study acknowledged several limitations. Researchers relied on IEP records without confirming whether charter schools fully delivered all required services. The analysis also excluded direct feedback from students and families about their experiences.
Concerns about special education compliance persist nationwide. Recent investigations in Chicago and Maryland found charter schools violating special education laws. In Indianapolis, one charter institution reportedly suspended students with disabilities at rates far exceeding state averages.
These issues demonstrate why debates about charter schools and disability services remain complex and multifaceted.
Implications for Families and Education Policy
The Michigan findings suggest charter schools can offer academic benefits for many students with disabilities, particularly when they learn alongside general education peers. At the same time, experts emphasize the need for additional research incorporating student and parent perspectives.
As school choice expands across the United States, this study adds important nuance to ongoing conversations. Charter schools may work well for some students with disabilities, but they certainly don't represent a universal solution for everyone.
