Switching To Charter School Improved Performance For Michigan Special Education Students

Academic achievement and attendance outcomes improved for students with disabilities (SWDs) and for general education students after they enrolled in charter schools, according to an analysis of data from Michigan elementary and middle school students who enrolled in a charter school between 2013 and 2018.

Math and reading scores improved at a similar rate for both SWDs and general education students after enrolling in a charter school.

In the first year after students enrolled in a charter, absences decreased by 3.3 percentage points, and there was a slight but steady improvement in student attendance.

After switching to a charter . . .