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The Effect of Charter Schools on Identification, Service Provision, and Achievement of Students with Disabilities. Technical Report

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Title: The Effect of Charter Schools on Identification, Service Provision, and Achievement of Students with Disabilities. Technical Report
Language: English
Authors: Scott A. Imberman, Andrew Johnson, National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH)
Source: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 2025.
Availability: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 1555 Poydras Street Suite 700, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel: 870-540-6576; e-mail: info@reachcentered.org; Web site: https://reachcentered.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 97
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305C180025
R305B200009
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Students with Disabilities, Charter Schools, Student Needs, Special Education, Disability Identification, Special Classes, Inclusion, Academic Achievement, Program Effectiveness, Middle School Students, Elementary School Students, Public Schools, Resource Room Programs, Related Services (Special Education)
Geographic Terms: Michigan
Abstract: Students with disabilities (SWDs) encompass a sizable share of charter students and have an array of individualized needs. Charter schools may operate differently than traditional public schools with respect to SWDs and special education (SPED), as funding incentives may induce charter schools to underserve SWDs. Nonetheless, there is little empirical evidence regarding how enrollment in charter schools affects SWDs' educational environments and outcomes. We use data from Michigan to estimate charter impacts using a heterogeneous difference-indifferences model that compares students who enter charters to students who have not yet but will eventually enter charters. We find that charters are slightly more likely to identify students as SWDs after charter entry. While assignments to SPED programs increase comparably, there is a significant reduction and subsequent reversion in time spent in SPED-specific environments and services provided. Despite these changes, SWDs realize achievement and attendance gains after charter entry at similar levels to non-SWDs.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678954
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED678954
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PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: The Effect of Charter Schools on Identification, Service Provision, and Achievement of Students with Disabilities. Technical Report
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scott+A%2E+Imberman%22">Scott A. Imberman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+Johnson%22">Andrew Johnson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22National+Center+for+Research+on+Education+Access+and+Choice+%28REACH%29%22">National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22National+Center+for+Research+on+Education+Access+and+Choice%22"><i>National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice</i></searchLink>. 2025.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
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  Data: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 1555 Poydras Street Suite 700, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel: 870-540-6576; e-mail: info@reachcentered.org; Web site: https://reachcentered.org/
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  Data: Y
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  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 97
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: R305C180025<br />R305B200009
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  Data: Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Charter+Schools%22">Charter Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Education%22">Special Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disability+Identification%22">Disability Identification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Classes%22">Special Classes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+Room+Programs%22">Resource Room Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Related+Services+%28Special+Education%29%22">Related Services (Special Education)</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan%22">Michigan</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Students with disabilities (SWDs) encompass a sizable share of charter students and have an array of individualized needs. Charter schools may operate differently than traditional public schools with respect to SWDs and special education (SPED), as funding incentives may induce charter schools to underserve SWDs. Nonetheless, there is little empirical evidence regarding how enrollment in charter schools affects SWDs' educational environments and outcomes. We use data from Michigan to estimate charter impacts using a heterogeneous difference-indifferences model that compares students who enter charters to students who have not yet but will eventually enter charters. We find that charters are slightly more likely to identify students as SWDs after charter entry. While assignments to SPED programs increase comparably, there is a significant reduction and subsequent reversion in time spent in SPED-specific environments and services provided. Despite these changes, SWDs realize achievement and attendance gains after charter entry at similar levels to non-SWDs.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: Yes
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  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED678954
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678954
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 97
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Charter Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disability Identification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Classes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resource Room Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Related Services (Special Education)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Michigan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Effect of Charter Schools on Identification, Service Provision, and Achievement of Students with Disabilities. Technical Report
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              Y: 2025
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