Charter schools continue to enroll fewer students with disabilities, report finds

Charter schools enroll significantly fewer students with disabilities than traditional public schools, although students with disabilities at charter schools are more likely to be in general education classrooms, according to a new report by the Center for Learner Equity.

The report is based on the 2020 figures from the federal Education Department’s  Civil Rights Data Collection. It shows that the percentage of students with disabilities in charter schools fell from 10.8% to 10.7% over the past four years, even while overall charter enrollment increased. In traditional public schools, students with disabilities made up 13.3% of the enrollment.

The report also looks at discipline, demographics and other details related to students with disabilities.

“The ability to provide clear data reports about how schools are enrolling and educating students with disabilities is invaluable because it equips everyone with the information needed to make sound and equitable decisions for the future,‘‘ said Lauren Morando Rhim, the Center for Learner Equity’s executive director.