Charter Schools Boost Outcomes for All Students

Study finds students with disabilities perform well after switching to charter schools in Michigan

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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A new study from Michigan State University examined students with disabilities in Michigan charter schools and found that when students with disabilities switched from traditional public to charter schools, their academic performance and attendance improved, despite spending less time in intensive special education programs and more time in general education classrooms.

Why it matters

For K-12 students with disabilities, ensuring they receive appropriate support for learning is critical to their success, which can raise questions about the best type of school environment to foster their growth. This research provides important insights into how charter schools may be able to effectively serve students with disabilities.

The details

The study, led by MSU professor Scott Imberman, found that after students with disabilities enrolled in charter schools, their disability classifications increased, suggesting more students were being identified. However, these students saw an increase in time spent in general education classrooms and a decrease in more intensive special education programs. Overall, the researchers found improvements in attendance and academic outcomes for students with and without disabilities after they switched to charter schools.

  • The study examined data from Michigan students in kindergarten through eighth grade between 2013 and 2018.
  • The research was supported by the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH).

The players

Scott Imberman

Professor and chair of the Department of Economics at the College of Social Science at Michigan State University, as well as a professor at the College of Education.

Andrew Johnson

A former doctoral student at Michigan State University who co-authored the study with Imberman.

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What they’re saying

“Educators and parents have worried that charter schools don't provide students with disabilities the educational environment that they need to thrive. This work shows that in Michigan's charters, while it does seem that charters tend to provide fewer special education services, the students with disabilities who enroll see similar improvements in achievement as other charter students.”

— Scott Imberman, Professor and chair of the Department of Economics at the College of Social Science (MSUToday)

What’s next

The findings were not an assessment of what resources best serve students, but rather how resources worked in the context of when students switched school type. Keeping students with disabilities more isolated from their peers could limit opportunities, but it is also important that they receive specialized care. This research calls for policy and examinations into how to achieve this balance.

The takeaway

This study provides important evidence that charter schools can effectively serve students with disabilities, challenging the common perception that they may not be the best environment for these students. The research opens up charter schools as a viable option for parents of students with disabilities who may not have previously considered it.