The Impact of Targeted vs. General Education Investments: Evidence from Special Education and English Language Learners in Boston Charter Schools

This randomized control trial by Elizabeth Setren examines how charter school attendance effects the classification and achievement of English Language Learners and special education students. She finds that charter school attendance increases the likelihood a student will lose their ELL or special education classification and that charter school attendance doubles the likelihood a student previously classified as ELL or special needs will attend college. Setren finds evidence this change is driven by both declassification and exposure to higher-performing general education in Boston’s charter school sector.