Many charter schools lag in enrolling students lacking English fluency
Massachusetts charter schools bill themselves in television ads as golden opportunities for disadvantaged students trapped in failing district schools, but charters often leave behind one of the most challenging student populations to teach: those who lack fluency in English.
As voters decide whether to allow more charter schools, a Globe review has found that the schools enroll English-language learners at much lower rates than those in traditional systems, even as many charter schools have been stepping up efforts to recruit more of the students.
One of the widest enrollment disparities exists in Boston, even though the city boasts one of the largest immigrant populations in the state.
The failure of most charter schools to fully embrace English-language learners draws into question the stellar results many of these schools achieve on state standardized tests. Similar concerns have been raised about whether charter schools serve their fair share of students with disabilities, although the enrollment disparities are not as stark.
During the last school year in Boston, English-language learners made up 13 percent of the combined enrollments at 19 independently run charter schools, the analysis of state enrollment data found. By contrast, students who cannot speak English fluently made up nearly a third of the Boston school system’s enrollment.
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