| Title: |
Texas Charter Growth and Special Education: Insights from Major Cities and Large CMOs |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
David E. DeMatthews; Jinseok Shin; Pedro Reyes; Laura G. Torres; Daniel Geist; Texas Education Research Center |
| Source: |
Texas Education Research Center. 2026. |
| Availability: |
Texas Education Research Center. University of Texas at Austin, Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg #137 TCB, Rm 1.143A, L4500, Austin, TX 78758; Tel: 512-471-4528; Web site: https://texaserc.utexas.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
18 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: |
Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: |
Charter Schools; Special Education; Urban Schools; Students with Disabilities; Enrollment Trends; Public Schools; School Districts; Educational Finance; Expenditure per Student; Elementary Secondary Education |
| Geographic Terms: |
Texas (Austin); Texas (Dallas); Texas (El Paso); Texas (Fort Worth); Texas (Houston); Texas (San Antonio) |
| Abstract: |
Charter schools and Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) in Texas are publicly funded but governed by private, non-elected boards and enroll students through open-enrollment rather than geographic assignment. Traditional public schools (TPSs) and Independent School Districts (ISDs) are overseen by locally elected boards and are legally required to serve all students residing within their boundaries. Texas law grants CMOs greater flexibility in governance, staffing, operations, and budgeting. ISDs must meet broader statutory obligations and provide services to every student in their attendance zones. The Texas charter sector has expanded rapidly over the past twenty years. This growth has important implications for the state's constitutional responsibility to maintain an efficient system of public education and ensure full access to special education services for students with disabilities. This report presents statewide and city-level evidence on enrollment patterns, service responsibilities, and spending, with particular attention to large CMOs and large ISDs. [This report was produced with the Texas Education Leadership Lab.] |
| Abstractor: |
ERIC |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED679722 |
| Database: |
ERIC |