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Students Left Behind:
The Ugly Truth About "Choice"

Students Left Behind:
The Ugly Truth About "Choice"

Charter Schools Don't Choose Students—They Choose Which Students to Keep

How Charters Filter Out "Unwanted" Students:

🚫 Complex applications in English only

🚫 Mandatory parent volunteer hours

🚫 "Counseling out" struggling students

🚫 Harsh discipline for minor infractions

How Charters Filter Out "Unwanted" Students:

🚫 Complex applications in English only

🚫 Mandatory parent volunteer hours

🚫 "Counseling out" struggling students

🚫 Harsh discipline for minor infractions

Who Gets Left Behind:

The Students Charters Don't Want

Students with severe disabilities

English language learners

Kids with behavioral challenges

Kids with behavioral challenges

Children from struggling families

Children from struggling families

The Numbers Are Shocking:

Public schools serve 2X more English learners

In Albany, only 1 of 7 charters serves typical special ed populations

Kids with behavioral challenges

Success Academy was sued for dropping a special needs student at a police station

Where do these kids go? Back to public schools—now with fewer resources.