Charter schools seem unable to shake the perception that they don't enroll as many students with special needs  - those who are disabled or who need help learning English, for example - as traditional schools.

Yesterday's [Boston Globe](http://www.boston.com/news/education/k12/articles/2009/08/12/charterschoolslaginservingstudentswithspecialneeds/?page=full)_ spotlights the expansion of charter schools in Massachusetts, but notes the discrepancy in enrollment of special needs students in charter schools as compared to other schools. It reports that  English language learners make up a fifth of the students in the Boston school system, yet they represent only 4% of the students in all but one  charter school. Special education students likewise are underrepresented in Boston charter schools as compared to their traditional counterparts.<!--more-->

Insideschools reported in Maythat charter schools in some New York City neighborhoods are not enrolling a comparable number of disadvantaged students - including English language learners, homeless students, and those with special needs -  as the  local schools in their neighborhoods.

Increasingly, however, we have noted some charter schools are being created to serve students from needy populations.  In Manhattan, both the New York Center for Autism Charter School and Opportunity Charter School, were created with special needs pupils in mind. Mott Haven Academy Charter School, in the Bronx, has a particularly targeted population: it reserves two-thirds of its seats for students in foster care and preventive care.

The latest entrant is on Staten Island. The John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School, which will open this fall, has encouraged applications from students with special needs, especially those classified as emotionally disturbed.  The school is a first for Staten Island. Perhaps this is a precursor of more inclusive charter schools?