One-Page Brief
Enrollment & Special Education Analysis
Setting the Record Straight
School Lane Charter School
February 17, 2026
Background
On Feb 3, 2026, SLCS learned through media reports — not direct communication — that it was named in connection with Bensalem Township School District’s (BTSD) financial challenges. Data presented at a Jan 14, 2026 BTSD Business, Facilities & Technology Committee meeting attributed rising costs to charter enrollment and special education spending. SLCS has determined this data to be factually inaccurate.
Key Findings
“58 to 109” Claim is False
District selectively combined single-campus figures from different time periods. Consistent K-12 data shows gradual growth: 230 → 251 → 266 over three years.
“Reclassification for Revenue” is False
Only 30 new evaluations completed independently in 2023-24; independent evaluations have declined each year since. Speech & Language identification dropped 6 percentage points.
SpEd Rate Below Average
SLCS: 18.0% vs. PA state avg: 20.7% vs. BTSD’s own rate: 24.2%. SLCS falls below average of all charter schools serving Bensalem students.
Serves High-Need Students
SLCS currently serves individual students whose annual costs approach $300,000 including tuition, transportation, and related services.
Financial & Funding
BTSD owes SLCS $2,988,664.63 in unpaid tuition through Feb 2026. BTSD is 1 of only 16 out of 500 PA districts that hasn’t submitted the required PDE-363 form (due Nov 1). SLCS has grown ~100 students since 2022-23 and projects record enrollment for 2026-27.
$2.99M OWED
PDE-363 MISSING
+100 STUDENTS
Special Education Trends
Growth driven by three documented factors: post-pandemic evaluation normalization (deferred identification during COVID-19 rebounding nationwide), growing non-Bensalem enrollment (27.3% → 32.5% of total enrollment, many with existing IEPs at no cost to BTSD), and a shift toward higher-complexity needs (Autism Support, Emotional Support, Specialized Learning Support).
+63
+29
+17
DECELERATING GROWTH
Year-over-year SpEd growth has decelerated significantly — inconsistent with any systematic reclassification effort.
Recommendations to BTSD Board
- 1 Issue a public correction acknowledging the January 14 data about SLCS was inaccurate.
- 2 Conduct a formal review of the data sources and methodology used in the January 14 presentation and report findings to the Board.
- 3 Establish an accuracy review protocol requiring verification before any future public statements about specific charter schools.
- 4 Commit to direct communication with SLCS leadership before making public statements about SLCS enrollment or billing.
- 5 Submit the PDE-363 immediately to PDE and provide it to SLCS.