While COVID has made matters worse, schools and districts were already experiencing declining enrollment long before the pandemic. Families who delayed kindergarten starts, homeschooled, sent their kids to private school, or switched to virtual school meant lost revenue for schools and districts whose funding is tied to enrollment. Not to mention declining birth rates in many parts of the U.S. In the post-COVID world, experts predict a continued and increased enrollment decline for public schools, which will create a devastating downward spiral impacting every part of education, including:
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Student academic and non-academic resources
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Shortage of Teachers, their quality, training, and pay rates
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Building infrastructure
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School safety and security
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School technology investment
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Mental health services
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Shortage of School and District leadership
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Extra-curricular activities/sports
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College and career planning
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Graduation rates
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College-goers
Unless we change the trend.
While there are many variables to improving education, it all starts with driving and protecting student enrollment. School funding impacts everything, and its connection to enrollment is the only constant. Today, District and School Leaders have the power to stabilize and even grow their enrollment, leading to higher and more predictable funding.
Take control of your enrollment (and retention) by providing more robust programming for families. If you don’t, your competitors will.