Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s newly elected mayor, has an impressive background as a former teacher and teacher’s union organizer. His campaign centered around reforming the Chicago Public Schools funding formula, which currently distributes funds on a per-student basis. Additionally, he is against the closure of smaller schools.
Instead of shutting down small schools, experts suggest a different approach. According to Nader Issa, Lauren FitzPatrick, and Sarah Karp’s report in The Sun-Times, these schools should be allowed to remain small but should develop unique curriculums with more community involvement. This could involve implementing project-based learning or sharing resources like art, music, and sports teams among nearby schools.
However, maintaining small schools can be costly. Each school requires its own administration and facilities, and the lower the student population, the higher the cost per pupil. Furthermore, certain areas and academic disciplines are experiencing teacher shortages, exacerbating the challenges faced by small schools. Additionally, districts across the country are grappling with a budget crunch as pandemic relief funding comes to an end.
When asked about successful approaches to declining enrollment, Stanford economist Dee couldn’t think of any notable examples. This highlights the difficulties faced in education policy. The repercussions of the pandemic are still being felt in K-12 education, with issues such as mental health struggles and increased absenteeism. Declining school enrollment adds another layer to the already significant educational setbacks experienced by children in America.
Unfortunately, the most vulnerable children, who have the least choices, stand to lose the most as school enrollments decline. There is a concern that even states supportive of public education may see voters turning against major funding initiatives due to aging populations. However, Vermont offers a glimmer of hope, as it recently approved the largest year-over-year increase in education spending in five years, with a focus on addressing students’ mental health needs.
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