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In major cities across the U.S., urban school districts are facing a challenging trend: shrinking student populations leading to under-resourced and ultimately closed schools. Los Angeles USD, for instance, is set to close the Hilda L. Solis Learning Academy this summer due to drastically declining enrollment which has limited educational offerings. Similar situations are unfolding in other urban areas, forcing districts to make tough choices between maintaining numerous underpopulated schools or consolidating resources, which often meets with community resistance. The trend, exacerbated by lower birth rates, migration patterns, and the rise of alternative schooling options, saw urban schools lose about 850,000 students between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years, according to Brookings Institution analysis. This drop in student numbers has led to "hollowed-out" schools—buildings with too few students to justify their operational costs. Although smaller schools can foster a closer-knit educational environment and have historically shown benefits such as higher graduation rates, they struggle with high per-student costs and reduced program diversity. Decisions to close schools are fraught with educational and political difficulties. San Antonio ISD in Texas, for example, plans to close 15 schools next year, a decision driven by the need to distribute educational resources more effectively. These closures highlight broader societal shifts and raise questions about how urban educational systems can adapt to changing demographics without sacrificing quality or community trust.

 

Wall Street Journal

Securing voter support for school bond measures is complex, but strategic community engagement can greatly enhance success rates. Superintendents with experience in obtaining approval for significant bond measures emphasize the necessity of early and ongoing engagement with the community. Key strategies include building trust well before the bond measure appears on the ballot. Superintendents like Kenny Rodrequez from Grandview, Missouri, stress the importance of being actively involved in the community, supporting local events, and establishing a presence that encourages reciprocal support when it’s time to ask for it. Trust-building is essential, especially in today's climate where skepticism towards governmental institutions can run high, as noted by Matt Montgomery from Lake Forest, Illinois. Transparent communication about the specifics of the bond, such as what the money will fund and the tax implications for individuals, is critical. Superintendents suggest creating detailed resources like websites that clearly outline these impacts and hosting forums and Q&A sessions to address community questions and concerns directly. It’s also important to recognize that the voter base includes individuals without school-age children. Demonstrating how improvements to school facilities benefit the entire community can help garner broader support.

 

Education Week News

A new report from the Brookings Institution has found that, two years on from Arizona's universal expansion of its school voucher program, the vouchers are being distributed in disproportionately high numbers to families living in wealthier areas. The Empowerment Scholarship Account program was formerly for select groups like students with disabilities but was expanded in 2022 to include all K-12 students not enrolled in public school. There are currently 77,451 children enrolled in the program. Brookings researchers found, while there were about 20 voucher recipients per 1,000 people in ZIP codes with median incomes of less than $47,404, there were about 74 per 1,000 people in ZIP codes with median incomes higher than $114,968. Senior Brookings fellow Jon Valent said the researchers were interested in understanding who receives the funds in a universal school choice program and if it's "realistically a path to making access to schools more equitable." Chantal Fennell, a spokesperson for EdChoice, a national organization that advocates for school choice policies like Arizona's voucher program, said the Brookings research doesn't reveal information about students' individual circumstances. "We do know that parents are choosing ESAs over public schools for some reason," she added. "This analysis doesn't seem to look at research questions around why." 

 

AZ Central

Brookings Institution

Frisco ISD officials have outlined a fiscal year 2024-25 budget that looks to avoid any program closures despite an anticipated $30.81m shortfall. However, Deputy Superintendent Todd Fouche said the district has sufficient funds to get through another year or two of budget restraints. Officials are expecting to pull $7 million out of FISD’s total $77m reserves for fiscal 2023-24, with an additional $9m to be pulled from the fund for the 2024-25 budget. Frisco is not the only Texas district facing a budget shortfall in the year ahead; a survey by the Texas Association of School Business Officials found that 57% of districts are anticipating budget cuts and using its reserve fund balance to balance budgets for fiscal year 2024-25. Ten percent are expecting a balanced budget.

 

Community Impact

A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a narrow preliminary injunction preventing the state from disciplining two high school teachers for discussing critical race theory in the classroom. However, the broader enforcement of the state's ban on “indoctrination” remains in effect. The ruling was part of a legal challenge initiated by two teachers and two students at Little Rock Central High School, a historic site of the 1957 desegregation crisis. Judge Lee Rudofsky's decision clarified that while Arkansas' education law, signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, does not prohibit teaching or mentioning critical race theory, it restricts teachers from compelling students to accept any theory or ideology. The ruling ensures that teachers can engage in discussions about critical race theory without facing disciplinary actions based solely on the content of their teachings. Both parties involved in the lawsuit have claimed the decision as a victory. The state's Attorney General, Tim Griffin, stated that the ruling aligns with his stance that the law does not prevent teaching about America's racial history. Meanwhile, representatives for the plaintiffs view the decision as a significant step in challenging what they perceive as censorship in education.

 

Education Week News

In Shenandoah County, Virginia, a school board will soon decide whether to restore Confederate names to two local schools, a move that would mark a reversal from decisions made nationwide over the past few years. The board previously voted in 2020 to rename Stonewall Jackson High School to Mountain View High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary to Honey Run Elementary, distancing from the schools' Confederate-linked pasts. This potential reversal follows a request from a local conservative group, Coalition for Better Schools, which argues that the reinstatement of the old names is crucial to preserving the community's heritage. The group's proposal comes after conducting surveys that reportedly showed strong support for the return to the Confederate names. However, there is significant opposition, including a petition led by a local resident and former student, Sarah Kohrs, which has gathered 687 signatures to maintain the current school names. Kohrs, whose children attend the schools, stresses the importance of not linking their education to Confederate figures. The school board, now with a more conservative composition, faces a divisive vote with implications for the community's values and historical narrative.

 

U.S. News

The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill that mandates a readiness test for first graders who did not attend kindergarten, starting in the 2025-26 school year. This initiative, championed by Rep. Pebblin Warren, aims to enhance early education and reduce future retention rates. The measure, part of efforts to meet third-grade literacy requirements, will initially assess students without barring their entry to first grade but will require additional support for those who perform poorly. The bill's passage follows a prolonged legislative process, reflecting a statewide commitment to strengthening foundational learning outcomes. Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to sign the bill into law, marking a significant step in Alabama's educational reform.

 

AL.com

California voters will soon determine whether high school students must take a semester-long personal finance course. The California Personal Finance Act, if passed in November, would mandate financial literacy education starting with the class of 2030, covering essential topics like budgeting, taxes, and investing. The move, spearheaded by Tim Ranzetta of a personal finance education nonprofit, aims to bridge the substantial knowledge gap many young Californians face in managing personal finances. This issue is underscored by the state's high average credit card debt and significant student loan default rates. While there is strong public support for such education—evidenced by a 2022 survey showing 90% approval—the method of integrating this requirement via a ballot initiative has raised concerns. Critics argue that curriculum decisions should remain within the educational system, guided by experts rather than voters. This approach bypasses the traditional, rigorous review process typically overseen by the Instructional Quality Commission and the State Board of Education.

 

The 74

Dozens of Houston ISD teachers are being laid off, although the job losses are not related to a $450m budget gap, according to district leaders. At Herod Elementary, parents say around a dozen teachers are out of a job. Other parents at another campus, Briargrove Elementary School, said about a dozen teachers were also told they're out of a job. On Thursday, school leaders would not confirm the numbers. HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said: "I don't have any hard numbers today. We'll have firmer numbers in a couple of weeks." Miles said it is not about money but performance. He said if teachers are not asked to come back, the positions will be filled.

 

KTRK-TV

Teachers in the Cedar Rapids Community School District will receive a 3% base wage increase for the 2024-25 school year. The increase comes as part of an agreement between the Cedar Rapids Education Association and school officials. The agreement will cost the district nearly $3m, bringing the total cost of all teacher salaries to $101.7m. In addition, the district is offering a one-time incentive of $1,000 to employees who submit a resignation or signed contract within seven days.

 

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to reactivate an executive order waiving certain university application requirements for Jewish transfer students. He will also approve almost $600m towards school safety initiatives and over $300m in new construction and research projects at the University of Florida. The executive order was initially issued in response to a spike in antisemitic acts following a terrorist attack. DeSantis aims to ensure that these students have access to higher education. Additionally, he will allocate $20m to enhance safety measures at Jewish Day Schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. K-12 student safety will receive nearly $570m in funding, which will be used for measures such as school hardening, police dog presence, mental health awareness and school guardian programs. Furthermore, DeSantis will approve $75m for a new graduate campus at the University of Florida in Jacksonville and $80m for the continued construction of the Florida Semiconductor Institute.

 

The Floridian