Dr. Barbara Hastie’s Post

Urban school closures: A sign of the times 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 The 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. In Texas, San Antonio ISD 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. Stay ahead of the latest news and trends impacting the education world: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dyhRncr8 #education #Students #schoolclosures Sara Randazzo Matt Barnum

“When schools get below a certain size threshold, they start facing these unique challenges that make it hard to deliver a high-quality education.” The Wall Street Journal quotes ERS’ own Joseph Trawick-Smith in this recent piece about the difficult-to-sustain dynamic for urban school districts caused by plummeting enrollment: too many schools for too few students. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/exnj3vBM #EdChat #K12 #SchoolLeaders

"Our current funding formula has not been updated in over thirty years, and does not consider the individual needs of local school districts and students. Alabama needs a student-weighted funding formula that provides flexibility and allows policymakers to address unique community challenges." -Ashley Lucier, Executive Director, Amp Up Arts We believe that every child deserves a world-class education, regardless of circumstance. Read the latest Op-ed by Every Child Alabama member Amp Up Arts to learn how a modernized school funding formula could transform Alabama schools and arts education: https://ow.ly/ejsy50SNpfX

Yes, the politics around public charter schools have become more challenging, especially in the blue-hued cities where most of the media lives and works. But across vast expanses of urban and semi-urban America, and especially in Black and brown communities where charter schools have proven most popular and effective, there’s still plenty of room to grow, and few policy barriers standing in the way.

The impact of mayoral control is something that has been brought up in past episodes. It’s impacted staffing, priorities, the birth and death of initiatives, diversity in schools, space, what we teach and how, and so much more. A lot is hinged on an individual and their allegiances. It’s time to advocate for something new, and something better. Mayoral control of NYC schools is up for extension and there are hearings happening this month and next that are open to the public to share your feedback. Here is the link to see the dates, schools, and links to sign up to testify. You can also submit written testimony. https://lnkd.in/ejfphZDf It’s an important issue to chime in on. We cant get the old system, the current one is flawed. We need something better, and now is a chance to share your ideas and experiences. #nycschools #nycmayor #nyc #mayoralcontrol

Late last month, the Pittsburgh School District received new recommendations from a consulting firm in Boston that will guide their updated Facilities Utilization Plan. The plan dictates how the school district should approach changes to grade configurations throughout schools, consolidation of schools, and the closing of specific school buildings. There is no doubt that this plan will have adverse outcomes for majority Black schools in the city, where students have been historically and systemically disenfranchised and underfunded. Too often concerns like declining enrollment or poor academic achievement will be cited in school closures, with little account given to the racially imbalanced institutional standards that have hampered public education for decades. We demand that the city of Pittsburgh put a plan in place to ensure that relocated students have a guided transition and understand the full reasons for the move. Make your voice heard on potential Pittsburgh school closures and visit bit.ly/pghschools

Attention educators, policymakers, and community members! The Illinois State Board of Education has taken a major stride toward enhancing literacy across all age groups. They have just released a Getting Started Toolkit to accompany the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan. This toolkit serves as a launching pad, guiding you through the intricacies of the literacy plan with ease and clarity. Check it out now to start making a difference in literacy education! Let CLI help you with implementation! https://lnkd.in/g3xvFgPt #LiteracyPlan #EducationReform

Tampa Bay is a haven for homeschoolers. Nearly 11,000 homeschool students live in Hillsborough alone — more than any other school district in Florida. About another 9,000 live in Pasco and Pinellas, according to the most recent numbers from school districts. To understand what’s behind the explosive growth, we spoke with two dozen families from across the region who have chosen to teach their kids at home. Hear how three local families described their decision — and how experts say they fit in with broader trends: https://trib.al/4VWEsPt

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 (𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗗) 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗹. Led by Superintendent Mike Miles, the district is implementing sweeping changes in teaching methods, teacher evaluation, and school spending. This experiment, driven by a state takeover, aims to improve student outcomes, especially for Black and Latino students. While early test scores show promise, critics point to high teacher turnover and financial concerns. The district's future direction will depend on long-term results and community support. This experiment is closely watched by educators nationwide as a 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. https://lnkd.in/gVGeNx3K

Today we celebrate Brown v Board of Education, but our schools are approaching segregation rates we haven’t seen since 1968. This is why new schools, like Madison’s South Elementary— that EQT is proud to have taken part in creating— are vital. It is the same with addressing the history of redlining in Wisconsin. EQT knows we can’t return to the days before Civil Rights, so lets stand tall in defending diversity and investment in our students. https://lnkd.in/gYDh3UTS #EducationEquity