VA: Educators, Officials Anticipate Consequences of Enrollment Drops
March 8, 2021
Continuing a trend seen across much of the nation, Virginia’s public school system is grappling with a sharp decline in enrollment numbers, particularly for students entering kindergarten. As many parents chose to delay the start of their child’s kindergarten year to avoid an all-remote setting, schools are bracing for a drop off in students that could have significant implications for school budgets, class sizes, and staffing. Educators say the matter is complicated even further by the fact that most students will need extensive academic interventions when they return to school buildings, and uncertainty around enrollment will only make delivering needed supports more difficult.