LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

Enrollment is falling in many schools across the nation, and the ripple effects are showing up everywhere: budget deficits, program cuts, labor tension, and the gut-wrenching necessity in many districts to close schools. We look at the reality many leaders face right now: what do you do when the problem is not temporary, and the student population may not stabilize for decades?

We’re joined by Julien LaFortune of the Public Policy Institute of California, who breaks down the data behind declining enrollment, from lower birth rates to shifting migration and immigration patterns. Funding follows students, so districts often have to shrink their systems even when students need more support, not less.

Then we turn to the lived work of leading through decline with two veteran superintendents: Kyla Johnson-Trammell, former Oakland Unified superintendent, and Roxanne Fuentes, of the Berryessa Union School District in San Jose. They share what school consolidations and closures really require: transparency, long timelines, empathy for community grief, and realistic plans to improve the student experience in their new school settings. We dig into offensive strategies too, like creating specialized programs that will attract families, meeting their after-school needs, and strengthening communication with families.

If you care about the future of public education, school finance, and what happens to communities when enrollment drops, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find Education on the Line.

LISTEN IN YOUR FAVORITE APP