Melissa Figueira, with the education policy organization Advance Illinois, said Illinois has seen an estimated drop in enrollment of 35,822 students, or 1.9% drop from the prior year’s enrollment. Kindergarten through third grade saw the steepest decline, as much as 20% to 50% in some areas of the state.
It would be interesting to see if the drop in students is simply a function of population decline, or if a substantial percentage of parents are rejecting public education for their young children, especially those just starting school.
50% declines in elementary school in places downstate is probably a combination of lower fertility rates this decade and parents leaving completely. Home schooling is a thing but not as big as people make it out to be.
debtsor
5 years ago
Young families fleeing the state’s lockdown measures.
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
It would be interesting to see if the drop in students is simply a function of population decline, or if a substantial percentage of parents are rejecting public education for their young children, especially those just starting school.
50% declines in elementary school in places downstate is probably a combination of lower fertility rates this decade and parents leaving completely. Home schooling is a thing but not as big as people make it out to be.
Young families fleeing the state’s lockdown measures.
Good job, jag boy!