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Economists find business pessimism waning; ME faith leaders say growing book bans threaten religious freedom; report finds connection between TX abortion ban and crime spike; OH groups watch debate of new Gaza genocide resolution; NV disability community speaks out on government shutdown impacts; and AZ conservationists work to bring back extinct turtle.

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Watchdogs worry about the national wave of redistricting, as NC professors say they're getting ideological record requests. Trans rights advocates say they'll continue fighting after SCOTUS ruling and the U.S builds up forcers in the Caribbean.

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A voting shift by Virginia's rural Republicans helped Democrats win the November governor's race; Louisiana is adopting new projects to help rural residents adapt to climate change and as Thanksgiving approaches, Indiana is responding to more bird flu.

K-12 enrollment declining in Connecticut schools

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Thursday, January 18, 2024   

School enrollment has declined statewide in Connecticut.

State education data shows between 2018 and 2023, statewide enrollment was down more than 17,000 students. Almost 15,000 kids left during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts noted some parents opted to home-school their kids while others moved away during the pandemic.

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, described what is being done to get kids back into schools.

"What we're trying to really do is outreach and figure out where are the families at," Dias explained. "Do they need additional support? Are there questions? I certainly know in the '21-'22 school year, we started to see families who were concerned about health and safety, and there was a lot of consideration for that."

One challenge is lacking data on where the students are but Dias noted education officials are concentrating on the students still enrolled. A loss of students could lead to teacher allocations being cut. In turn, this would increase class sizes and could lead to teacher burnout. Connecticut is already facing a teacher shortage such changes could only exacerbate.

The decline is a nationwide problem. A report from The 74 Million found schools across the nation are seeing enrollment decline, which in some districts is leading to school closures.

Although Connecticut has not reached that point, Dias suggested getting people to live in the state is the first step to boosting enrollment.

"The idea that there needs to be a recognition that, 'How are we making Connecticut desirable for families to move into?'" Dias emphasized. "Education is a central part of that infrastructure that said, 'Come here. Live here. We support families. We want people in the state of Connecticut.'"

She added the state is working with residents to learn what it will take to keep them in Connecticut. Some improvements would be more affordable housing and better wages.

United Way of Connecticut's latest ALICE Report showed more than half of the most common jobs in the state paid less than $20 an hour, or $40,000 a year, in 2021.


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