on October 28, 2020
Kids staying home is really bad for the future of the Public School systems.
This is the cycle we are seeing: Sitting in front of a computer for 6 to 8 hours a day, without socialization, makes it difficult for kids to learn what is being taught. Not much is being absorbed, especially in the lower grades. Parents seek alternatives. Schools have seen significant declines as parents transfer their children to private schools or join homeschooling programs. Both these alternatives require withdrawing your children from the public school system. Most public schools are paid based on student attendance. If a student doesn’t sign in on a particular day, that school doesn’t get paid for that student.
As attendance drops because children are pursuing alternative educational opportunities, district revenues are dropping. The loss of revenue is often permanent; once students transition, they often don’t come back.
It is often those students that need the least number of services that leave. Those with significant learning disabilities, those with behavioral problems, those functioning significantly below grade level, and, often, those living in significant poverty, do not fare well in a private school or in a homeschooling setting without significant parental intervention.
The adoption of new technology has also added significant costs. In addition to the technology costs, teachers require additional training and additional pay for deploying the new technology. Some schools are rotating students. Students attend classes M-W and T-Th and every other Friday. Demands for safe classrooms are also increasing classroom costs.