Important Note:

Black families, friends, colleagues, educators, etc. - our hearts are broken. We are deeply saddened. We want you to know that we stand with you. We are listening. We want to learn from you and share your stories. As those deeply interested in education, we want to be a part of teaching children about racism and changing history alongside you. 

Today, we want you to know you are not alone. We love you and support you. And we could not post about anything else without addressing this first. 

Sincerely,  

The Staff at Environmentalists for Effective Education

Today’s Blog - A $100,000,000 bill; WHO WILL PAY?

Have you seen the articles? Across the country, there are reports of teacher and non-educational staff layoffs as the states try to squeeze every last penny out of their budgets. But here’s another financial concern for schools that’s not getting enough attention. Budgets aren’t just being cut... 

Public schools may need hundreds of millions over their normal annual budgets due to new students suddenly enrolling.

Public school enrollment across the country is about to change because public schools aren’t alone in their budget issues. Take for example, North Carolina, where currently over 100,000 K-12 students are enrolled in almost 900 private schools. Private schools depend on enrollment to make their own budgets, and right now, private schools in North Carolina are reporting re-enrollment shortfalls of 15% to 20%. 

In North Carolina, parents of children attending private schools were already making major sacrifices to keep their children in those schools. This sacrifice was worth it to compliment the needs of their child or the values of the family, but many of these parents are now unemployed. Most of the shortfall are children who will show up as new enrollees in public schools when August rolls around.

Based on N.C. Fiscal Research Division figures, NC public schools will need more than $100 million extra next year to educate students coming from private schools to public schools. If the state is fortunate, some of the private-school families will choose to homeschool next year. In a recent USA Today poll, 30% of families polled were considering homeschooling, and that would cost the state nothing. Still, recent viral internet videos and memes make it clear that homeschooling is not will not be the choice for every family. With this new data in NC, lawmakers have begun discussing potential solutions. Will other states follow suit? No state leader should plan for a $100 million problem to fix itself while cutting needed funding. Way more students and way fewer teachers sounds like a terrible idea for 2021.