Pandemic-Learned Measures for Engaging Families

In a quest for relevance, regional accrediting bodies move away from counting school library books to plotting paths for continuous growth

The last 18 months in public education have been nothing short of unprecedented. In spite of the infusion of marked federal stimulus funding and significant vaccination rates, numerous challenges will compel new and creative solutions in our educational system. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the wide variation in economic and health conditions nationwide, has prompted ongoing concerns related to opening a new school year.

For school communities fortunate enough to be safe and secure, access to devices and reliable internet have been a continued area of emphasis. By this fall, schools had shifted from fully remote to hybrid to in-person and then cycled back into different options given local conditions and parental demands. The magnitude of the challenges cannot be overstated. As such, it is not difficult to imagine families considering other options for school-age children during these volatile times.

From pandemic pods to homeschooling to gap years, attracting and retaining families has been a unique challenge during the pandemic. Student enrollment has declined at record levels, particularly among the youngest learners, as evidenced in California where the 2020-21 year ended with a 3 percent reduction in total enrollment — a full third of which consisted of missing kindergartners.

Montgomery County, Md., one of the nation’s biggest school districts, experienced a drop in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten enrollment last fall, contributing to the loss of about 4,700 students, or nearly 3 percent of district enrollment.

A recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau found homeschooling rates doubled during the pandemic. According to some surveys, as many as a third of families indicate they intend to continue with remote learning.

Finding ways to connect, engage and inspire our students, while reassuring our families, is the best path forward for public school leaders. Coming out of pandemic-fueled uncertainty and volatility, how can school district leaders and principals strengthen connectedness with families to best attract, retain and serve students?