The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt in industries all across Texas, including small businesses, media and social fields, and – perhaps most important – the public school system.
Many Texas public school districts reported in-person enrollment numbers have nose-dived as parents continue to worry about their children's health and grow frustrated about certain elements of the public school environment. A Texas 2036 report states that enrollment in Texas schools has dropped nearly 250,000 students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week, told Lone Star Standard that this decline in public school enrollment demonstrates parents exercising their right to choose the best learning environment for their children's needs, talents, interests and challenges.
The uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has injected into the K-12 public education system has only accelerated this demand, Campanella said. He noted that there are three distinct groups of families making the switch to different schools and environments. There are those who would have changed regardless of the pandemic, those who are switching because of how their children's school responded to COVID-19 and families that, because of the pandemic, have become more aware of how their children were being educated and wanted to make a change.
"When the world gets back to 'normal,' I anticipate that enrollment in bricks-and-mortar schools will level out a bit," Campanella said. "However, I doubt we will see a decrease in parent support and demand for options. This provides opportunities for all types of schools, including traditional public schools. Innovating and tailoring their programs and offerings to meet the needs of prospective students leads to better choices for families and better outcomes for students."
According to a national poll by Federation for Children, the home-schooling trend isn't going away any time soon. The poll reported 40% of registered voters said they are more likely to home school or virtually school their children after COVID-19 than they were had the pandemic never occurred.
The Texas Home School Coalition reports that between 1997 and 2019, withdrawals from public schools increased 228%, according to Education Daily Wire.
National School Choice Week concluded Jan. 30. Campanella said that the freedom of school choice is all about celebrating, recognizing and raising awareness of all education options, including public, private, charter, online, magnet and home schooling.
"At National School Choice Week, we work to provide families with comprehensive, unbiased information to help them navigate these choices, while shining a positive spotlight on the importance of opportunity in K-12 education," Campanella said.
