BREAKING: NYC schools are projecting enrollment losses of 30,000 students for this Fall.

Mayor Adams: “We have a massive hemorrhaging of students — massive hemorrhaging."

Over 120,000 students have now left the city's district schools over the last five years.

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

Where have they gone?

-Increase in charter and private school enrollments
-Increase in homeschooling
-New options like micro schooling and virtual increasing in popularity
-Relocations

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

Adams: "We’re in a very dangerous place in the number of students that we are dropping”https://t.co/qiGmJeLu0L

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

It's a shocking loss, but it is only continuing a clear trend.

NYCDOE should have anticipated this because it's been happening for the last 4 years.

2020-21: Lost 43,000 students/4% drophttps://t.co/gpkSQwJzRY

2021-22: Lost 21,000 students/1.9% drophttps://t.co/Z8RhY4ry7H

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

What's the fix?

It's complicated because part of this loss can be attributed to how unaffordable it is now to raise a family in the city.

The closure of city schools also caused many to leave and not look back. In that way, these numbers are a lagging indicator.

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

However, it's clear that many families prefer different options than their local district.

It's why enrollment has surged at these other options (private, charter, homeschool, etc.)

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

Policy Fix: Mayor Eric Adams should allow funding to follow families to their preferred school option.

An education savings account is a great option here. An ESA allow families to spend public funding on their preferred learning option.

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

ESA funds can cover private school tuition and fees, online learning programs, private tutoring, educational therapies, education products (books, Chrome books, etc.), software, and others.

ESA programs operate in Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and others.

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

ESAs are one of the most popular education policies out there.

ESAs are supported by majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. pic.twitter.com/R1JemyvZUl

— Joe Connor (@josephjconnor) July 16, 2022

All this does is make black children look weak. Teaching math, reading, critical thinking and language arts is simple. Aspects of learning may need revamping, but that's not exclusive to a race but to every child. I'm so sick of you all indirectly implying that black kids are https://t.co/IGbLnVwC4X

— Barrington Martin II (@_BarringtonII) July 31, 2022

incapable but hiding it behind social justice/DEI bullsh*t just so you can make an extra dollar off of malleable minds who've bought the fraud that's been pushed on people like them for the last 60+ years. This is some sick sh*t.

— Barrington Martin II (@_BarringtonII) July 31, 2022