School Closings And Declining Enrollment

Download or read book School Closings and Declining Enrollment written by Ellen Bussard and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To improve parent and citizen involvement in school closing decisions, this guidebook discusses the methods and requirements for effective participation. Chapter one covers the background of school closings and declining enrollment, including national demographic and lifestyle changes and their effects on schools and other institutions. Chapter two lists eight components of successful citizen involvement programs, including appropriate definition of the problem, establishment of priorities, widespread information-sharing and debate, and a cooperative, problem-solving spirit. Different methods of getting involved and various courses of action are described in chapter three, while chapter four notes eight topics, such as enrollment and finances, about which involved citizens will need credible information. The fifth chapter suggests 13 strategies to consider in handling enrollment decline and school closure. Among the suggestions are boundary shifts, curriculum changes, staff sharing, and school space sharing. Chapter six offers ways to ease the transition after a school closes. The summary chapter emphasizes eight key points, including the need for adequate time to involve the community and for school reuse plans. Two appendices provide questions citizens should ask about school property reuse and a list of national citizen-advocacy organizations in education. (RW)