{"id":14651,"date":"2026-02-12T00:01:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T08:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/?p=14651"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:07:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T20:07:56","slug":"blog-stop-k12-enrollment-decline-family-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/blog\/blog-stop-k12-enrollment-decline-family-communication\/14651\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop the Drop: How family communication stabilizes K-12 enrollment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Written by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/sme-amanda-ensor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amanda Ensor<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enrollment is on everyone\u2019s mind right now, and for good reason. When K-12 enrollment drops, it doesn\u2019t just affect budgets. It affects staffing, programming, school climate, community confidence, and ultimately, the student experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But in our recent EdWeek webinar, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/event.on24.com\/wcc\/r\/5195525\/3DB554DFEB6B9FABE21FACDC7CC347A8\"><b>Stop the Drop: Turn Communication into an Enrollment Booster<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we explored a critical shift in how districts can approach enrollment challenges:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Enrollment isn\u2019t something districts \u201cfix\u201d at registration time. It\u2019s something districts shape all year long\u2014through trust.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together with Aurora Public Schools (CO) Chief Communications Officer, Patti Moon, we unpacked what districts can do right now to strengthen family relationships, build a stronger reputation, and ultimately stabilize enrollment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore three steps to \u201cStop the Drop\u201d \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/event.on24.com\/wcc\/r\/5195525\/3DB554DFEB6B9FABE21FACDC7CC347A8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch the webinar recording<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enrollment is a signal of trust, not just a number<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s easy to treat enrollment as a number, something driven by demographics, housing patterns, or policy shifts. But as TalkingPoints Senior Content &amp; Learning Manager, Amanda Ensor, shared during the webinar, enrollment reflects something deeper:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEnrollment is truly a signal, not just a statistic\u2026 It\u2019s not just about who families are, but it\u2019s really about what families are experiencing.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When families feel confident, they stay. They recommend. They become advocates. When they don\u2019t, enrollment loss doesn\u2019t always happen loudly; it often happens quietly and over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14656 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools.png\" alt=\"enrollment causes\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools.png 960w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How declining enrollment affects districts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The webinar began with one truth: <\/span><b>enrollment impacts everything about schools.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As enrollment declines, districts face ripple effects across:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial stability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staffing and workforce morale<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School culture and climate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Community trust and public perception<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Program access<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family decision-making<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And these impacts aren\u2019t isolated. They compound. When budgets tighten, programs shrink. When programs shrink, families notice. When families lose confidence, enrollment drops further. It\u2019s a cycle districts know too well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families choose schools based on more than academics<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many districts still assume enrollment decisions are driven by performance data. But families aren\u2019t just asking: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is this school \u201cgood\u201d? <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re asking:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will my child be supported here?<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will we feel welcome?<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families make schooling decisions based on experience and perceived value, not just test scores or performance data. That matters even more today, as public confidence in education continues to shift.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the webinar, Amanda shared a striking stat:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNearly two-thirds, 64% of current school parents, think education is on the wrong track.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether or not families feel that way about <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> schools, that national narrative affects what families expect and what they fear. This means districts can\u2019t afford to leave trust-building to chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Enrollment Playbook: Trust \u2192 Reputation \u2192 Enrollment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14657 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-2.png\" alt=\"enrollment causal chain\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-2.png 960w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EdWeek-02.05.26-Stop-the-Drop-TalkingPoints-with-Aurora-Public-Schools-2-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most important ideas from the webinar is this:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Enrollment is not the starting point. It\u2019s the outcome.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TalkingPoints shared a simple framework called the <\/span><b>Enrollment Causal Chain<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which explains how families\u2019 experiences shape long-term enrollment outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Trust comes first. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust is built through everyday interactions\u2014responsiveness, consistency, transparency, respect, and follow-through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Trust becomes reputation. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When families repeatedly experience trust, they share it. Word of mouth spreads. Community conversations shape perception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>And finally, reputation drives enrollment. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the time families enroll, their decision is often already made based on what they\u2019ve heard, seen, and felt over time. As stated, \u201cEnrollment is not the starting point\u2026 It\u2019s the outcome of a longer chain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aurora Public Schools: Navigating shifting K-12 enrollment with intention<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aurora Public Schools serves nearly 40,000 students across 58 schools and is the most diverse district in Colorado. Patti Moon shared that APS has experienced a common but challenging dynamic: sharp enrollment decline in one part of the district while expecting growth in another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led APS through a difficult but necessary planning process, including school closures and repurposing. As Patti shared, \u201cClosing schools is one of the toughest things I think that you do in K-12 work.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But APS also kept equity at the center of the conversation, noting that very small schools can struggle to offer the same programming and supports. \u201cSmall school budgets are not really equitably serving students\u2026 because of scale.\u201d This reminder shifted the narrative slightly, reminding the larger community of the full story behind enrollment outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn how Aurora Public Schools is breaking barriers and improving student outcomes:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/case-study\/aurora-public-schools-is-breaking-barriers-and-improving-student-outcomes\/?utm_medium=content&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_campaign=stop-the-drop\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read their TalkingPoints success story<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small communication moments create big relationship shifts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most powerful takeaways from Patti\u2019s story wasn\u2019t about district strategy. It was about a teacher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She described a staff member who noticed a student was absent, sent a book home with the student\u2019s sibling, and then followed up with a short text exchange with the parent. The parent responded with gratitude and relief because someone noticed, someone cared, and someone offered a clear way to support learning at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt was just a quick\u2026 text message exchange\u2026 but seeing that open this new relationship\u2026 is so powerful.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s what trust looks like. Not a campaign. Not a slogan. Not a districtwide message blast. Just consistent, human connection.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes sustainable family engagement possible?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family engagement is often framed as something districts should \u201cdo more of.\u201d But educators are already doing too much. That\u2019s why the webinar emphasized a key principle from implementation science. \u201cSystems don\u2019t fail because of lack of effort; they fail because conditions don\u2019t support consistent practice.\u201d To make engagement sustainable, districts need the right enablers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dual-level engagement matters<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family engagement must happen both:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In the classroom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where teachers partner with families to support learning<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Around the classroom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where district and school leaders coordinate culture-building and community-wide trust<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital engagement is essential<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The webinar emphasized that in-person engagement is still important, but it isn\u2019t enough. Families live digitally. District communication has to reflect that reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital engagement is essential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patti also highlighted the importance of speed and accessibility, especially when districts want real participation. She shared how APS saw survey response rates increase dramatically when they used quick text outreach with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/family-engagement-foundations\/?utm_medium=content&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_campaign=stop-the-drop\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TalkingPoints<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of relying on email alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Co-creating a district story with families<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most practical strategies discussed in the webinar was the idea of building a shared district narrative <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> families, not just for them. The most credible voice in education is not the institution\u2014it\u2019s the families who experience it every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TalkingPoints shared a guiding question districts can use to begin:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIf families could say one true sentence about our district by the end of the year, what would it be?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That shared \u201cstory sentence\u201d could be something like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMy child is known and supported here.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis district listens and responds.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEvery family belongs.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From there, districts can align communication and staff support around that shared experience\u2014so the story becomes real, consistent, and visible across every school.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aurora\u2019s story: A belief statement shaped by community input<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patti shared how APS went through a major rebrand using community voice to define their district identity. \u201cWe used a lot of community input in thinking about our brand\u2026 because this needs to really truly represent who we are as a district.\u201d And she reminded the audience that even amid hard challenges, schools are filled with moments worth celebrating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSchool is magical every day\u2026 I never want us to lose sight of the magical moments that make what we do such an incredible profession.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That kind of storytelling isn\u2019t fluff; it\u2019s a way of rebuilding pride, connection, and trust.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family engagement improves far more than enrollment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When districts strengthen family relationships, the results extend beyond enrollment into outcomes that matter every day:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stronger attendance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved academic progress<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better educator-family relationships<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased inclusion and access<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stronger school culture and climate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater community confidence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Amanda shared, \u201cRelationships are the leading indicators of system health.\u201d Enrollment stability becomes one of the outcomes, but not the only one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The bottom line: trust is the earliest intervention point. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If enrollment is the outcome, trust is where districts have the most influence. And trust is built through what families experience every day\u2014especially through communication that is clear, consistent, and accessible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust is the earliest intervention point. Trust builds reputation. Reputation drives enrollment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore three steps to \u201cStop the Drop\u201d \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/event.on24.com\/wcc\/r\/5195525\/3DB554DFEB6B9FABE21FACDC7CC347A8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch the webinar recording<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5173\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-300x1.png 300w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line-150x1.png 150w, https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Blue-Line.png 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Celebrating 10 years of partnership and impact<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a decade, TalkingPoints has supported students, families, and educators through the power of effective family-school partnerships. As an education technology nonprofit, our award-winning communication and family engagement platform has improved outcomes for districts and students across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We connect 9 million+ educators, students, and family members annually and have facilitated more than one billion conversations; building trust, fostering relationships, and fueling student success. Named by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsense.org\/education\/best-in-class\/the-best-family-communication-platforms-for-teachers-and-schools\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common Sense Education<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as \u201cthe best overall family communication platform for teachers and schools,\u201d TalkingPoints drives measurable gains in attendance and academic achievement, backed by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/blog\/higher-scores-lower-absenteeism-read-the-research\/10444\/?utm_medium=content&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_campaign=boiler-plate&amp;utm_content=qes-research\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rigorous, causal research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/donate.infinitegiving.com\/talking-points?utm_medium=content&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_campaign=boiler-plate&amp;utm_content=donate-page\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in building a future where every child has the support they need to thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Amanda Ensor Enrollment is on everyone\u2019s mind right now, and for good reason. When K-12 enrollment drops, it doesn\u2019t just affect budgets. It affects staffing, programming, school climate, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":14652,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_daextam_enable_autolinks":"1","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[229,332,226,16,163,27,22],"class_list":["post-14651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-attendance","tag-enrollment","tag-family-and-community-engagement","tag-family-engagement","tag-featured","tag-k12","tag-talkingpoints"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/55"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14651"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14661,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14651\/revisions\/14661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}