CRPE’s September 2022 brief, “Shifting students: A look at Washington State school enrollment from 2020 to 2022,” found that fewer students were enrolled in the state’s traditional public schools in 2021-22 than 2019-20, while enrollment in private schools, home schools, and public charter schools increased during that time. This accompanying brief provides more detail on the implications of these findings, specifically for the charter sector. It finds that, while Washington’s charter schools reduced offerings during the pandemic, they can now capitalize on their flexibility to meet the new needs of this moment through four suggested actions:
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Offer new school delivery options, especially for older students.
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Provide meaningful coursework and a culturally responsive, student-centered culture.
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Clarify mental health and well-being support to students and staff.
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Redesign teacher recruitment and roles.
The brief summarizes Covid-era learnings on Washington and national stakeholder preferences, and it profiles schools engaged in related strategies nationwide.
