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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Declining K–12 enrollment is often framed as a crisis. 🧵

static.klipy.com

Spongebob y Patricio en Caos

ALT: Spongebob y Patricio en Caos

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

I spoke with Tarina Mehta about how property values continue to drive education funding inequalities in California, creating sharp disparities in teacher labor markets in some regions like Napa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/10/23/s...

pressdemocrat.com

How this small Napa County district pays teachers $50,000 more than its neighbors — and why the gap keeps growing

A new study shows California’s funding system lets wealthy “basic aid” districts like St. Helena Unified outspend neighbors such as Napa Valley Unified by tens of thousands per student, widening pa…

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Nice to see a district engaging the community on how to reuse vacant school sites after downsizing due to enrollment declines. San Antonio ISD says the goal is to “transform these underutilized spaces into productive assets that benefit surrounding neighborhoods.” www.expressnews.com/news/educati...

expressnews.com

SAISD seeking proposals to repurpose closed school buildings, campuses

Applicants have until Oct. 17 to submit ideas for new functions at district properties.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

I'm pleased to share a new report I coauthored with @bellwetherorg.bsky.social's Sophie Zamarripa and @edpolicyinca.org's @agallagheredpolicy.bsky.social, sharing findings from the first major study of basic aid districts since LCFF was enacted in California. edpolicyinca.org/publications... (1/6)

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

One more reason K-12 schools need to be watching immigration trends closely: "In a negative-immigration world, the under-18 population would quickly fall." The US Population Could Shrink in 2025, For the First Time Ever www.derekthompson.org/p/the-us-pop...

derekthompson.org

The US Population Could Shrink in 2025, For the First Time Ever

It's a story with massive economic and political significance. But it's receiving strangely little attention.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Balanced, insightful take by @latimes.com Howard Blume on enrollment decline in LAUSD, drawing upon new data from Los Angeles nonprofit GPSN on what steeply plummeting enrollment means for LA schools, students, and families.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Make the data matter. When districts see benefits (or consequences) to what they're reporting -- and when they don't feel like they're uploading information into a black hole -- data quality will improve.

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Brown's Promise @brownspromise.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Low-income communities and communities of color do not have to be devastated by school closures. There’s a better way: Equity-centered whole-school magnet programs that boost enrollment AND diversity. We partnered with the good folks at ‪@tcfdotorg.bsky.social‬ to map out how 🧵👇

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

🚨 NEW! 🚨 Bellwether analyzed data from over 9,300 school districts across the country to explore warning signs of coming school closures. From Christine Dickason, Paul Beach, Carrie Hahnel, and Andy Jacob. bellwether.org/publications...

bellwether.org

Systems Under Strain: Warning Signs of a Nationwide School Closure Surge | Bellwether

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Christine Dickason, PhD @christinedickason.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

New analysis from me, Paul Beach, @carriehahnel.bsky.social, & Andy Jacob on several leading indicators that suggest school closures may become more frequent. #edusky ➡️ The analysis: bellwether.org/publications... 📰 K-12 Dive coverage @annamerod.bsky.social: www.k12dive.com/news/school-...

k12dive.com

Bellwether warns of school closures, consolidations ahead

The nonprofit's analysis suggests enrollment declines may have cost the nation's 100 largest districts $5.2 billion.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Excellent reporting on the consequences of declining enrollment and district leaders' reluctance to make tough decisions.

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Christine Dickason, PhD @christinedickason.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

As federal support for English learners wanes, states have an opportunity - and responsibility - to lead. We lay out concrete actions states can take now to support English learners in the midst of a swiftly changing federal landscape. Read here: bellwether.org/publications... #EdPolicy #ELs

bellwether.org

Federal Policy on English Learners: Early Actions for States in Response to Recent Changes | Bellwether

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

If bilingual education can thrive in Texas, it should also be possible in deep blue California. Great story from @edsource.org showing what's possible and what it would take to get there. edsource.org?page_id=730896

edsource.org

Why Texas is ahead of California on bilingual education

Texas enrolls its English learners in bilingual education at more than double the rate of California.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Change is coming to California’s schools as enrollment falls. Will district leaders put off tough choices or lead the way? Bellwether's new toolkit provides research-backed strategies for school systems facing declining enrollment. bellwether.org/publications...

bellwether.org

Navigating Declining Enrollment: A Toolkit for California District Leaders to Design Stronger Schools and Systems | Bellwether

California’s K-12 enrollment is projected to decline for the next two decades due to lower birth rates, reduced immigration, and out-of-state migration. With fewer students, school districts will rece...

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Portland Public Schools faces a tricky dilemma: whether to advance a costly bond to modernize high school facilities while enrollment is expected to drop steeply in the coming years. Will there be enough students to fill those high schools? Great reporting from Joanna Hou.

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

PACE @edpolicyinca.org · 12/03/2025

School closures are a tough reality yet thoughtful planning can help ensure value and equity in the process. @carriehahnel.bsky.social, PACE Sr. Policy & Research Fellow / Bellwether Sr. Associate Partner in Policy & Evaluation, shares key strategies. districtadministration.com/article/how-... (1/4)

districtadministration.com

How are K12 superintendents addressing looming school closures?

Three districts have discussed possible closures in the past week. Here's how their respective leaders are communicating their plans.

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Reposted by Carrie Hahnel

Christine Dickason, PhD @christinedickason.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Reforming how a state funds its higher ed institutions is hard and important work. Perhaps no one knows this better than #highered leaders in IL, who are working to pass a new funding formula that focuses on adequacy & equity. Read my new Q&A w/some of these leaders. bellwether.org/blog/dollars...

bellwether.org

Dollars and Degrees: Perspectives From the Field — Spotlight on Illinois | Bellwether

As states grapple with how to fund colleges and universities in an equitable and sustainable way, several are revising their higher education funding formulas. These formulas — a primary mechanism by ...

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Grateful for local reporters tackling issues like inequitable school property taxes. I spoke with Tarini Mehta @northbaynews.bsky.social on why California "basic aid" districts like wealthy St. Helena vastly outspend needier neighbors like Napa Valley: www.pressdemocrat.com/article/napa...

pressdemocrat.com

Why does St. Helena Unified spend nearly 3 times as much as Napa school district per student?

Calistoga Joint Unified and St. Helena Unified are basic aid or community funded school districts while Napa Valley Unified depends on a combination of state aid and local property taxes.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Inspired by today's conversation about an education civil rights agenda for California's next quarter century. Was awesome to be in a room with so many researchers, advocates, and civil rights greats like Tom Saenz, Patricia Gandara, Mark Rosenblum, Maria Echaveste, and my old prof Gary Orfield.

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I enjoyed speaking with Carolyn Jones @calmatters.org about California's steep declining enrollment, state budget uncertainties, and impending school closures. calmatters.org/education/k-...

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Carrie Hahnel @carriehahnel.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Hi BlueSky! I'm a Sr Associate Partner at Bellwether, where I conduct research and advise on education policy. Things I'm passionate about these days: K12 and postsecondary finance, declining enrollment, school closures, system redesign, protecting marginalized youth, building abundance.

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