California schools are facing a declining enrollment timebomb that could mean more layoffs, school closures
California schools are facing a declining enrollment timebomb that could mean more layoffs, school closures
- August 2, 2026
- Paul Hanselman, sociology and DASA, gives expert insight in The Orange County Register
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“The big pattern is the Great Recession,” said Paul Hanselman, associate professor of sociology and director of UC Irvine’s Demographic and Social Analysis program. Peak birth rates were seen around 2008, Hanselman said, but have been declining since. “There’s a lot of explanations, but economic explanations in terms of challenges of having kids is a big part of the story, and it doesn’t feel like we’ve gone back,” he said. When looking at enrollment data, a good indication of the declining birth rate can be seen in the number of first graders that begin school in a district each year, Hanselman said. That’s a better indicator than kindergarten, he said, since it’s fairly common for parents to choose a non-traditional public school for their kids for that year.
For the full story, please visit the OC Register.
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