Across the country, public school enrollment is declining. So one would think school districts would be pushing to make enrollment as seamless and welcoming as possible. But in our work supporting hundreds of families through the enrollment process, we’ve found the opposite. Instead, too many school districts approach enrollment with a “Gatekeeper” mentality that seems designed to keep families out, instead of bringing them in.
Today we're releasing From Gatekeepers to Greeters: How to Make School Enrollment Work Better for Families and Districts, which explores how district leaders could shift toward an enrollment approach that prioritizes welcoming families—and why they should bother.
Our Navigators observe that in 7 out of 9 districts where we regularly support families with enrollment, families frequently or almost always experience a range of barriers, such as:
- Cumbersome processes laden with extra steps;
- Glitchy technology;
- Delays and inconsistencies;
- A widespread lack of language accessibility; and more.
These challenges are a pain for all families, but for families who are already vulnerable to educational barriers—such as newcomers, those experiencing homelessness, and families of students with disabilities—they can mean weeks or months of missed learning and essential services.
Enrollment may never be effortless, but it doesn't have to be this hard. Read on to find out what a better approach to enrollment could look like, and meet two school districts that are making it a reality.
Is your school a Greeter or a Gatekeeper?
Use this quick self-assessment tool to get a high-level view of your district's enrollment process and start to identify areas for improvement.
