How many students will go back to school?

A question many school leaders don't have the answer to.

View this email online Juanmonino/Getty Images Happy Sunday, Buckle up — August is here, which means school leaders are knee-deep in back-to-school prep. This year, part of that preparation is just getting students back into school buildings. A lot of schools aren’t sure how many students to expect, after enrollment fell in many places last year. And part of their job this summer is winning back families who are hesitant about sending their kids to in-person classes.   Some families are anxious about old ventilation systems and how well schools will enforce social distancing. Many parents of younger students are concerned because their children can't be vaccinated yet. School leaders, meanwhile, are worried those who stay home will miss out on important social-emotional and academic development. Now, some districts are getting creative to try to build trust with hesitant families. Stephanie Elizalde, head of the Austin Independent School District, has been knocking on doors in her community, trying to get residents with school-aged children to register for fall in-person classes. When parents ask what school is going to look like in the fall, Elizalde says she shows them video clips on her phone of the classroom set-up. "We're able to actually show parents, and have the conversation right then and there," she explains.  One of the biggest question marks for school leaders like Elizalde is how many of the youngest students will show up for school in the fall. Last year, public school enrollment dipped across the board, and the youngest grades saw the largest changes: Kindergarten enrollment fell 9%, and pre-K enrollment fell 22%. Today, school leaders and researchers have two big questions: “Are we expecting those kids to return this fall? And if so, what is that going to do to this next cohort?" asks Beth Tarasawa, executive vice president of research at the education nonprofit Northwest Evaluation Association. Districts say it’s too soon to tell if they’ll see a boost in Kindergarten numbers — but one thing is clear: Students did lots of different things last year, and they’ll be coming into school with a wide range of skills. How are things looking where you live? Click here to talk to us. — Clare Lombardo, NPR Ed Reporter and Sneha Dey, NPR Ed Intern    Let’s get into some news from this week… The CDC recommends that all teachers, staff and students of K-12 schools wear masks, even if they are vaccinated. The pressure on the CDC to adopt a universal masking policy in schools has been growing. School administrators don't have the resources to monitor who has been vaccinated or not, says Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Oregon Health & Science University. And, absent universal masking, kids will be left unprotected — or may be tempted to take off their masks. "I worry that some students will be singled out for wearing masks at school, and this can lead to bullying and peer pressure to unmask, even when it's not safe to do so," Guzman-Cottrill said. Read more here. — Allison Aubrey, NPR Science Desk Correspondent Newsletter continues after sponsor message Back-to-school spending is on track to reach a record high. Nothing says a new school year like a fresh first-day-of-school outfit. And this year, families are splurging on clothes and electronics. The industry is watching back-to-school shopping as a key bellwether for economic recovery, after department stores and clothing stores had a disastrous 2020. Read more here. — Alina Selyukh, NPR Business Desk Correspondent  After a years-long legal battle with the maker of the rifle used in the Sandy Hook shooting, some of the victims' families are deliberating over a settlement offer. The $33 million offer falls far short of what families have previously said they expected. In court documents earlier this year, they argued that wrongful death settlements could reach $225 million and expected total punitive claims could exceed $1 billion. The offer this week would distribute only about $3.7 million to each family. Read more here. — Vanessa Romo, NPR News Desk Reporter   And before you go, something to make you nostalgic… Courtesy of © 2020 WGBH Educational Foundation Say farewell to Arthur, the longest-running kids animated series in history. The show announced this week that its coming to an end in early 2022, after its 25th and final season. Hold your Arthur fist back, though: America’s favorite talking aardvark will continue to be available on PBS KIDS. Read more here. See you next week. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? 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