School's In When schools close: Budgets, politics, and the cost to communities
Oct 30, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Francis Pearman, an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education, delves into the complex implications of school closures. He highlights how closures disproportionately affect low-income and minority students, revealing the troubling realities of educational inequity. Pearman discusses the myths of budget savings associated with closures, explaining how they can exacerbate financial and social strains on communities. He also urges for better alternatives that prioritize students' wellbeing and educational opportunities.
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Closures Often Driven By Enrollment Funding
- Districts often close schools for budgetary reasons tied to enrollment-based funding formulas.
- Reduced student counts directly shrink district resources and prompt closure deliberations.
Accountability Made Closures A Policy Tool
- Underperformance became a common closure justification during No Child Left Behind.
- High-stakes accountability introduced closure as a punitive lever for school improvement.
Schools Are Community Anchors
- Schools serve as community hubs beyond academics, embedding networks and historical memory.
- Closing a school functionally reshapes neighborhood institutions and social life.