Enrollment drop sparks concerns from Oklahoma education officials

Public school enrollment has dropped in Oklahoma for the first time in 19 years, with 75% of the decrease attributed to fewer pre-K and kindergarten students, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Data shows 4,734 fewer pre-K students and 2,381 fewer kindergarteners enrolled in 2020-21 than in 2019-20. This decrease suggests parents are choosing to delay the entry of their 4- and 5-year-olds into school, officials said.

“This pandemic has presented a multitude of challenges, and lower early childhood enrollment numbers tell us we will need to heighten our focus on early learning opportunities and strategic interventions to ensure these children have the prerequisite skills needed for reading and math,” State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said.

Washington County public schools saw a decrease in pre-K and kindergarten enrollment to 1,100 students from 1,166 the previous year.

Read more: https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/story/news/2021/01/09/pre-k-kindergarten-enrollment-drops-oklahoma-education-officials-concerned/6594909002/
(Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise)