Implications of Declining Enrollments for Schools. NAESP School Leadership Digest Second Series, Number 4. ERIC/CEM Research Analysis Series, Number 19.

The first duty of the educator is to forecast enrollments as accurately as possible, using the best means available. The second is to begin planning long in advance of a school closure or major reorganization. Watchwords of successful management for the years of dwindling enrollment are communication and community participation. Communication with teachers, pupils, parents, and anyone else whose interests are affected by the changes to come is crucial to any measure of success. Moreover, the participation of all those affected is essential. It will be necessary to glean their ideas and cooperation to be certain that decisions affecting the community are acceptable to the community. Taken positively, the implications of declining enrollments are that enterprising and creative school administrators will develop better programs as they condense them. They will devise equitable reduction-in-force policies with the teachers' unions and will become even more prominent as public leaders when they unite with community task forces to solve the problems of school closings. (Author)