California’s K-12 enrollment is projected to decline for the next two decades due to lower birth rates, reduced immigration, and out-of-state migration. With fewer students, school districts will receive less state funding and may be forced to make difficult budget decisions that could include reductions to programs, staff, or schools.  

Those budget adjustments don’t have to mean fewer opportunities for students. Navigating Declining Enrollment: A Toolkit for California District Leaders to Design Stronger Schools and Systems aims to help district leaders approach budget realignment strategically. It offers practical resources and research-based guidance on redesigning school systems to improve student learning in a resource-constrained environment. 

While this toolkit is designed for district leaders and other stakeholders in California, much of the guidance will be useful for leaders who are also combatting declining enrollment in other states.