A recent Los Angeles Times article sounds the alarm that California school enrollment continues to decline as poor and homeless student numbers rise. In our quest to provide the resources that all youth deserve, New Ways to Work is proud to support Reaching At-Promise Students Association (RAPSA)—an organization that improves the lives of at-promise students through professional development experiences for educators who work with opportunity youth. With its annual forum scheduled for November 3-5, 2025 in San Diego, RAPSA provides a collaborative space for educational leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to learn and share leading- edge efforts to achieve equitable outcomes for At-Promise and Opportunity Youth.
As we take a deeper dive into the startling statistics surrounding California students, research shows that L.A. Unified enrollment has dropped nearly 30% since the 2016-17 school year. This decrease equates to districts receiving less revenue without a corresponding decrease in overhead and staffing costs. With these hurdles in mind, there is a dire need for a safe space for educators, researchers, and policymakers to better understand the complexities of state, local, and federal education policies that impact schools serving At-Promise students. As we look at the complexities of demographic shifts, the RAPSA Forum features insights and effective strategy for advancing education policy that ensures equity, access, and college and career pathways for At-Promise students.
Students who fled public schools at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have yet to return. As we assess the consequences of this absence, we are inspired to continue advocating for safety nets for these Opportunity Youth. With clients like RAPSA, we can strategize and protect the most vulnerable among us. With the fifth largest economy in the world, California’s rapid decline in student enrollment affects more than simply the education system. Instead, it foreshadows the tumultuous times ahead as the traditional pipeline leading to a solid workforce disappears.
Do you know an educator or advocate who should attend RAPSA’s 2025 Annual Forum? Please click here for details.