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87, 811. That’s how many students have disappeared from public school rolls in Florida since the pandemic began. 87,811 students who are unaccounted for.
Sure, some of these students transferred to private schools, or their families began homeschooling them. But there's troubling evidence that many, too many, are out of school because they're going without stable housing, internet, computers, enough food.
Families are barely hanging on — and just trying to meet basic needs and stay healthy is its own urgent struggle.
This isn’t just a phenomenon affecting children. Florida’s community colleges have lost between 5 and 10% of their enrollment. Some state universities are seeing a drop in applications, especially from low-income students and students of color.
There’s still so much we're just beginning to understand about what the pandemic has meant for students — and we’re committed to bringing you the latest information and research as it becomes available.
But we do know this: The educational careers of an entire generation are being defined by COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, the ones who already faced the biggest obstacles to success are struggling the most now with these unprecedented challenges.
This is the Class of COVID-19.
Florida Public Media presents: "Class of COVID-19: An Education Crisis for Florida's Vulnerable Students." Listen to the radio special, read the stories and sign up for the newsletter at http://classofcovid.org #ClassOfCOVID
