Rising enrollment plus fewer teachers equals trouble for ND schools - INFORUM
His once-small district of 535 students in Watford City, N. D. , has more than doubled in recent years, mostly from the population growth with the oil boom. Right now, 30 to 40 percent of district teachers are from different states, he said. The state led the nation last year with the fastest-growing population, increasing by 15,625 people since 2013 to a total 739,482, according to the U. S. Census Bureau. 4 percent, based on total births per 1,000 total population--in the nation, including the District of Columbia. The state reported 11,352 births in 2014, up 761 from the previous year, according to the state Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Legislators acknowledged this by increasing per-pupil funding by $165 million to nearly $2 billion for 2015-17. Districts with fast-growing student bodies also have access to an additional $1. 2 million in rapid-growth grants--a total $14. 8... Rapid-growth grants provide less than half of standard per-pupil amounts. In recent years, the state Education Standards and Practice Board also has tried to ease some rules. It's allowed teachers to work in the classroom while preparing for the licensure exam, dropped some requirements for English language learner teachers and provided a shortcut for teachers to teach new content areas, among other changes. Source: www.inforum.com
