ST. PAUL, Minn. – Public school enrollment in Minnesota dropped by 17,000 students as the Co-Vid pandemic set in and many families turned to home schooling. The loss was about 2%, the state Department of Education reported. Other factors were family decisions to go with private schools and to delay starting little kids in kindegarten. Because state school funding is based on enrollment, local school districts can expect to lose $10,000 for every student they lose. Local administrators are staking next year’s budgets on a one-time $25 million infusion that Governor Tim Walz has proposed to the Legislature.

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Mary Cathryn, state education commissioner: “Co-Vid has already robbed our students of so many milestones that make school memorable. Now, our schools are potentially facing a huge loss in funding and resources, which will mean schools faced with eliminating learning opportunities and experiences for our students, especially students .”