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District sees modest enrollment decline and rising outplacement costs, staff tell budget committee
Summary
Staff reported a pandemic-era dip in enrollment followed by relative stability; outplacements and capped special-education weightings are reducing per-student funding and contributing to cost pressure, the committee heard.
Staff presented enrollment history and projections, noting a post-pandemic dip of roughly 3.3% and that Portland State University population research center projections had the district close to prior estimates. Assistant Superintendent Stuart Ketzler said the district's enrollment is relatively stable year to year but that outplacements for students with complex needs have increased, which raises costs that are difficult to forecast.
Ketzler explained ADMW (average daily membership weighted) and said special-education weights are capped at 11%, limiting the state funding the district receives for certain IEP-driven costs. "IEPs is the largest ADMW weighting factor," Ketzler said, adding that funding for many IEPs is below full cost because of the cap. Committee members asked how homeschooling and charter options affect counts; staff said homeschooling is an individual family choice and does not receive direct state funding that flows to families, and charter enrollments are tracked but represent less than 1% of district students.
Members asked for demographic and age-band breakdowns from the PRC study to better understand the district's pool of school-age children and to inform long-term budget choices.
