The answer may more directly resonate to utilizing personnel resources more effectively. The report speaks volumes for what the future may portend for America's schools. It has considered a variety of data-current and future populations in the world, U.S. population dynamics and changes, ideas of how schools may or may not change in relation to population changes, and implications for schools and school leaders. Each of the 200-plus nations is represented in the U.S. population. The next Census will add to the complexity about racial identity, as more than one racial and ethnic category can be listed, causing a major reporting headache for schools.
Education remains at the forefront of state and federal policy discussions.
For all our efforts, unfortunately, the long-range decisions we make for schools today might have no application for schools 20 or even 10 years from now. Therefore, we must prepare ALL students to meet high standards. We must recognize and find strategies for dealing with economic disparities among students, not just racial differences. Perhaps we should not rush to build schools without examining demographic trends. We must re-examine priorities.