Future of Learning Top Reads for week of Nov 11 2019

“Report: Tuition revenue growth slows at public, private colleges,” by Jeremy Bauer-Wolf in EducationDive

“The discount rate for first-year students at private universities rose to 51% for fall 2019, which Moody's notes along with flat enrollment will limit net tuition revenue growth.”

Why does this matter to the future of learning?

During my five years as Head of School at Malvern Prep (2012-17), we were fortunate that we were fully enrolled each year while keeping our tuition discount rate below the NAIS average. Admidst that bright financial picture, I still consistently told my Board of Trustees that the only thing that kept me up at night about Malvern’s future was the long-term viability of the independent school financial model.

In retrospect, I should have focused on the long-term viability of the entire private K12-higher ed continuum.

Today, K-5 programs are bleeding enrollment and 6-8 programs face softening demand. Desire for private high school education remains strong, but that may be a function of parents’ belief that the right high school will give their child the best shot to get into a “good” college. As independent school and college tuitions relentlessly rise, some families are going to have to choose which one to invest in.

The consequences of that hard choice will affect the entire system. With a recession likely before the end of 2020, are you prepared?

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“Does it matter WHO writes your recommendation letter for college?” by Jeff Selingo, on LinkedIn

“First, he found math and science teachers at traditional public schools were less positive in their letters than their colleagues in English or social studies.

“Second, recommendation letters written by female teachers and counselors were more positive than those written by their male counterparts, even when they were writing about the same applicant.

“Finally, teachers and counselors, regardless of their gender, write both longer and more positive letters for female applicants than male applicants.”

Why does this matter to the future of learning?

This is less about the future and more about the present tense. Add this to the list of things parents and students need to fret about as they strategize how to get into their college of choice.

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