Choice in a Time of COVID: Immediate Enrollment Decisions in New York City and Detroit. Policy Brief

The COVID-19 crisis caused the educational system's sudden and drastic upheaval as parents were forced to decide where their children would attend school and how they would get there. These decisions were complicated by the uncertainty surrounding what type of online or hybrid schooling districts would offer, the health risks of different transportation options, and the vaccine timeline. Families had to weigh the quality of their children's education, the health risks, and the logistics of various schooling options, which could have long-term implications for educational equity and access. The report examines the enrollment trends and student mobility patterns during the 2020-21 school year in New York City and Detroit--two major urban districts with school choice programs. The findings challenge some common assumptions about the pandemic's impact on education and shed light on its long-term implications for access and equity in schooling. [This policy brief was written in collaboration with the Detroit Partnership for Education Equity & Research (Detroit PEER). For the technical report, see ED629591.]