“2020 Census shows U.S. population grew at slowest pace since the 1930s” is the headline the Washington Post placed over its report of “decreased fertility rates and lagging immigration.”

In the Summer 2019 issue of Education Next (“The Baby Bust Goes to School”), Michael J. Petrilli wrote about the demographic decline and what it might mean for education:

Perhaps there are a few silver linings.

For one, fewer students could mean needing fewer teachers, giving districts a chance to be more selective in those they hire. …

Second, districts faced with school closures could also make smarter choices about which schools get to stay open. …They might also be able to afford to spend more money per pupil, since there will be fewer pupils overall.