SOSSS is committed to evidence‑based advocacy. Our work is grounded in national research, county planning documents, and MCPS policy requirements.
The research is clear. Strong communities require strong public schools. Potential closures should be carefully evaluated using modern techniques of avoidance where possible and modernized factors and analysis where closure processes are necessary.
School closure processes require transparent, data‑driven decisionmaking, with meaningful community engagement and input. Most importantly, the well-being of students forced to relocate must be protected.
Research
- The Fiscal Consequences of School Closures in California: Evidence from a Statewide Synthetic Difference-in-Differences Design | May 2026 – Stanford University
- Research reviewing almost a decade of closing schools in California shows that school closures do not improve district finances and often accelerate enrollment loss
- What the Research Says About the Effects of School Closures | Advancement Project
- Navigating Declining Enrollment | April 2025 – Bellwether
- Stop Closing Public Schools: Action Kit | Advancement Project
- CHANGING THE NARRATIVE on School Closures: How School Board Members Can Combat Misinformation and Champion Local Public Schools | Advancement Project
OpEds and Outreach
- Opinion: Here’s what MCPS must demonstrate before closing a school | 9/30/26 – Bethesda Magazine
- Why MCPS’s New Consolidation Plan Raises Serious Concerns for Montgomery County Families – Montgomery Perspective | 9/29/26 – Montgomery Perspective
- Community Engagement Letter to MCPS & BOE | 9/28/26
- Memo to MCPS and Flo Analytics: Criteria for modernization of the closure process and other recommendations | 9/17/26
