Marin’s schools need housing
Teachers, school staff, and young families are increasingly priced out of Marin — and our schools are paying the price.
Schools are struggling to keep teachers.
High housing costs make it difficult for schools to:
-recruit teachers
-retain experienced educators
-hire support staff
-maintain stable classrooms
Declining enrollment hurts school budgets.
As fewer families with children can afford Marin, enrollment has steadily declined across the county.
Lower enrollment means:
-budget shortfalls
-program cuts
-larger class sizes
-staff layoffs
Student counts have dropped for seven years and are expected to keep dropping. Affordable housing helps stabilize schools by making it possible for more families to remain in Marin.
Housing supports diverse and inclusive schools.
Marin’s student population is far more diverse than its teaching workforce: while 43% of students are students of color, only 11% of teachers and faculty are. High housing costs make it difficult for many educators to live and work in Marin, limiting the diversity of our schools. Research consistently shows that students benefit from having diverse teachers and role models. Black students who have at least one Black teacher are 13% more likely to enroll in college.
Housing policy is education policy.
If teachers, school staff, and families can’t afford to live in Marin, the long-term quality and stability of our schools is at risk.