About the Fellowship

Equitable enrollment and school performance policies help ensure that all children, regardless of their background, can access high-quality educational opportunities. 

SAQ Fellows learn best practices, leverage each other’s knowledge, and problem solve together, gaining the tools necessary to implement more equitable, fair, and efficient enrollment and school performance policies. Through in-person and virtual programming, the Fellowship connects enrollment leaders with academic researchers and policy experts. 

Applications for the 2026–2027 Fellowship will open in early summer 2026.

Learn more about applying!

The programming

Programming focuses on pressing enrollment and school performance topics that are determined by each cohort’s unique interests. The Fellowship includes a range of in-person and virtual programming, including:

Learning objectives

Through our scheduled programming and conversations with one another, Fellows will learn how to:

• better enhance equity through enrollment and school performance policies. 
• effectively engage families and other stakeholders.
• leverage enrollment data to better serve students, families, and schools.
• build trust and collaboration between district and charter schools. 
• address declining enrollment, while keeping an equity-centered focus. 
• develop more equitable and accurate school performance measures.
• make decisions about seat allocation at selective schools.
• advance a more user-friendly enrollment system that is easy for all families to use.

Why enrollment and school performance?

Enrollment leaders face growing challenges: enrollment in public schools nationwide is in decline, students are increasingly disengaged from school, and school access continues to be inequitable. Meanwhile, school quality information is not always accessible, accurate, or equitable. Despite these challenges, enrollment systems present a powerful lever to enhance equity, and leaders need a community of practice now more than ever. 

Many districts have inequitable enrollment systems and lack the knowledge and resources to implement evidence-based policies. Rigorous research on enrollment and school performance policies and successful model initiatives around the country stand to improve school access and education equity for students nationwide. The Fellowship equips Fellows with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the complex landscape of enrollment and develop more equitable systems that help all students and families access schools.