There is a lot to be frustrated about as 2021 concludes. Some places are back in lockdown over rising coronavirus cases, while others are re-imposing previous restrictions and introducing new ones—including my city. 

But at this joyful time of the year, I choose to be optimistic and focus on all the good things happening right now, particularly in the world of education. 

Here are 4 positive educational trends to celebrate: 

1. Government-run schools are losing students

An in-depth NPR analysis published this month revealed that many public schools are seeing declining enrollment for the second year in a row. The dip was understandable during the 2020/2021 academic year, as many schools remained closed, but this year's continued decline is striking. Many of these students left their district school for homeschooling, private and parochial schools, and charter schools, or their parents delayed their kindergarten entry. Microschool networks are also booming now with an influx of new students.