The Seattle Times’ Education Lab examines the educational system from early childhood through post-secondary. Education Lab is supported by Gates Foundation, Ballmer Group and The Norcliffe Foundation, with Seattle Foundation as fiscal sponsor. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over all its coverage. Subscribe to Ed Lab’s free, weekly newsletter .

Seattle Public Schools is once again considering closing schools and merging them with others as the district faces declining student enrollment and budget issues.

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner announced the plan — framing it as a series of “mergers” rather than “closures” — in his weekly newsletter to families Sunday. He said discussions about which schools will close and which schools will receive new students will be a monthslong process.…