district Archives

District leaders must adapt to meet changing student mental health and behavioral needs

April 7, 2026 by Brandy Samuell, M. Ed., & Kay Kelly, eLuma

How school systems are building clear, connected ways to respond as student mental health needs and student well-being needs grow.

District leaders across the country are grappling with a deepening crisis: Student mental and behavioral health needs are growing more complex. In a recent national survey, 58 percent…

District Management

Don’t mistake staff voice for a problem

April 3, 2026 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

School leaders must make space for staff to express concerns and offer suggestions, because staff voice is critical to district success.

As children, we play hide-and-seek. There is a kind of logic to it: If you cannot see me, then I cannot see you. As adults, and sometimes as…

Prepare Your District – Five Challenges To Solve For Today

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 by Vcarlson

K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE WEATHERED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. Although many districts have already made great strides, they ... Read more

District Management

How to navigate historically high absenteeism

March 27, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Truly successful chronic absenteeism solutions are those that focus on re-engaging students with their school communities.

Chronic absenteeism has stabilized at historically high levels, signaling a long-term engagement challenge rather than a short-term pandemic disruption, according to a new national white paper released by…

District Management

A superintendent’s view: Engagement, not enforcement, is the answer to absenteeism

March 17, 2026 by Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent, Ithaca City School District

Chronic absenteeism rarely begins with a student deciding to break a rule--more often, it reflects a gradual erosion of engagement.

Chronic student absenteeism has reached troubling new heights in the post-pandemic K-12 landscape, with one in four students in many systems now missing significant class time.

District Management

Key tips to help district leaders use data to improve attendance

March 11, 2026 by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus

Chronic absenteeism is predictable and preventable--if district leaders respond quickly enough to change the pattern.

Chronic absenteeism has become one of the most pressing challenges facing K-12 education today. According to the American Enterprise Institute, chronic absenteeism rates are leveling out at 23.5…

District Management

Strengthening the PK-12 leadership pipeline during a succession crisis

February 26, 2026 by Dr. Martin Yousef, LaFetra College of Education, University of La Verne

Without intentional investment, the PK-12 leadership pipeline will continue to narrow as retirements outpace preparation.

Across the country, districts are confronting a growing PK-12 leadership pipeline crisis. Veteran principals, assistant principals, and district administrators are retiring at increasing rates, yet there is not…

District Management

Cutting costs without cutting corners

January 15, 2026 by Jacqueline Benson, Jurupa Unified School District

This district is streamlining payroll, staffing, and operations to stay ahead of shrinking budgets--here’s how other districts can follow suit

With the end of federal COVID-19 emergency funding and the inherent volatility of state income tax revenues, California school districts are in an era of financial uncertainty.

IT Innovations

Connected campuses: Modernizing education communications for safety and simplicity

January 12, 2026 by Damon Covey, GoTo

Modernized education communication isn't just convenient, but functions to bolster safety and responsiveness.

Schools, colleges, and universities face growing challenges in keeping their communities informed, connected, and engaged.

Curriculum & Assessment

A smarter path to standards-based success: How Superior Public Schools united curriculum and data

December 11, 2025 by Tricia Kuhlmann and Jodi Fierstein, Superior Public Schools

From the beginning, school leaders knew the district's transition to a standards-based curriculum needed to be intentional and collaborative.

Creating consistency between classrooms and ensuring curriculum alignment school-wide can be challenging, even in the smallest of districts. Every educator teaches--and grades--differently based on their experience and preferences,…

Teacher Professional Development

How AI can fix PD for teachers

December 10, 2025 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

Too many PD sessions remain generic, compliance-driven, or disconnected from day-to-day teaching realities--but AI can help.

Many teachers have experienced PD sessions that are disorganized, disconnected from practice, or delivered by outsiders who misunderstand the local context.

District Management

From fragmented to family-first: Our district’s communication reboot

December 3, 2025 by Johnathan Graves, Debbie Leonard, & Anna Haynes, Greenwood 50 School District

The shift from siloed to shared communication helped a district reach new levels of accessibility and engagement.

In Greenwood 50, our story began with a challenge shared by many districts: too many tools, not enough connection. With more than 8,000 students across 15 schools, our…

Literacy

From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science

December 1, 2025 by Kimberly Stockton, Ed.D.

When it comes to structured literacy, implementation science is a roadmap for translating the science of reading into instructional routines.

When districts adopt evidence-based practices like Structured Literacy, it’s often with a surge of excitement and momentum. Yet the real challenge lies not in the initial adoption, but…

District Management

From silos to systems: The digital advantage in schools

November 20, 2025 by Sara Douglas, Campbell County Schools

Going digital for critical student services helps education leaders centralize data and ensure seamless support across campuses.

When I first stepped into my role overseeing student data for the Campbell County School District, it was clear we were working against a system that no longer…

K-12 Cybersecurity

10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t just a fix--it protects students, strengthens IT resilience, and equips classrooms for an AI-powered future

K-12 IT leaders are under pressure from all sides--rising cyberattacks, the end of Windows 10 support, and the need for powerful new learning tools.

District Management

How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems

November 7, 2025October 30, 2025 by Shane Foster, Follett Software

Facilities teams are already stretched thin, and antiquated facilities systems prevent them from managing day-to-day operations.

School leaders are under constant pressure to stretch every dollar further, yet many districts are losing money in ways they may not even realize. The culprit? Outdated facilities processes…

K-12 Cybersecurity

How Windows 11 is powering the next generation of K-12 innovation

November 5, 2025October 23, 2025 by Laura Ascione

K-12 leaders can strengthen cybersecurity, simplify IT management, and deliver inclusive, AI-driven learning experiences with Windows 11.

As school districts navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape, IT and academic leaders face a growing list of challenges--from hybrid learning demands and complex device ecosystems to rising…

District Management

The superintendent survival kit: Transparency and truth in communications

November 7, 2025October 16, 2025 by Greg Turchetta, Apptegy

When it comes to superintendents and transparency, true leadership means standing up, accepting interviews, and answering tough questions.

As superintendents come under more political fire and frequent negative news stories about their school districts circulate, it is easy to see where the instinct to not comment…

Developing a Curriculum? Review These 7 Common Challenges

October 6, 2025 by Vcarlson

Whether you’re an educator within a school district, or an EdTech curriculum developer creating content for a wide range of ... Read more

Take a Layered Approach to School Security – Guide

October 1, 2025September 29, 2025 by Jeff Festa

Understand the importance of a layered security strategy and evaluate whether you have each of the core components. Whether you’re ... Read more

Literacy

Building a literacy framework that works: A district leader’s journey in Peoria

September 23, 2025 by Lindsay Bohm, Peoria (Ill.) Public Schools District 150

AI can be more than a tool--it can help every student reach their fullest potential, and teachers who are supported help students achieve.

When I stepped into the role of curriculum coordinator for Peoria Public Schools District 150 in 2021, I entered a landscape still reeling from the disruption of COVID-19.…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Districts eye proactive cyber threat protection as risks increase

September 22, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

CoSN recommendations help schools and district align cybersecurity priorities with areas of need to protect students and information.

Cybersecurity threats to K-12 schools are growing in frequency, sophistication, and cost, yet many school districts remain under-resourced and underprepared, according to the CoSN 2025 State of EdTech District…

District Management

Turning superintendent transitions into strength–not division

September 15, 2025 by Jeremy Fewell, Mississinewa Community Schools

A superintendent offers practical moves K-12 leaders can use right now to grow unity during superintendent transitions.

When a long-serving superintendent departs, districts inherit more than a vacancy. They inherit emotion, legacy, and the uncertainty that comes with change.

Teacher Professional Development

Tips, tools, and truths: Making PD meaningful in today’s classrooms

August 29, 2025 by Bucky Ware, School District of Newberry County

Choosing PD that aligns with educator goals, as well as exploring tech tools that extend professional learning, are key aspects of effective PD

As a classroom teacher and district leader with over 26 years of experience, I’ve attended countless professional development (PD) sessions. Some were transformative, others forgettable.

District Management

Beyond AI: Human connection still drives school attendance

November 7, 2025August 28, 2025 by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus

When it comes to school attendance, showing up to school is a human decision driven by authentic relationships--not AI.

At ISTE this summer, I lost count of how many times I heard "AI" as the answer to every educational challenge imaginable. Student engagement? AI-powered personalization!

Teacher Well-Being

Why student engagement starts with teacher clarity

August 14, 2025 by Dr. Mari Braithwaite, Alpine School District

Relationships, expectations, and clarity revealed themselves as critical to boosting and maintaining high levels of student engagement.

In Alpine School District, we serve a wide range of students, from Title I to highly affluent communities. While our population has traditionally been predominantly white and middle…

District Management

Report highlights growing movement to elevate student voice in school communications

November 7, 2025August 14, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

Schools have opportunities to use student voice as a powerful tool for addressing challenges like chronic absenteeism and engagement.

As K-12 leaders look for ways to strengthen trust, engagement, and belonging, a growing number of districts are turning to a key partner in the work: their students.

District Management

6 steps to transforming parent engagement, one message at a time

November 7, 2025August 1, 2025 by Megan Cahill-Clark, Grove Park Elementary

The right communications platform helps districts foster deeper family and parent engagement and bridge school communication gaps.

We always want to make it easy for families to receive, consume, and respond to our messages, and our new communications platform helps us achieve that goal.

District Management

The move from principal to district leader was fraught–here’s what I missed the most

November 7, 2025July 30, 2025 by Meagan Booth, Chalkbeat

How can educators stay connected to how the work is actually experienced and carried out in schools if they move to a district role?

I knew taking a central office role meant trading the school building for a district badge. I knew the days would be filled with policy, meetings, and personnel…

Online & Hybrid Learning

Digital learning in a new age

July 29, 2025 by John Watson, DLAC

Digital learning is broadening the world of CTE for students through online and hybrid school programs for those interested or in need.

Digital learning--in the form of online, hybrid, and blended schools and courses--is growing steadily in U.S. schools. These learning options can transform education because they allow for learning,…

Newsline

PBLWorks Announces its 2025 Award Winners

July 24, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

Novato, CA – The Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks), a national provider of professional development and curriculum for high-quality ... Read more

IT Innovations

Centralized IT governance helps improve learning outcomes

July 17, 2025 by Jesus Peña, UDT

A district’s IT transformation led to reliable connectivity and ample bandwidth, ensuring students no longer face learning disruptions.

As school districts continue to seek new ways to enhance learning outcomes, Madison County School District represents an outstanding case study of the next-level success that may be…

AI in Education

Common Sense Media releases AI toolkit for school districts

July 11, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

Educators need practical, easy-to-use tools that support thoughtful AI planning, decision-making, and implementation in school districts.

Common Sense Media has released its first AI Toolkit for School Districts, which gives districts of all sizes a structured, action-oriented guide for implementing AI safely, responsibly, and effectively.

Live @ ISTE 2025

North Carolina District Wins ISTE 2025 Distinguished Award for AI Leadership and Parent Engagement Innovation

July 10, 2025July 8, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Director of Instructional Technology and Media for Stokes County Schools and Chad Stevens, Head of K-12 Engagement for ... Read more

District Management

How our district turned a sea of data into a compass for change

July 7, 2025 by Dr. Adrienne Usher, Bullitt County Public Schools

Consolidating data in a single system helped a district more effectively meet the varied needs of its 13,000 students.

Before Bullitt County Public Schools implemented a comprehensive data system, we often found ourselves looking at multiple different data sources for each individual child.

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional SD focuses on student data, achievement

June 30, 2025 by Laura Ascione

In a first of its kind agreement, New Jersey’s West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District (WWP) announced a new partnership with Otus, the leading ... Read more

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: Edlio’s new analytics dashboard boosts engagement

June 30, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Edlio, a provider of K–12 school communication solutions, announced significant enhancements to its Mass Communication system and mobile app. The ... Read more

Education Policy & Funding

Trump moved fast and broke things in education–but what he’s creating isn’t clear

June 24, 2025 by Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat

Critics and allies alike say they’ve been stunned by the speed at which Trump has moved to enact his education agenda .

The Grandview school district’s headquarters is nearly 1,000 miles away from the White House. Yet President Donald Trump keeps taking up Kenny Rodrequez’s brain power.

Live @ ISTE 2025

ISTE+ASCD Reveals 2025 Honorees for Innovation and Excellence in Education

July 1, 2025June 23, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

ISTE+ASCD announced the recipients of the 2025 ISTE+ASCD Impact Award, Distinguished District Award, Distinguished Educator Preparation Program Award, and 20 ... Read more

AI in Education

Enterprise AI is changing education

June 23, 2025 by Laura Ascione

AI can help educators spend more time teaching as they strive to create a more engaging, personalized experience for students

AI is poised to reshape education, impacting everything from administrative tasks and assessments to how students navigate research and develop critical thinking skills.

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