We can’t punish our way out of the attendance crisis
In the Ithaca City School District, we have long understood that relationships are not peripheral to the work; they are the work. A culture of love is not…
district
What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders
After 20 years teaching high school math, I thought I understood why students struggled. Then I sat in my first professional learning session focused on early math and…
From innovation to impact: Three ways school districts can build a sustainable AI framework
AI is here, and it’s moving fast. For schools, that speed is both an opportunity and a risk: The right tools can transform learning, but the wrong ones…
District leaders must adapt to meet changing student mental health and behavioral needs
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…
Don’t mistake staff voice for a problem
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
K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE WEATHERED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. Although many districts have already made great strides, they ... Read more
How to navigate historically high absenteeism
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…
A superintendent’s view: Engagement, not enforcement, is the answer to absenteeism
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.
Key tips to help district leaders use data to improve attendance
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…
Strengthening the PK-12 leadership pipeline during a succession crisis
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…
Cutting costs without cutting corners
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.
Connected campuses: Modernizing education communications for safety and simplicity
Schools, colleges, and universities face growing challenges in keeping their communities informed, connected, and engaged.
A smarter path to standards-based success: How Superior Public Schools united curriculum and data
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,…
How AI can fix PD for teachers
Many teachers have experienced PD sessions that are disorganized, disconnected from practice, or delivered by outsiders who misunderstand the local context.
From fragmented to family-first: Our district’s communication reboot
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…
From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science
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…
From silos to systems: The digital advantage in schools
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…
10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP
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.
How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems
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…
How Windows 11 is powering the next generation of K-12 innovation
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…
The superintendent survival kit: Transparency and truth in communications
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
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
Understand the importance of a layered security strategy and evaluate whether you have each of the core components. Whether you’re ... Read more
Building a literacy framework that works: A district leader’s journey in Peoria
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.…
Districts eye proactive cyber threat protection as risks increase
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…
Turning superintendent transitions into strength–not division
When a long-serving superintendent departs, districts inherit more than a vacancy. They inherit emotion, legacy, and the uncertainty that comes with change.
Tips, tools, and truths: Making PD meaningful in today’s classrooms
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.
Beyond AI: Human connection still drives school attendance
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!
Why student engagement starts with teacher clarity
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…
Report highlights growing movement to elevate student voice in school communications
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.
6 steps to transforming parent engagement, one message at a time
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.
The move from principal to district leader was fraught–here’s what I missed the most
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…
Digital learning in a new age
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,…
PBLWorks Announces its 2025 Award Winners
Novato, CA – The Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks), a national provider of professional development and curriculum for high-quality ... Read more
Centralized IT governance helps improve learning outcomes
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…
Common Sense Media releases AI toolkit for 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.
North Carolina District Wins ISTE 2025 Distinguished Award for AI Leadership and Parent Engagement Innovation
Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Director of Instructional Technology and Media for Stokes County Schools and Chad Stevens, Head of K-12 Engagement for ... Read more
How our district turned a sea of data into a compass for change
Before Bullitt County Public Schools implemented a comprehensive data system, we often found ourselves looking at multiple different data sources for each individual child.
Showfloor News: West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional SD focuses on student data, achievement
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
Showfloor News: Edlio’s new analytics dashboard boosts engagement
Edlio, a provider of K–12 school communication solutions, announced significant enhancements to its Mass Communication system and mobile app. The ... Read more