educational leadership Archives

K-12 student attendance improves, but interventions are still needed

November 7, 2025March 24, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

While younger students approach pre-pandemic attendance levels, high schoolers remain at risk of chronic absenteeism, according to a survey. student attendance

For the first half of the 2024-25 school year, overall K-12 student attendance rates have improved, continuing the progress seen over the past two years, according to a…

Teacher Professional Development

Key questions that unleash powerful PLCs

March 18, 2025 by Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey, San Diego State University and Health Sciences High and Middle College

Transforming PLCs for educators means moving beyond ‘What do we teach?” to focus on ‘How do we teach it effectively?’

With today’s clear academic standards, PLCs no longer need to spend precious time deciding what to teach. Instead, they can focus on other questions, starting with, “Where are…

District Management

Transformational leadership: Safe harbors, or turbulent seas?

November 7, 2025February 27, 2025 by Dr. Phil Lambert, University of Sydney

Leaving the sanctuary of a safe harbor is necessary to undertake genuine transformational change in education.

Depending on the starting point, the challenges encountered in making required policy and practice changes can be considerable. Leadership in and for this context is not for the…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

Only 27 percent of states plan to sustain K-12 digital access as federal programs end

February 19, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

SETDA's digital access report outlines strategies to prevent millions of students from losing internet access and further falling behind.

Only 27 percent of states have plans to sustain K-12 digital access as key federal programs expire, according to a new report from SETDA, the principal association representing…

Education Policy & Funding

Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education

March 12, 2025January 28, 2025 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Schools & William Howard Taft University

Advocates for dismantling the Department of Education argue for local control and efficiency, while critics highlight risks to equity, access.

In light of Donald Trump assuming a second presidential term in 2025, conversations concerning dismantling the United States Department of Education have resurfaced.

Digital Innovation

Here’s what will drive K-12 innovation in 2025

January 14, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

The annual research, with a full report coming in February of 2025, highlights transformative changes in K-12 innovation.

AI, learner agency, and digital equity are among a number of factors that can hinder or foster K-12 innovation, according to CoSN's annual Driving K-12 Innovation Top Topics.

Teacher Professional Development

A look at one school’s innovative approach to PD

December 11, 2024 by Laura Ascione

A strong PD framework directly impacts teaching and learning, boosting teachers’ ability to differentiate and personalize their instruction.

In this Q&A, eSchool News chats with Andi Morency, founder and executive director/principal of The Honors Academy of Literature in Reno, Nevada.

District Management

Sailing through adversity: 4 Olympic-sized lessons in educational leadership

November 19, 2024 by Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, Women Leading Ed

Leveraging diverse collaboration and learning from setbacks can propel educational leadership team to success.

When Lara Dallman-Weiss and Stuart McNay set sail together at the 2024 Paris Olympics, they weren't just navigating open waters--they were challenging traditional norms in a sport historically…

Newsline

PRP Group and K20 Connect Partner to Offer Full Suite of Communications Solutions

November 1, 2024 by ESchool News Staff

Los Angeles, CA – PRP Group, a Hawke Media Company, and K20 Connect announced a strategic partnership to provide a ... Read more

Emergency Planning & Response

School-based active shooter drills must improve, minimize trauma

October 14, 2024 by Laura Ascione

A federal order tasks agencies with combating firearms threats and restructuring active shooter drills to cause less trauma to students.

In late September, the Biden administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills, making them more effective and less traumatic for students.

District Management

A new partnership aims to train, supercharge school supes

September 27, 2024 by Mariama Tyler, Cognia

School leaders will have access to just-in-time problem-solving, networking, and learning to usher in new era of education leadership.

School leaders who are members of AASA will soon be able to participate in ongoing engagement, collective problem-solving, and development with a professional community of peers

District Management

K-12 facilities managers eye efficiency, streamlined budgets

September 26, 2024 by ESchool News Staff

Many K-12 facilities managers cite budget constraints and aging infrastructure as concerns in district efficiency and cost reduction.

K-12 facilities managers are emphasizing efficiency and cost savings as they stare down the twin challenges of aging infrastructure and budget constraints, according to a new survey by…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

Increasing K-12 tech accessibility

September 24, 2024 by Sam Bowman, Contributing Writer

Students need tech knowledge and skills--classrooms need to be equipped with tech tools via tech accessibility and equitable access.

Believing that all students have the same access to technology is a mistake. According to the U.S. Census, 90 percent of American households have a broadband internet subscription,…

District Management

Building meaningful school-home connections to boost attendance

September 19, 2024 by Ian Fish, Alvord Unified School District

Aligning daily operations with a broader strategic vision helps school leaders boost student attendance and strengthen school-home connections

In my role as Assistant Director of Student Services, I've learned that the most crucial factor in improving student attendance isn't about policies or procedures--it's about connections.

District Management

Do high-impact tutoring tools actually offer high-impact tutoring?

August 13, 2024 by Laura Ascione

Edtech companies should adhere to high-impact tutoring design principles that meet funding criteria, particularly post-covid.

Although most online tutoring solutions claim to provide high-impact tutoring, less than one-third follow the design principles for identifying high-impact tutoring, according to a new report.

Educational Leadership

Is imposter syndrome built on a fallacy?

August 8, 2024 by Sean Slade, Alyssa Gallagher, & Max Cooke

Instead of questioning their ability to lead through imposter syndrome, school leaders can reflect on new opportunities to grow and learn.

We have all experienced imposter syndrome at some point in our career. It’s experienced as a feeling or underlying concern that somehow, despite having the job qualifications.

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

The digital divide still holds students back

August 7, 2024 by Laura Ascione

The digital divide persists--access to devices and internet for students with lower family incomes lags that of students with higher incomes.

Students’ access to technology has improved over time, although it continues to vary across family income categories and racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study released today…

Teacher Professional Development

Addressing student absenteeism with faculty PD

August 1, 2024 by Milt Alexander, Catapult Learning

Effective educator PD focuses on classroom management and behavior strategies and helps educators create safe environments for students.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a major problem in schools across the nation. In 2022, the average chronic absenteeism rate hit 28 percent--an 88 percent increase from 2019.

District Management

From musician to U.S. Department of Education leader: A Q&A with Dr. James Lane

July 10, 2024 by Megan Scavuzzo, Presence

School leadership is largely about inspiring people and making sure everyone is empowered to do their best in all areas.

Running a school district is a lot like conducting an orchestra; it's all about bringing out the best in every player. That’s according to Dr. James Lane, who…

District Management

These attendance management strategies can reduce chronic absenteeism

June 28, 2024 by Laura Ascione

High schools and marginalized student groups continue to display higher chronic absenteeism rates, according to a new study.

School districts implementing proactive, consistent attendance interventions saw a 22 percent improvement in chronic absenteeism rates from 2021-22 to 2022-23.

Building & Campus Security

Collaborating with law enforcement to strengthen school safety

June 14, 2024 by Mike Lahiff, ZeroEyes and Robert Kavals, South Side Area School District

Fostering collaboration between schools and law enforcement represents an ongoing commitment to school safety & secure learning environments.

Collaboration between educational institutions and local law enforcement has never been more crucial as parents, students, and staff seek peace of mind amidst rising school safety concerns.

School Management

Five ways school leaders can end the year on a strong note

June 11, 2024 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University

Ending the school year on a strong note requires school leaders to use careful planning and a focus on fostering a positive school community.

Ending the year on a strong note not only celebrates the achievements of students and staff but also sets the stage for a successful transition into the next…

District Management

Redesigning the educational model after COVID

May 13, 2024 by Michael T. Conner, Ed.D., Riverside Insights

Driving excellence and equity through the "AC" educational model is key for all students to achieve their potential.

With stress, anxiety, teacher retention rates, and curtailing the loss of learning gains, education finds itself addressing compounding factors that are multi-dimensional.

School Management

How school leaders can manage and control emotions

May 10, 2024 by Sean Slade, BTS Spark

Education is a relationship-driven sector; school leaders should not ignore emotions because they are tools that build and grow relationships

We have spent generations being told that our emotions are those things that should be corralled, encircled, and subdued. It has fomented the ideas that we should "leave…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

How school leaders can foster a culturally responsive framework

May 9, 2024 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University

School leaders can play a pivotal role in cultivating a culturally responsive environment by employing strategies to do so effectively.

A culturally responsive framework acknowledges and values the cultural backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all students, creating an inclusive environment where every learner can thrive.

District Management

How the NSA’s post-9/11 hiring might address the teacher shortage

May 15, 2024May 2, 2024 by Keith Massey, Leonia High School

Early identification of new teachers who are struggling and directly helping them is one way to address today's troubling teacher shortage.

There is a critical teacher shortage across the United States. (As well as serious shortages in other professions, such as nursing.) This trend began before the pandemic, but…

Teacher Professional Development

How video coaching inspires teacher self-reflection

April 15, 2024 by Dr. Stephanie Hofer, Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township

As highly-qualified applicants dwindle in the workforce, higher ed is tasked with turning out students and graduates to meet employers' needs.

The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township has been successfully using video in our teacher professional learning for more than seven years.

Emergency Planning & Response

Ready, set, safe: Communication and technology for school safety

March 26, 2024 by Caileigh Peterson, Midland

Communication tools and technologies help school safety leaders stay ahead of potential dangers and cultivate a positive academic environment

With school-associated violence at a record high, there is an urgent responsibility for school leaders to protect the safety of students, teachers, and staff.

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

Navigating cultural diversity in American education

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma

CRT has emerged as a multifaceted approach to promote equitable excellence and validate the diverse experiences of students.

The tapestry of America’s history is arguably woven with threads of multiculturalism, reflecting a nation that has embraced diversity since its inception. In many ways, the history of…

COVID in Schools

5 things to know about high-dosage tutoring

February 26, 2024 by Laura Ascione

Scaling-up high-dosage tutoring is crucial to students’ academic success--here are some insights about tutoring programs for students.

The benefits of high-dosage tutoring can’t be ignored. Research shows that tutoring is one of the most effective ways to increase academic achievement, including among students from lower socio-economic households.

District Management

Educational leaders must leverage collaboration for success

February 9, 2024 by Melissa Anne Brevetti, Ph.D.

How do educational leaders keep improving our schools to recognize unique opportunities and needs at the forefront? With collaboration.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculated global economic output loss will total $28 trillion dollars between 2020 and 2025 as the result of the COVID-19 virus that impacted…

COVID in Schools

Young students less prepared for grade-level reading, math

January 31, 2024 by Laura Ascione

Nationwide data offer critical new insights into the pandemic’s academic impact on younger students' learning.

Children who were in early childhood learning programs during the pandemic are struggling to keep up with grade-level learning in math and English, according to School Readiness for…

COVID in Schools

Occupational therapy is the antidote for pandemic skill loss

January 23, 2024January 18, 2024 by Brooke Howard, MS, OTR/L, Executive Director, The Ivy Street School

Occupational therapy is well-equipped to provide all students with extra support as schools continue to recover from learning loss.

Research shows that the average student lost approximately one-third of a school year to the pandemic, leading to academic setbacks and missed opportunities for building skills fostered in…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

Advancing educational equity with UDL and generative AI

January 12, 2024 by Rowen Elsmore, Digital Learning Specialist, Jefferson High School & Dr. Alexandra Holter, Computer Science Coordinator for K-12, Bloomington Public Schools

Establishing educational equity in computer science with generative AI and UDL will cause ripple effects across all content areas.

As we all struggle down the path toward true educational inclusion, we are confronted with four pillars of equity as described by Rochelle Guiterize: Access, Success, Power and…

Emergency Planning & Response

5 critical ingredients in a school safety plan

January 2, 2024 by Joshua Douglas, SVP Product & Engineering, Xtract One Technologies

Understandably, student and school safety is a top priority for school leaders as they seek to ensure reassuring learning environments.

Teacher training programs often introduce aspiring educators to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, an eight-decade-old principle that reminds teachers that learning is significantly more difficult when other needs are…

Emergency Planning & Response

Prioritizing student safety with enhanced first responder and cellular communication coverage

January 5, 2024December 22, 2023 by Stephen M. Kowal, Chief Commercial Officer, Nextivity

Cellular communication coverage and radio solutions that quickly and cost-effectively boost coverage will prove invaluable in emergencies.

In an emergency, when timely and effective communications are vital, first responders may have trouble connecting via their smartphones, hand-held radios, or other devices.

Education Policy & Funding

What a 4-day school week might mean for your district

December 21, 2023 by Erin Werra, Content Writer & Strategist, Skyward’s Advancing K12 Blog

evidence is mounting that a 4dsw could help attract and retain teachers, manage scheduling for rural districts, and impact students’ sleep

West of the Mississippi, a new approach to seat time is catching on. Roughly 1,000 different schools have transitioned to a four-day school week, which amounts to a…

Teacher Professional Development

The power of AI in education: Enhancing instructional coaching for student success

December 15, 2023 by Cory Camp, M.Ed, Educational Consultant & Host of the Coach Replay Show

The hesitancy around AI and emerging technology is preventing many educators from harnessing its power for instructional coaching.

Last fall, ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model, became the subject of widespread discussion, from lighthearted memes about robots taking over to genuine confusion about the capabilities and implications…

Teacher Professional Development

How video coaching helps us support teacher growth and retention

December 12, 2023December 7, 2023 by Dr. Sonia Johnson, Lead Teacher, Van Winkle Early Childhood Center

Video coaching encourages early education teachers to reflect on their own practice and helps with teacher retention and growth.

At the Van Winkle Early Childhood Center within Jackson Public School District in Mississippi, we enroll students for one year to prepare them for kindergarten. Family engagement is…

District Management

6 tips for communicating with emergent bilingual families

November 29, 2023 by Dr. Kara Stern, Head of Education Solutions, SchoolStatus

It's crucial to acknowledge and overcome the barriers that impede communication with emergent bilingual families.

Experienced educators understand that students thrive when their families are actively engaged in their education. This is particularly crucial as we navigate the challenges of helping students recover…

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