Communications

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 20: Students walk through the hallway to their next class at Cypresswood Elementary in Aldine ISD in Houston, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. Aldine ISD is one of the most improved school districts in the Houston area in 2025 TEA A-F ratings, increasing the district's overall score by 10 points in two years.
Elementary students walk to their next class in the Aldine Independent school district near Houston on Aug. 20, 2025. The district has decided to close 11 schools over the past three years due to a sharp enrollment drop.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
School & District Management Q&A How a School District Handled 3 Straight Years of Campus Closures
Amid 11 closures, a superintendent shares her advice for leaders in similar situations.
7 min read
A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, photographed Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, shows a photo of Epstein on a inmate report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons .
A document included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, shown in a Feb. 10, 2026, photograph. A social media-fueled controversy drawing a shaky connection between the sex offender and a major school photo company used by 50,000 schools has led to calls for school districts to reexamine their use of the company.
Jon Elswick/AP
School & District Management Epstein and School Photos? How a Social Media Controversy Pulled in K-12 Districts
Districts have had to respond to a social-media fueled controversy about the sex offender and financier.
6 min read
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Superintendents and attendees get ready for the start of the AASA National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn. on Feb. 11, 2026. A team of highlighted new scenario-based role-playing tools that district leaders can use to prep for tough conversations with school board members and other constituencies.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
School & District Management Simulations Aim to Prepare Superintendents to Handle Political Controversies
The exercises, delivered virtually or in-person, can help district leaders role-play volatile discussions.
Evie Blad, February 19, 2026
3 min read
Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac walks around the exhibition hall of the National Conference on Education in Nashville, on Feb. 12, 2026. Reljac is the superintendent for Fox Chapel Area School District in Pennsylvania.
Mary Catherine Reljac walks around the exhibition hall of the National Conference on Education in Nashville on Feb. 12, 2026. Reljac, the superintendent for Fox Chapel Area school district in Pennsylvania, is working to combat chronic absenteeism through data analysis and tailored student support.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Student Absenteeism Q&A Solving Chronic Absenteeism Isn't 'One-Size-Fits-All,' This Leader Says
Proactive, sensitive communication with families can make a big difference.
Jennifer Vilcarino, February 12, 2026
7 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The News Headlines Are Draining Educators. 5 Things That Can Help
School leaders can take concrete steps to manage the impact of the political upheaval.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, February 11, 2026
5 min read
Matthew Montgomery, the superintendent of Lake Forest schools in Ill., during the AASA conference in Nashville on Feb. 11, 2026.
Matthew Montgomery, the superintendent of Lake Forest schools in Illinois, is pictured at the AASA's 2026 National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 11, 2026. The Lake Forest schools established a decisionmaking matrix that informs when the district speaks out on potentially thorny topics.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
School & District Management Q&A When Should a School District Speak Out on Thorny Issues? One Leader's Approach
A superintendent created a matrix for his district to prevent rash decisions.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, February 11, 2026
5 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Stop the Drop: Turn Communication Into an Enrollment Booster
Turn everyday communication with families into powerful PR that builds trust, boosts reputation, and drives enrollment.
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Three different screenshots of videos from superintendents' creative announcements for a school snow day. Clockwise from left: Montgomery County Public Schools via YouTube, Terry J. Dade via X, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School via Facebook
Gone are the days of kids sitting in front of the TV waiting for their district's name to flash across the screen announcing a snow day. Here are some of our favorite announcements from superintendents who had fun with one of the most visible aspects of their job.
Clockwise from left: Montgomery County Public Schools via YouTube, Terry J. Dade via X, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School via Facebook
School & District Management Five Snow Day Announcements That Broke the Internet (Almost)
Superintendents rapped, danced, and cheered for the home team's playoff success as they announced snow days.
2 min read
Image of a woman interacting with a dashboard and seeing marks that are on target and off target. The mood is concern about the mark that is off target.
Visual Generation/Getty
Assessment Online Portals Offer Instant Access to Grades. That’s Not Always a Good Thing
For students and parents, is real-time access to grades an accountability booster or an anxiety provoker?
Elizabeth Heubeck, January 23, 2026
5 min read
African American father and his daughter walking to school.
Mladen Zivkovic/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession When Teachers Become Parents, They Gain a New Perspective of the Job
While parenthood can present challenges, it also offers opportunities for educators.
Elizabeth Heubeck, December 12, 2025
5 min read
Vector illustration showing a businessman carried away in the sky by a group of speech bubble shaped ballons.
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Families & the Community What Parents Want Most From Schools: Clear, Honest Communication
A survey of parents points to the importance of clear, detailed information from schools.
Alyson Klein, December 9, 2025
2 min read
Illustration of human arm pulling on strings of robot arm with pencil.
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Artificial Intelligence From Our Research Center Schools Are Fielding Complaints Generated by AI. How You Can Tell
Educators shared their experiences with this challenge in a recent EdWeek Research Center survey.
Arianna Prothero, November 14, 2025
3 min read
Illustration of speech bubbles.
Getty
Families & the Community Text, Email, App, or Paper Note? How Teachers Like to Communicate With Parents
Educators have different experiences with what works best to keep in touch.
Jennifer Vilcarino, November 14, 2025
1 min read
Illustration of an attendance sheet.
Brad Calkins/Getty
Student Absenteeism The Surprising Factor That Makes Absenteeism Interventions More Successful
Schools are communicating more with parents about their kids' attendance. When they do it matters.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, November 12, 2025
3 min read