District Strategies

Collection

District Dilemmas – Solutions for Common District Leader Challenges
District leaders around the country share how they address some of the common challenges they experience.
Collaged image of the pathways and guidelines of AI policy.
Stephanie Dalton Cowan for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy on the Fly
It's a struggle to create guidelines that keep up with rapid advances in the technology.
8 min read
Worshippers pray at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022. Worshippers celebrated Dhanteras, which is the first night of the Hindu holiday Diwali.
Worshippers pray at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022, the first night of the Hindu holiday Diwali. More districts are putting Diwali and other non-Christian holidays on school calendars as populations of Asian students increase.
Andy Jacobsohn/AP
Families & the Community As Schools Grow More Culturally Diverse, Calendar Planning Gets More Complicated
Districts have added holidays like Diwali to their calendars to reflect demographic shifts in enrollment.
Evie Blad, October 14, 2025
6 min read
Students in the dual language immersion program at Pueblo Elementary School in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sept. 16, 2025.
A student writes in a workbook during a dual language immersion class at Pueblo Elementary School in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sept. 16, 2025. Ensemble Learning collaborated with the Texas Education Agency to offer professional development for dual-language teachers.
Courtney Pedroza for Education Week
English Learners In Their Own Words How Professional Development Bolstered a Dual-Language Program
A Texas program offers lessons on the preparation classroom educators need to promote language development.
Jennifer Vilcarino, October 10, 2025
6 min read
First grader Kamila Reyes works on an assignment in Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s English learner class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2025.
First grader Kamila Reyes works on an assignment in Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s dual-language class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio, on Sept. 3, 2025. The district is making cross-language connections a central part of its shift to the science of reading.
Noah Devereaux for Education Week
Reading & Literacy How the 'Science of Reading' Can Support English Learners
English learners are sometimes an afterthought in 'science of reading' policies. Some educators want to change that.
Sarah Schwartz, September 22, 2025
9 min read
Monique Darrisaw-Akil, center, superintendent of the Uniondale district in New York, traveled to Ghana in July to meet with leaders of the Achinakrom school. Students from two elementary schools in the Uniondale district and the Achinakrom school worked on a shared literacy project throughout the 2024-25 academic year, and leaders plan to continue the partnership this year.
Monique Darrisaw-Akil, center, superintendent of the Uniondale district in New York, traveled to Ghana in July to meet with leaders of the Achinakrom school. Students from two elementary schools in the Uniondale district and the Achinakrom school worked on a shared literacy project throughout the 2024-25 academic year, and leaders plan to continue the partnership this year.
Courtesy of Monique Darrisaw-Akil
School & District Management A Superintendent and a Children’s Book Sparked a Global Writing Exchange
Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil was intent on forging an overseas sister school partnership based on learning, not charity.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, September 4, 2025
5 min read
People gather at a vigil at Lynnhurst Park after a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis.
People gather for a vigil at a local park after a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis.
Bruce Kluckhohn/AP
School Climate & Safety Stepped-Up Security and Outreach: How Schools Are Responding to the Minneapolis Shootings
District leaders are working to assuage fears in their communities.
2 min read
Ashley Perkins, a second-grade teacher at the Dummerston, Vt., School, writes a "welcome back" message for her students in her classroom for the upcoming school year on Aug. 22, 2025.
Ashley Perkins, a 2nd-grade teacher in Dummerston, Vt., writes a "welcome back" message for her students in her classroom on Aug. 22, 2025. Chronic absenteeism has trended down some in recent years, but remains at elevated levels, creating a challenge for schools as the 2025-26 school year starts.
Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP
School & District Management What the Research Says Schools Should Do About Chronic Absenteeism
Recent research and surveys shed some new light on America's chronic absenteeism problem.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, August 28, 2025
6 min read
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David Nelson, his wife Hannah Jones-Nelson, and their dog "Bear" sit in the favorite room of their new house. Nelson was awarded a $10,000 commitment bonus provided to new teachers in Flint. He plans to use most of the money for house improvements and maintenance. Thursday, August 21, 2025..
David Nelson, his wife Hannah Jones-Nelson, and their dog Bear sit in their favorite room of their new house in Flint, Mich., on Aug. 21, 2025. Nelson was awarded a $10,000 commitment bonus provided to new teachers in Flint. He plans to use most of the money for house improvements and maintenance.
Valaurian Waller for Education Week
Recruitment & Retention This District Is Betting on a $10K Signing Bonus for New Teachers. Is It Enough?
Teachers are being awarded bonuses of up to $12,000 to join a district that, like its surrounding community, is working to rebuild.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 26, 2025
6 min read
Students wait to board Metro, Cincinnati’s public bus system, to ride to their second day of school on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Students wait to board Metro, Cincinnati’s public bus system, to ride to their second day of school on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. There are many factors school districts must consider before switching to public transit.
Luke Sharrett for Education Week<br/>
Budget & Finance Why Some Districts Are Shifting Teens From School Buses to Public Transit
Cost, safety, and existing infrastructure are factors in determining whether a partnership with a local transit agency could save money.
Jennifer Igbonoba, August 21, 2025
4 min read
Standardized test answer sheet on school desk.
E+
Standards & Accountability How Teachers in This District Pushed to Have Students Spend Less Time Testing
An agreement a teachers' union reached with the district reduces locally required testing while keeping in place state-required exams.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 13, 2025
6 min read
Chanel Ferran Gutierrez, a 10th grade student at Newcomer Academy, prepares to be vaccinated during a pop-up immunization clinic in the school's library in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 8, 2024.
Chanel Ferran Gutierrez, a 10th grade student at Newcomer Academy, prepares to be vaccinated during a pop-up immunization clinic in the school's library in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 8, 2024. Sagging student vaccination rates and the highest volume of measles cases in years have prompted fears of outbreaks once students are back in school.
Mary Conlon/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Childhood Vaccinations Are Down. Schools Are Bracing for Outbreaks
But local efforts can put communities in a stronger position to respond to them, a school health expert says.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, August 11, 2025
4 min read
Soccer practice in Long Lake, N.Y., on Sept. 1, 2022.
Students participate in soccer practice in Long Lake, N.Y., on Sept. 1, 2022. The Long Lake Central School District merged some its sports teams with another district to have enough players to field teams.
Heather Ainsworth for Education Week
School & District Management How Rural Schools Share Services and Try to Stay Relevant in These 2 States
Even small fluctuations in student enrollment can create financial hardships for rural schools.
Ciara Meyer, August 8, 2025
6 min read
Untenured Frontier Middle School teachers meet at Alchemy restaurant in Hamburg, N.Y., in the spring of 2024 for a trivia game about school policies as part of a mentoring and engagement pilot program for teachers in their 2nd to 4th years teaching in the school. The program is expanding districtwide this school year.
Frontier Middle School teachers meet at Alchemy restaurant in Hamburg, N.Y., in the spring of 2024 for a trivia game about school policies. It's part of a mentoring and engagement pilot program for untenured teachers in their 2nd to 4th years teaching at the school. The program is expanding districtwide this school year.
Courtesy of Amber Chandler
Teaching Profession Going NUTs: How One District Supports Its ‘New and Untenured’ Teachers
Facing a flood of retirements in coming years, one district pushes to build connections among new, untenured teachers.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 7, 2025
5 min read