New School Year Brings Big Challenges
August 2, 2026
There's a lot weighing on educators' minds heading into the 2026-27 school year, and most expect their jobs to be more difficult this fall.
Results from an exclusive EdWeek Research Center survey show that the top challenges educators anticipate all have to do with students themselves: their behavior, engagement with learning, well-being and mental health, and achievement.
Systemic challenges loom, too.
In this special report, Education Week's expert beat reporters dive into their specialty areas to dissect these challenges and offer educators a preview of 2026-27.
Results from an exclusive EdWeek Research Center survey show that the top challenges educators anticipate all have to do with students themselves: their behavior, engagement with learning, well-being and mental health, and achievement.
Systemic challenges loom, too.
- Federal policy turbulence and enrollment declines have magnified the precarity of the state and local funds school districts depend on for the lion's share of their budgets.
- Educators think a backlash to technology use in classrooms that's intensified over the past year will continue to grow.
- And struggles to boost students' achievement in reading and math persist, with the "math wars" restarting and schools working to implement still-new laws reforming literacy instruction.
In this special report, Education Week's expert beat reporters dive into their specialty areas to dissect these challenges and offer educators a preview of 2026-27.
School & District Management From Our Research Center 75% of Educators Expect Student Behavior to Be a Challenge This Year. What Else?Students themselves are top of mind, even as districts face financial headwinds and broader uncertainty.
Mathematics The ‘Science of Reading’ Movement Is Evolving. Is Math Next?Schools can expect more change—and continued debate—as the push for evidence-based instruction continues.
Classroom Technology Schools Brace for Growing Backlash to Classroom Screen TimeMany school leaders think a tech reset is overdue, but don't want to dump what's helping kids learn.
Education Funding From the Feds on Down, School Funding Is Uncertain. What to KnowFederal turbulence during the Trump administration highlights the precarity of state and local funding, too.
