Local Control
School & District Management
Houston's Sweeping School Changes: Will They Be a Case Study—Or Cautionary Tale?
Houston's state-appointed superintendent has enacted an ambitious set of changes that affect nearly every part of the school day.
School & District Management
Tulsa Maintains Accreditation, Averting State Control—For Now
But the district's school board president issued an unusual rebuke to Oklahoma's top education official.
States
What California Gov. Newsom's Fight With a School District Says About Local Control
Newsom threatened to fine the Temecula Valley school board after it rejected a curriculum that mentioned gay rights leader Harvey Milk.
Federal
Ron DeSantis Is Running for President. What Will That Mean for K-12 Schools?
DeSantis has solidified himself as a force on school policy. His campaign will likely influence the role education plays in the election.
Law & Courts
Mask Mandate Lawsuits Reflect Bigger Battle: Do States or Local Districts Control Schools?
Some legal clarity is forming over whether governors may restrict school districts from enacting mask mandates to fight COVID-19.
States
Mask Mandates Put 'Local Control' of Schools to the Test
Fights between states and school districts aren't new, but stark differences on masking present new tests.
Federal
Trump's 'Patriotic Education' Push Clashes With His Past Calls for Local Control
The president's call for "pro-American" history classes doesn't mesh well with his 2017 executive order saying he would "preserve State and local control" over curriculum and instruction.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Arne Duncan: Reopening Schools Is a Local Decision, Not the President's
The Trump administration has completely failed to protect Americans and lead during the COVID-19 crisis, writes former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Are There Unseen Children In Your School?
What do we know, what can we be sure of, and what do we need to learn about how it feels to be a child in our schools?
School & District Management
News in Brief
New Era of Local Control Begins for Schools in Newark, N.J.
After 22 years, Newark, N.J., residents have regained control of their schools.
States
New Era of Local Control in Newark, N.J., After 22 Years
The state seized control of the city's struggling school system in 1995.
Education Funding
California Gov. Brown Proposes $4 Billion Boost for Schools and More Local Control
In his last term in office, Gov. Jerry Brown wants to boost local officials' ability to improve schools and fully fund the state's funding formula two years ahead of schedule.
School & District Management
Opinion
Educating the 'Whole Child' Requires Courageous Leaders
Student achievement and educating the 'whole child' can be seen in actions schools take. For that, school leaders must have courage to lead away from hesitations.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
Interviewing? Good Questions are Important. Careful Listening is Paramount.
Hiring is, arguably, the most important shared role of leaders and the governing body. It deserves and investment of time to listen openly and share perceptions and thoughts.