Technology has expanded from the classroom to drive many critical district operations. Here’s how new tools are improving schools beyond instruction.
Absenteeism is one of the biggest problems administrators are using technology to solve, according to a new report from PowerSchool, a student information systems provider. This includes generating alerts on chronically absent students so educators can take more immediate actions to bring kids back to school.
Technology is also improving districts’ ability to:
- Analyze district-wide data to reveal trends and potential flaws in operations.
- Engage with parents and families in academics and attendance.
- Connect data across traditionally siloed sources.
- Provide educators with high-quality instructional materials.
- Support staff in using data to make better-informed decisions.
Meanwhile, districts are facing problems that technology alone can’t resolve, the researchers acknowledge. In 2026, the top five challenges impacting school districts are managing teacher workloads, recruitment and retention, financial constraints, enrollment and student engagement, according to the research.
“Ultimately, the increased workload can compromise both teacher well-being and student learning outcomes,” said Nicole Bond, director of attendance and enrollment at Tennessee’s Haywood County Schools.
However, priorities shift depending on the role. For school administrators, their top three challenges this year are district finances, followed by staff vacancies and enrollment.
Political uncertainty is having the biggest impact on budgets, according to two-thirds of district leaders surveyed in the report. Nearly 50% of administrators may delay infrastructure projects because of decreased funding.
Leaders can make better-informed decisions with tools that generate real-time financial and enrollment data, the research suggests. For more ideas, read the full report here.
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