Micah Ward

Micah Ward is a District Administration staff writer. He recently earned his master’s degree in Journalism at the University of Alabama. He spent his time during graduate school working on his master’s thesis. He’s also a self-taught guitarist who loves playing folk-style music.

Educators react as ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ passes through Senate

The long-anticipated 'big, beautiful bill' narrowly passed through the Senate on Tuesday, drawing concern from leading education organizations.

New ranking features 40 edtech tools you could be using

Instructure just released its annual "Edtech Top 40" report, ranking learning management systems and other K12 tools.

Here’s what makes this district’s AI strategy successful

Artificial intelligence is a critical solution for improving writing scores in Kentucky’s Henry County Public Schools.

More federal investigations pile up against school districts

The Department of Education has launched investigations of several school districts and state education departments. Each case shines a light on what exactly the federal agency is looking for and how you can avoid conflict.

New guidance expands on school choice to help turnaround schools

The Department of Education wants schools to use federal formula funds to give students in underperforming schools "better options."

Teachers share 4 important ways to improve school culture

Going into 2025-26, teachers remain resilient, collaborative and eager for practical solutions that support educator well-being and school climate. Yet, several pressure points persist.

Countering the big impact of poor mental health on academics

Student mental health results in several negative outcomes, including disruption in classrooms, exhausting budgets and stretching school leaders to their breaking point, a new survey suggests.

11 reasons students aren’t applying to college

College is either far too expensive, too far from home or too "elitist," a new survey suggests. Here are eight more reasons students aren't applying to college.

How these 3 leaders approach creative staffing

District Administration spoke with three superintendents who are taking a creative approach to recruit and retain high-quality teachers.

How a new wave of vouchers are impacting enrollment

The nationwide push to expand school choice opportunities forces administrators to confront increasing competition from private schools and homeschoolers.

The majority of parents now support cell phone bans

Parents are waiting for their district's leadership to take action on cell phones in schools. Here's some advice.

5 ways to boost family engagement for academic recovery

Family engagement is a critical strategy for improving a student's academics, but is often misunderstood in policy implementation, argues new research.

Students grade their schools a B for these reasons

Students gave their schools better grades for overall quality and their relationship with teachers, according to new research. 

4 ways states can better address chronic absenteeism

More states are publishing chronic absenteeism data than ever before. Here's how their reporting can improve so schools can take action even quicker.

Where does your state rank for education quality?

Nationwide, high school graduation rates are on the rise. However, three key indicators for a new state-by-state education ranking are worsening.