Micah Ward

Micah Ward is the editor at District Administration. For more than four years, he's covered artificial intelligence, edtech and district leadership. He holds a master's degree in Journalism from the University of Alabama. Find Micah Ward on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

9 ways superintendents are absorbing rising healthcare costs

Employee health insurance benefits consume nearly one-third of operating budgets in 92% of school districts, new research suggests.

How AI is influencing leaders’ edtech purchasing decisions

The responsibility for vetting these "seamless" AI tools frequently falls on overwhelmed IT departments or top-level administrators who may lack pedagogical expertise.

What will it take for AI to win educator trust?

Teachers won't trust a tool they don't understand, says one technology director. Here's some advice from the field.

Students didn’t use a free AI tutor. Human support changed that

AI-powered tutoring alone doesn't improve learning outcomes—unless a teacher is there to help guide and support the student.

What happens when students graduate without career counseling

Most counselors say mental health demands consume the majority of their time, pushing career exploration aside entirely.

Statewide cell phone bans are growing. Here’s some advice

Washington may become the next state to ban cell phones for the entire school day. However, policy alone won't solve the academic issue.

New budgets spark questions about teacher pay

Amid nationwide budget constraints, one issue remains a point of contention between superintendents and their staff: compensation.

LAUSD’s screen ban sets new milestone in tech backlash

Los Angeles USD bans screens for students below second grade while limiting usage for older students in response to community-wide pushback against tech use.

How enrollment has shifted over the past decade

Uneven recovery nationwide suggests that the pandemic accelerated or reinforced longer-term changes in school enrollment patterns.

Alberto Carvalho resigns as LAUSD superintendent amid months-long FBI investigation

Media reports suggest the investigation predates the Trump administration. Carvalho denies any wrongdoing.

Is AI innovation moving too fast for comfort?

College graduates are now booing commencement speakers praising AI. Digital literacy initiatives at the K12 level can help.

Fewer teachers plan to leave their jobs—but they’re burnt out

Teachers enjoy their jobs more than they did during the height of the pandemic, but student behavior, low salaries and administrative tasks are fueling burnout.

Student math and reading scores drop in 47 states

Only Louisiana and Mississippi posted education gains; every other state held steady or declined, according to new research.

Education Department hands off civil rights and special education

Disability rights advocates are worried that support for students with disabilities will worsen under HHS.

Education Freedom Accounts could help—and hurt—public school funding

Feds preview long-anticipated school choice tax credit. It could boost funds and drain enrollment.