Opinion

Demystifying generative AI: How to lead with purpose

Amid the buzz, it’s easy to lose sight of a critical truth: generative artificial intelligence has transformative potential but requires grounded leadership to unlock its value.

Teachers have different personas around AI. Here’s how to support them

To understand the opportunities and obstacles that will shape the future of AI in the classroom, we must examine teachers’ perceptions, hopes and fears about the emerging technology.

Knowing thyself: K12 leadership styles through a football lens

The best leaders are those who know their strengths, embrace their team’s diversity and adapt their play to meet the moment. For the goal is never personal glory, but collective victory.

High-quality professional development: Here are 4 characteristics

High-quality professional development should be something that teachers look forward to, not something they feel they have to endure.

Curriculum decisions: What happens when teachers have a say

When teachers are empowered to make decisions about curriculum, students and educators benefit in lasting ways.

Chronic absenteeism: How to empower families to take action

hile all school districts have tools in place to inform parents of their child’s school absences, it’s important they convey this information in a positive and holistic way.

Edtech success: How to maximize partnerships for innovation and efficiency

In today's educational landscape, district administrators are pivotal in collaborating with providers to drive innovation, streamline district-wide efficiencies and support student learning.

Coding curriculum: 8 reasons to pick a new platform

Brownsville ISD needed a more structured and consistent curriculum for our district's fourth- and fifth-grade coding club and its exciting opportunities.

School scheduling: 3 things every superintendent should know

Better schedules can be a major lever for improvement, simultaneously helping raise student achievement and lower costs.

Modern item analysis in ELA: Bridging the gap with the science of reading

We explore real-world scenarios where educators encounter challenges interpreting item analysis from standards-based ELA assessments and use these examples to illustrate effective diagnostic approaches.

Tyranny of OR: Using modern item analysis responsibly in ELA

Rather than being constrained by the "Tyranny of the OR," educators can embrace the "Genius of the AND."

Geothermal schools: K12 is now ideal for this tech

Geothermal energy systems use the soil, bedrock and groundwater under your school. Drilled wells allow heat exchange with the underground.

Election-related stress: How to help students manage anxiety

Students may still be experiencing heightened levels of election-related stress and anxiety as they process its outcomes and implications due to a non-stop, 24-hour news feed of information enabled by personal devices.

Career exploration: How Washington schools are setting the course

New initiative allows districts to bridge the gaps in access to career exploration that aligns with student aspirations and meet the state's workforce needs.

Here’s what a CoSN delegation learned about education in Spain

Three themes were key in the delegation’s focus during their site visits in Spain: Vision and leadership, student-centered learning and community and collaboration.

How to use AI ethically and strategically in K12 communications

School leaders must also consider how AI could impact trust within the community. Automated communications, while efficient, can feel impersonal if not used strategically.

Education policy: How it will shift under new administration

If appointed secretary of education, Linda McMahon’s tenure is likely to emphasize workforce development, parental rights and a decentralization of federal education oversight.

How to make computer science and AI education ethical and inclusive

Integrating AI and CS education into K12 curricula with an emphasis on ethics and inclusivity is no small feat, but the potential benefits are enormous.

These CTE trends bring the future workforce into focus

Let’s do our part as educators to leverage CTE to help today’s students experience life-affirming academic success and capitalize on that positive momentum.

Boiling point: How to predict the post-ESSER pressure cooker

While post-ESSER transition presents significant challenges, it also offers an opportunity for districts to reassess priorities and innovate.

Ending chronic absenteeism: Effective, empathetic communication is the key

It is really important to not only share and explain the benefits of regular school attendance but to also develop a shared understanding of the factors underlying chronic absenteeism.

K12 workforce building: The Times They Are a Changin’

School districts that emphasize inclusivity, mobility and flexibility build a stronger workforce and a culture centered on human needs.

Agile education: How to develop problem-solvers and problem-finders

Agile approaches can help teachers and students make authentic learning a reality in the classroom by providing an "operating system" for teams to work together.

ROI and LOI: 2 important tools to tackle budget season

Return on investment (ROI) and learn on investment (LOI)—can help leaders make informed and balanced decisions and protect initiatives that are essential for student success.

Rethinking dyslexia: Shifting our focus from diagnosis to instruction

"Dysteachia" results in massive numbers of children who cannot read and causes districts to become so overwhelmed with providing intervention that they may inadvertently overlook the issues in general education instruction.

ESSER made us do things differently. What’s next?

Here are some lessons from ESSER that can help states, districts and schools get the most out of their existing dollars and build partnerships that can expand their funds going forward.

Youth literacy: How to take a systems approach

School leaders and lawmakers must advocate for high-quality early childhood education and adequate funding to support youth literacy.

How to deepen the meaning of service hours with self-reflection

The most important lesson of self-discovery that we would like students to experience is the realization that they are powerful engines of change.

Career-connected learning: It’s how to prepare all students for success

Career-connected learning is critical to keeping students engaged and building trust with the communities we serve.

How to re-engage students with action-driven projects

The benefits of action-driven learning go beyond the classroom: Students who are taught from an early age that they have agency and can take action to improve the world are far more likely to be career-ready upon graduation.

Educator wellness: How to keep it top of mind

Teacher well-being requires a holistic approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of teachers' professional and personal lives.

Make mental health a top priority regardless of election results

This election season, amid all the rhetoric and debate, there is one thing we cannot afford to overlook: the mental health of America’s young people.

Financial challenges: How to guide districts with transparency

As positions are reduced and schools close, the community deserves to know how every dollar is spent and how priorities are being set.

Domino effect: Without licensed teachers, student academics take a hit

For over a decade, states have been aware of the looming teacher shortage, yet many have failed to take meaningful action.

Data overload: 4 ways we can free up time for teachers

Educators now fill the roles of analysts, accountants and actuaries in response to the K12’s evolution into a data-driven culture.