Opinion

Robotics is powering the future of CTE—and it’s here now

It’s important to understand that robotics isn’t just a nice addition to CTE programs—it’s essential for preparing students for the future.

Youth archery: A surprising way to engage your students

Once kids experience the bow and arrow, learn the 11 steps to success and send an arrow to the target, they’re hooked.

How to strengthen software and cloud protection in K12

With the following elements in place, district leaders can help to ensure that technology remains useful, rather than harmful.

Mindfulness for school leaders: 4 ways to transform your day

Mindfulness offers a pathway to slow down, refocus and move with greater intentionality. Even small moments of calm can ripple out to energize the entire school environment.

How a lesson can save a life: Educator’s guide to “A Teddy Bear’s Dream”

Imagine a world where teddy bears are no longer symbols of childhood innocence, but memorials to young lives lost. This is the stark reality "A Teddy Bear's Dream" confronts us with.

STEM: Why high quality is key to college and careers

Investing in STEM today means developing the problem-solvers, innovators and leaders who will shape the world of tomorrow.

Here are the cases for—and against—closing the Education Department

Let's examine both sides of the argument, presenting cases for and against the dissolution of this federal agency in order to help you stay informed on why there are various perspectives.

Advanced manufacturing: 5 steps to launch a successful program

We’ve had an advanced manufacturing program for a while, but I felt that we should go a little deeper into industrial education and what industry calls “mechatronics.”

Structured literacy: Why isn’t it everywhere?

Structured literacy is a powerful approach to teaching reading and writing grounded in decades of scientific research. How powerful? Researchers have estimated that educators using evidence-based practices can improve reading outcomes for up to 95% of students.

Don’t overlook onboarding—it could transform your school system

Too often public education school systems have fragmented and inconsistent onboarding programs. Those gaps fuel staff turnover, erode trust and create inefficiencies that ultimately harm students.

Content filtering: Why teachers now need more control

There is a fine line between respecting student privacy while also ensuring that students are not exposed to disturbing or harmful website content.

Chronic absenteeism: How reliable transportation helps

Chronic absenteeism is one of the most significant barriers to student success, and its effects can reverberate for a lifetime.

Career paths break down barriers for all students

Let's ditch an outmoded narrative. Career is now the destination. College is simply one of many paths to get there.

Culture of yes: How to future-proof your district

One of Forney ISD's most ambitious projects, Opportunity Central, is a hub where education, workforce development and community engagement intersect.

Play power: New ideas to drive development in K8 classrooms

The pressure to meet academic standards and excel in standardized testing often overshadows an equally vital component of student development—play.

Student potential: How schools can stop running out the clock

One of the biggest challenges educators face is ensuring that students have meaningful options if they find themselves with “nothing to do” when their coursework is done.

CoSN is tracking the latest K12 edtech innovations

CoSN recently released the 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report, spotlighting the emerging technologies transforming K12 teaching and learning.

Rigor: How to reclaim the concept to support teachers

Best-selling authors of a new book detail how districts can reframe an unpopular word to create a collaborative atmosphere that inspires teachers and students to take academic risks.

5 budget-friendly ways to revitalize school libraries

With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, even the smallest schools can transform their libraries into vibrant, welcoming hubs for students.

How to quickly transform curricula and assessments with AI

AI-driven assessment tools have the potential to help school districts identify gaps in curriculum alignment with state standards.

Critical role of professional interpreters in K12 education

Language barriers can significantly hinder academic success, parental involvement and overall student well-being for the more than five million English language learners in U.S. public schools.

K12 literacy: 5 ways to make successful change

We put our first structured literacy program in place about four years ago—smack in the middle of the global pandemic.

Expanded learning is one way to rethink K12 success

California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program is a chance to truly reimagine what out-of-school time can be for students.

CTE: How to integrate AI and CS for workforce success

Technological innovation is fundamentally reshaping industries and the skills required to succeed in the workforce. CTE programs, which aim to equip students with practical,...

You need to go beyond grades to engage families

Instead of doubling down on grades as the “go-to” marker, district leaders and educators can leverage this moment to find more meaningful and engaging ways to discuss academic progress.

Collective leadership: Why it is so urgent in education

The work of some of our nation’s boldest education leaders points the way forward with successes they’ve already enjoyed.

How to tackle declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism

With enrollment declining and absenteeism rising, districts face growing challenges in maintaining engagement and improving academic outcomes.

We must unlock the untapped power of women in education leadership

Women bring vision, resilience, outcomes and a proven ability to foster collaboration in the most challenging of circumstances. They are so often precisely the leaders our school systems need.

Ready, set, advocate! A quick start guide for superintendents and new board members

The 2024 election is over, but the political season is just beginning. With a new wave of lawmakers, now is the time for superintendents and board members to advocate for education priorities.

Career-connected learning: Meeting the needs of the future workforce now

Merging classroom learning with real world provides students with personally meaningful career exploration and equips them with the appropriate context for their studies.

Some compelling reasons for electrifying your bus fleet

Now is an excellent time for K12 “yellow” school buses, college campus transportation, and public transit systems to transition to zero-emission electric buses.

Executive functioning: How to transform teaching and learning

Embedding executive functioning throughout the school day lightens the load for educators, empowering them to teach more effectively and foster meaningful student growth.

How to empower teachers to differentiate, innovate and inspire

High-quality instructional materials and supplemental educational resources represent the best of both worlds: the rigor and coherence of a well-designed curriculum combined with the flexibility and adaptability needed to meet the diverse needs of today’s learners.

Illusion of the ‘A’: How to look beyond short-term success

If the ultimate goal of education is to prepare students for life, then our focus must shift from rewarding fleeting success to fostering genuine understanding that lasts.

New resources for leaders on ensuring data privacy

Among the new data privacy resources on the CoSN website is a series of five video interviews with “CoSN Privacy Champions” who each share their thoughts about the importance of student data privacy.