Opinion

Why Gen Z has a new nickname: ‘Toolbelt generation’

Gen Z is leading the charge as the toolbelt generation, but the focus on skilled trades goes beyond manual work to many technology fields.

A leader’s game plan: How to make more time for the most important tasks

All leaders must devote some time to transactional realities. But to become transformational, your greatest success must come from connecting with and empowering people.

Emergency room to operating room: How to transform your tech department

In many school districts, the technology department operates under constant pressure, responding to outages, fixing broken devices, and troubleshooting system failures at a moment's notice.

Fueling the future: Why student transportation deserves national attention

Budget cuts could hit transportation services that ensure students with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness can access school safely and reliably.

How to lead through uncertainty: Essential skills for superintendents

Guiding a district through unpredictable challenges requires more than administrative expertise—it demands visionary leadership, adaptability and a steadfast commitment to the well-being of the entire learning community.

From piecemeal to principled: Why you need an AI governance manifesto

A governance manifesto acts as a “North Star,” aligning every AI effort with shared district priorities and ensuring cohesive implementation.

5 questions every school should ask about new technology

Efficiency isn’t about doing more with less. It’s about making intentional choices that align with your mission.

Uplifting tomorrow’s leaders by celebrating their history

How North Thurston Public Schools and the Nisqually Tribal Council are partnering to make Native Studies a pillar of a rich and diverse curriculum.

Creativity is the skill AI can’t replace—and schools shouldn’t ignore

If we want to prepare young people for an AI-dominated world, we must champion learning models that inspire creativity, persistence and collaboration.

Innovation schools are retaining teachers. Here is how

Just as innovation schools have reinvented K12 for underserved students, they are shaking up how underappreciated teachers are hired, trained and supported.

Digital mapping: How to speed up school emergency response

Digital mapping will not remove every risk, but the evidence is clear: it shortens response times, strengthens teamwork and saves lives.

Early literacy: How to implement programs that start strong

Literacy isn’t just a single classroom, single-subject issue—it’s a community effort. When we build the foundation together, we build better readers for life.

Dig into these benchmarks on AI and cybersecurity

CoSN recently released the 2025 State of EdTech Leadership Report. It provides important benchmarks on emerging AI technologies and evolving cybersecurity measures.

7 strategies for preschool learning that will last

Preschool educators face the unique challenge of balancing structure with flexibility, fostering independence while providing support, and building academic readiness through play.

Rethinking bus safety as key to the student experience

We see our buses as rolling classrooms—extensions of our district culture and climate.

In an AI world, the humanities matter more than ever

AI raises the stakes for the very skills the humanities have always taught, including critical thinking, cultural awareness and empathy.

How to talk to high schoolers about taking a gap year

High school seniors don’t have to choose between a gap year and college. There is a third option that more counselors and administrators should be talking about.

4 strategies for boosting adolescent literacy

Reading, understanding and synthesizing written texts is a core skill set that helps students acquire knowledge, think critically and excel in their studies.

There is resistance to a key solution to teacher shortages

Recent reports show that these severe teacher shortages exist in urban, inner-city, suburban and rural school districts.

Advocacy vs. activism: How superintendents foster sustainable change

Activism energizes public discourse and calls attention to systemic needs but advocacy channels that energy into sustainable progress.

Some lessons fade and some last for years. Why?

The answer lies in the power of moments—the moments that make learning not just an intellectual exercise, but an emotional experience.

How one district cut chronic absenteeism by 70%

Amid soaring rates of chronic absenteeism nationwide, Roseville City School District in California has achieved remarkable success by reimagining how they approach student attendance.

Rethinking the onboarding of leaders: Here are 5 mistakes to avoid

Effective onboarding can reduce turnover, enhance student engagement, foster a positive school culture and streamline organizational operations.

Uncertainty, anxiety, hope: How parents feel about the Education Department

A survey shows a split in emotion, with about as many parents expressing anger and anxiety as feeling hopeful and excited.

Career exploration: Why it should start in elementary school

In elementary school, students are at their most curious. They ask big questions and imagine big futures.

Why Title I, II and IV funding matters for K12 and workforce readiness

Schools face impossible choices without this funding: cutting programs, overloading staff and reducing student support.

Unifying fragmented data systems to streamline district-level validation

In this environment, each district must focus on the processes and tools they control. At the top of the list: a data system to gather assessment results, grades, attendance, behavior and progress monitoring.

Teacher stress exceeds pandemic levels. Here’s how to respond

Nearly half of K12 teachers say this school year has been the most stressful of their career—even more stressful than the pandemic era.

Let’s recommit to representation, opportunity and belonging

Representation matters—not as a symbolic gesture, but because it results in better outcomes. Diverse teaching staff contribute to higher academic achievement and stronger relationships with students.

AI policy: These are 5 important steps to success

With a clear AI policy, you can harness the potential to improve student outcomes and administrative efficiency while also ensuring responsible, ethical artificial intelligence use that prioritizes student safety.

Large print books promise powerful results for all readers

Large print books impact literacy development significantly, leading students to feel confident and less anxious about reading in class.

When school safety isn’t about fear: How connections transform security

When “keeping bad things out” becomes the overarching goal, we often miss a critical point: real safety is not just about avoiding something negative; it is about building something positive.

How to be more strategic with classroom technology

One-to-one computing initiatives have been rolling out long enough for school leaders to realize that cost includes not just the purchase price but also support and maintenance

How staff are using the latest tech to save lives

The most impactful safety plans empower every staff member to take action when an emergency occurs.

4 ways rural school districts can better promote themselves

Small districts can promote themselves to the public by showcasing their unique strengths, fostering community engagement and actively communicating their efforts to improve student outcomes.