Throughout the first half of 2023, K12 and higher education institutions experienced 85 ransomware attacks, nearly doubling last year's recording, according to a new analysis from Comparitech. Unfortunately for the education sector as a whole, it's a troubling trend that shows no signs of slowing down, and it's costing schools a fortune in downtime.

Can social media—a source of much consternation in K12 these days—play a crucial role in whether the states your districts call home remain among the best (or worst) for educators? Superintendents and their teams should consider leveraging Instagram, X and other platforms to connect teaching recruits with more experienced educators who can share reasons to come work in the district, advises Ramon Goings, an associate professor in the Language Literacy & Culture Doctoral Program at the University of Maryland.

The 2023 "State of the American Student" contains reports from district and other experts on new approaches that "center instruction and support on what students need most."

Some 350,000 new students mean that K12 enrollment rates are recovering, but they still remain below pre-pandemic levels—2.09% lower, to be precise.