In his resignation letter obtained by The Oklahoman, McDaniel said an ongoing conflict with a current member of the Oklahoma City Public Schools board led him to resign. He does not identify the board member.

School facility upgrades can close about 10% of the achievement gap between high- and low-wealth school districts, while also increasing property values for the surrounding communities.

Leaders are therefore tasked not only with preparing for the unthinkable—they must also be ready to address parents' fears and answer their valid questions regarding emergency preparedness planning.

Support for public schools means more than just funding. A new ranking also considers vouchers, curriculum restrictions and other factors.