Chronic absenteeism, student misbehavior, accelerated learning and youth mental health are some of their biggest priorities this year. But one crisis in particular is slowing down progress in all of these areas.

In an era of high stress and turnover at the top, several leaders are sharing their strategies for remaining energized and in touch with the reasons they became educators.

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.

Chronic absenteeism has eased some from post-pandemic highs but it remains more severe in districts that, even pre-COVID, had been struggling most to keep kids in school. School leaders will need "both carrots and sticks to address the problem," one researcher contends.