Focusing on the student-teacher relationship doesn't mean telling teachers to connect and engage students, and then walking away. Nor is it about finding the best technology to take over as much teaching as possible.

While it's been an issue for years, public school enrollment issues have worsened since COVID, forcing school closures as we near the end of pandemic relief funding. In one state's case, researchers are forecasting a decline of over half a million students by the 2031-32 school year.

Communication and connectedness will be the guiding lights as administrators and their teams work to improve school climate in 2024, says one group of K12 thought leaders.