The biggest drops have occurred at Ivy Plus schools, while Black and Hispanic first-year student enrollment soared at some state flagships.

Superintendents who champion innovation while prioritizing equity, privacy and ethics can create smart schools that prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Schools regularly create conditions where adults feel pressured to share, contribute or display enthusiasm, even when the task is mismatched, personal context is unseen, and the activity does little to support meaningful professional learning.

Some states with school cellphone policies are now weighing daylong bans, including for high schoolers, prompting pushback over how strict rules should be and concerns about emergency safety.