Author: studyblog

Key points: In emergencies, time is the most valuable resource–and it’s often the one in shortest supply. Whether a medical crisis, fire, or security threat, the difference between a quick response and a delayed one can significantly shape outcomes. While training, communication, and coordination are all essential to emergency preparedness, one foundational element is often underestimated: accurate campus mapping. At its core, effective emergency response depends on knowing how to get to the right place at the right time and with the right resources. Digital maps turn abstract safety plans into operational reality. When someone needs help, having location specifics,…

Key points: Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a provider of and advocate for hands-on STEM and career-connected learning, has announced a new partnership with the Indiana Microschool Collaborative (IMC), an organization advancing innovative microschool models that serve students in small, flexible, student-centered learning environments.   The partnership reflects PLTW’s commitment to meeting students where learning is happening–across traditional schools and emerging models like microschools–and ensuring all learners have access to high-quality education.   Through the collaboration, PLTW has developed elementary and middle school learning units designed specifically to support core content areas such as math, science, ELA and social studies, while building transferable skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The curriculum was piloted and refined in…

Key points: Across the country, districts are confronting a growing PK-12 leadership pipeline crisis. Veteran principals, assistant principals, and district administrators are retiring at increasing rates, yet there is not a sufficiently prepared pool of aspiring leaders ready to step into these roles. Without a strong PK-12 leadership pipeline, schools face instability, stalled initiatives, and diminished support for teachers and students at a time when steady leadership is essential. A large portion of current school leaders are nearing retirement eligibility, and many accelerated their departure plans in recent years. At the same time, fewer educators are pursuing administrative credentials. The…

Key points: Without a doubt, career and technical education (CTE) is priceless for high school students wanting to get real-world, hands-on job skills before they graduate and turn their interests into career paths. Increased support for CTE programs at the federal and state levels, coupled with evolving technology and new research-led learning approaches, has placed CTE programs on center stage for 2026.  There is growing evidence that CTE functions as an early talent pipeline for employers, not just a preparation program. It is with certainty, employers value CTE experience, actively hire participants, and see partnerships with CTE programs as a…

Key points: In just one academic year, Marietta City Schools in Georgia saw the percentage of elementary English learners (ELs) working in or above grade level rocket from 11 percent to 67 percent. Among the charter system’s middle and high schoolers, the percentage of students struggling with foundational grammar skills plummeted from 78 percent to 34 percent. The catalyst for this surge in language skills wasn’t smaller class sizes or intensive tutoring. It was something far simpler. Marietta City Schools implemented programs that leveraged students’ heritage language as a bridge for English learning. Previously, the charter system had adhered to…

Key points: In our district, families were checking multiple apps just to keep up with school communication. One child’s teacher posted in one platform. Another school used something different. District updates lived somewhere else entirely. Important messages were easy to miss. Parents were frustrated. Educators found themselves repeating the same information across multiple tools–never fully confident that everyone had received it. At Phoenix Elementary School District #1–a 100 percent Title I district serving nearly 4,500 students across 12 schools–this fragmentation wasn’t sustainable. What we learned quickly is that family engagement doesn’t improve simply because schools communicate more. It improves when…

Key points: AI is transforming the way students discover, evaluate, and choose colleges, according to a national survey of more than 5,000 high school students conducted by education company EAB. The survey shows 46 percent of students now use AI tools such as ChatGPT during their college search, up sharply from 26 percent in spring 2025. Nearly one in five students (18 percent) removed a college from consideration based on information surfaced through AI-generated search results. “AI has, in a matter of months, moved from the margins to the mainstream of how teenagers explore colleges,” said Madeleine Rhyneer, Vice President of Consulting Services…

Key points: It’s critical that schools create an environment where students thrive and teachers and staff feel supported and empowered. K-12 districts need tools to keep their people connected, compliant, and continuously developing. This is where Frontline’s Human Capital Management software suite enters the equation. With intuitive technology that streamlines administrative tasks, districts can save valuable time and make informed, data-driven decisions at every stage of the employee lifecycle. Most importantly, it frees educators to focus on what matters most: Helping students succeed. Teacher turnover is nearing 22 percent nationwide–and even higher in urban districts. In a panel discussion, K-12…

Key points: Across the country, schools are raising alarms about chronic absenteeism. News stories highlight rising numbers of missed days, legislators are demanding answers from districts, and educators are feeling the stress. School leaders know attendance matters–it’s closely tied to academic outcomes, long-term success, and even a child’s overall health and wellness. Ensuring that absences are tracked and attendance numbers increase are often two of the highest district-wide priorities for administrators. However, what if districts are measuring the wrong thing? Getting kids back in the building is a big win for educators, but it also sets a low bar for what…

Key points: Today, about 80 percent of K-12 students use computers or tablets at school–up from about 50 percent before the pandemic. Even as parents worry about too much “screen time,” schools are ramping it up.  At RAND, we recently surveyed more than 8,000 K-12 teachers about their use of digital instructional materials. Their responses show just how deeply technology has become woven into classroom life–and how uncertain educators remain about its impact on learning.  Schools have gone all-in on digital learning, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. But without clear guidelines on how much screen time is too much, or…