The State of the American School District: Policy Recommendations for the Road Ahead

In the face of unprecedented academic, personnel, and student and staff wellness challenges over the last 20 months, public school districts, charter management organizations (CMOs), and state education agencies have taken dramatic steps to expand their scope of services. The American School District Panel (ASDP) created a survey panel to ensure that decisions about education policy are informed by the leaders tasked with putting it into practice. Survey results and the experiences of district and CMO leaders to date confirm that significant shifts have already occurred, including dramatic increases in technology deployment and mental health services. However, concerns about future funding once federal aid expires could jeopardize these gains. This brief highlights five key takeaways from ASDP's research that have implications for state policy and practice: (1) Parents do not want to return to the status quo; (2) Districts need partners to help them meet the growing range of student needs; (3) Sustainable services that supplement district efforts can mitigate the funding cliff; (4) Big bets at the state level could yield big dividends; and (5) Districts need support--and guardrails--on virtual schools and online learning. [This report was produced by the American School District Panel (ASDP).]