School districts can improve attendance by sending messages to parents at optimal times, such as between 2 and 4 p.m. or close to 8 a.m., and by starting communication early in the academic year, an analysis by School Status finds. The study, which looked at 3.3 million texts from 205 districts, found that families respond more quickly and frequently to messages during these times, especially when the messages are specific and empathetic.

By dedicating 45 minutes to a single, meaningful task with no distractions, you can tap in to your brain's natural peaks in attention and creativity -- something called your "ultradian rhythm," writes career coach Luciana Paulise. Taking a 15-minute break in between work sessions acts as a buffer and should be spent stretching, walking or briefly checking emails before diving back in, Paulise notes. "Once you master the rhythm, expand it beyond work. Timebox everything: your workouts, lunch, family time, reading and even rest."

The Livingston Union School District in California has significantly reduced chronic absenteeism and suspensions by investing in comprehensive school counseling, according to a UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools study. The district's approach includes regular meetings between counselors, students and families, as well as targeted interventions for academic and personal challenges, all of which has improved student well-being and outperformed state averages in post-pandemic recovery.

Educational leaders Michael Nelson and Peter DeWitt highlight the importance of instructional leadership collectives in fostering collaboration among educators. They emphasize the role of facilitators in anchoring discussions to core issues, illuminating progress through data analysis and elevating understanding by challenging assumptions.

School districts are developing AI policies, with Alaska education officials recently issuing guidelines emphasizing cultural responsiveness and security. In California, the Los Altos School District is involving students in drafting policy, while Florida's Sarasota County Schools is revising its AI policy to allow students to use AI tools for brainstorming and support, but not for grading.