Providence School, a private school in California, has adopted a balanced approach to AI in the classroom, recognizing its potential while emphasizing the importance of traditional learning. The school's policy allows students to use AI only with explicit teacher permission, aiming to prevent misuse and encourage responsible use.

A majority of educators report a growth in career and technical education offerings over the past five years, primarily driven by student demand, according to a survey by the EdWeek Research Center. However, schools face challenges such as staffing shortages and lack of facilities. The most significant growth areas are digital technology, IT, AI and cybersecurity.

Being a people-pleaser at work can hinder your career advancement as you prioritize others' needs over your own goals, writes Beatriz Victoria Albina, a master certified coach, who explains that people-pleasing stems from a desire to avoid discomfort and manage others' emotions. Albina suggests building tolerance for discomfort as a way to break the habit, starting with small steps, such as saying, "Let me think about it and get back to you," to give yourself time to consider whether you can take on more work.

Campbell County Schools in Tennessee has transformed student services by digitizing critical functions, moving away from an outdated system with data silos and manual processes, according to Sara Douglas, the district's data leader. She writes that the digitization has improved efficiency, transparency and equity, particularly in managing student records and health plans, and the district has developed digital workflows for health care, attendance and graduation readiness.

Omaha Public Schools is facing a $61 million budget shortfall for the 2026-27 school year after receiving a $30.5 million overpayment in state aid for 2023-24 due to a calculation error related to the "poverty allowance." The Nebraska Department of Education has corrected the issue for future years, and the district may need to increase its levy to compensate for the overpayment.

From Montana to Louisiana, states are pioneering new approaches to assessment design. In the November issue of Educational Leadership, Lillian Pace and Jon Alfuth of KnowledgeWorks share examples of states and districts across the country who are exploring ways to bring competency-based design principles into their existing assessment systems.

In math, educators have long been forced to choose between assessment depth and time constraints—but AI is changing that. Read more from bestselling author Jay McTighe and Exemplars CEO Jay Meadows in the latest issue of Educational Leadership magazine.