What will define district progress this school year

In April of this year, superintendents from 37 states participated in our annual survey, sharing their top priorities, pressures, and the tough choices they face every day. The results offer a national snapshot of what it means to lead a district right now.

As the academic and fiscal year wound down—and with a new federal administration already reshaping the landscape—superintendents described how they’re navigating shifting board dynamics, fast-moving AI adoption, and a new wave of changes and uncertainty from Washington.

In an era of tight budgets and growing demands, staying focused on what matters most is no small task. To help district leaders cut through the noise and make smart, strategic choices, we’ve identified three essential questions to help guide superintendents as they prepare for the 2025-26 school year.

Question #1: Are my vision and goals for this year aligned with those of my school board?

Keeping conversations focused on instructional priorities and avoiding political disagreements over curricula, equity initiatives, or book policies has become increasingly difficult each year. Nearly a third of superintendents reported rising political division on their boards. In response, many are doubling down on communication, with 63% saying they’re spending more time with board members. But more time hasn’t necessarily led to more trust.

What moves that needle? Superintendents who report improved trust with their boards cite two factors: clear alignment on strategic vision and goals (87%), and stronger board understanding of governance best practices (100%). These findings echo our previous research on the Hallmarks of a High-Performance District, which showed that shared vision is a prerequisite for system-wide progress. In the end, it’s clarity, not quantity, of communication that strengthens a board’s confidence in district leadership.

The Eight Hallmarks of a High-Performance District

Question #2: Am I using AI to solve my efficiency problems?

Even as billions in federal cuts loom over K-12 schools, the current administration is making targeted investments in AI adoption. New grants are on the table to support districts ready to use AI to stretch limited staff, time, and funding. But districts must act fast (and strategically) to benefit.

Despite the clear opportunity, many school systems have been slow to define how AI can improve day-to-day operations. In our 2024 survey, just 4% of superintendents identified developing AI policies as a very urgent priority, ranking it last among all issues surveyed despite growing risks and opportunities to improve efficiency. The 2025 data show districts are still catching up: while 60% have launched AI task forces, only 35% have issued guidance for teachers, and just 39% have policies in place for students.

Districts that can establish clear, safe, and strategic use cases now will be best positioned to drive real gains in efficiency and secure competitive federal dollars. As the conversation shifts from tools like ChatGPT and MagicSchool toward more advanced systems that act autonomously, superintendents need a framework that balances innovation with governance. That clarity will be essential not just for protecting students, but for getting ahead of the funding curve.

Prepare Students (and Your District) for a Future With AI

Question #3: What can I do to accelerate math progress in my district?

Above all, superintendents remain focused on what matters most: student learning. And this year, no issue ranked higher than accelerating math skills recovery. While the top five urgent concerns all centered on the foundations for student success—recruiting high-quality teachers, improving attendance, and more—math acceleration stood out across the board. It was the top concern for every respondent subgroup, not just high-need districts.

Superintendents must help their systems move beyond the long-standing “Math Wars“, the binary debate between district instruction and inquiry-based learning. Emerging research suggests that the most effective question isn’t which method is best, but when each is most effective. Grounding your district’s math strategy in this kind of pragmatic, research-informed approach can drive faster and more equitable progress.

Where to go from here

Superintendents today are under more pressure than ever to deliver results despite tighter budgets, divided boards, and strained staff capacity. The challenge isn’t just moving forward; it’s making meaningful progress with fewer resources and less time.

Our Achieve More With Less framework identified five areas that enable districts to drive outsized progress in a resource-constrained environment. We work with district leadership teams to improve their efficiency and efficacy, providing expert support, practical tools, and ready-to-use templates every step of the way. Whether you’re rolling out AI policies or accelerating math gains, we help district leaders and their teams stay focused on what matters most.

To learn more about how we can support your work, fill out the form below or reach out to us directly at [email protected]. For the full findings on this year’s Voice of the Superintendents, click here.