The Pivotal Role of the School District

The local school district has more power to increase student achievement for all children than any other point in the educational system. Superintendents and other educational leaders have profound influence on their districts on their districts as holistic systems.

A Key Lever for Change At Scale The district sets policies, practices and direction that determine the quality of teaching and learning. It also provides the connective tissue between schools and their communities, and between schools and state and federal governments. As such, the district is a key lever of systemic, sustainable change at scale.

Serving Low-Income Students There are more than 400 large public school districts* in the U.S. that are located in or encompass low-income communities. Schools in these districts serve nearly 15 million students, the majority of whom are Latino, African-American and / or recent immigrants whose families live on the economic margins of society.

Transformative Potential Unrealized Despite dedicated leaders and teachers, the transformative potential of districts is largely unrealized. Most K-12 school systems are not designed or structured to deliver high-quality learning that results in elevated levels of proficiency for all students, particularly for children of color and poverty.

* This figure is based upon information from Quality Education Data, a national marketing services firm that provides research on public schools.