Accelerating Equitable Learning Recovery: District Chiefs as Deciders

This learning and engagement opportunity — moderated by Jeimee Estrada-Miller, CGLR Senior Fellow — featured a panel of outstanding district leaders from across the country and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, to discuss the drivers of their decision-making processes and priorities around key issues, including the future of remote learning; student, teacher and classroom supports; parent and family engagement; and accelerating equitable learning recovery. The four superintendents on our panel, William R. Hite, Ed.D., from the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Edward Manuszak from Dundee Community Schools, Michigan; Grant Rivera, Ed.D., from Marietta City Schools, Georgia; and Avis Williams, Ed.D., Selma City Schools, Alabama, shared that they all plan to return to in-person instruction in the fall, with half of our panel sharing that their districts are providing full virtual academies as an option for families. Valerie Truesdale, Ph.D., Assistant Executive Director of American Association of School Administrators, shared that across the country, she has seen the trend that many districts are returning to full in-person and some are providing virtual options, but that few districts are providing hybrid options given the tremendous difficulty for educators to implement that program. The top spending priorities of the unprecedented recovery dollars across these diverse districts had a few common trends: (1) investing in accelerating learning recovery through extended learning time; (2) investing in people through professional development, additional compensation, reduced class sizes and self-care opportunities; and (3) investing in infrastructure to ensure buildings are fully equipped to have students safely return in the fall. 

Following the panel discussion, there was a lively town hall conversation adding superintendents from three additional school districts, Vivian Ekchian, Ed.D., from Glendale Unified, California; Margaret Marotta from Haverhill Public Schools, Massachusetts; and David Moore, Ed.D., from Indian River County, Florida. The superintendents discussed the importance of learning from the pandemic. They discussed that reimagining education is an essential silver lining from this time, that they must examine what is working best for children underserved by their districts, and that the jury is not out on the efficacy of virtual learning as a viable, long-term option for children. This conversation significantly contributes to understanding the tremendous change the pandemic has had on our education systems and how brave district leaders are meeting the challenge on behalf of their communities.