Changes and Challenges in Federal Funding, AI & District Enrollment

During the April meeting of the Superintendent Collaborative, members addressed a wide range of pressing issues facing school leaders within their districts and across the nation. Members discussed the challenges of shifting federal funding policies, the potential of AI in education, and the ongoing impact of school choice on enrollment.

Here’s a brief recap of what was covered:

The Impact of Federal Funding Changes

A significant portion of Thursday’s meeting centered on the issue of federal funding for education. Superintendents from various states shared their experiences with sudden, often disruptive, changes in funding allocations.

For instance, Ohio schools were surprised by the withdrawal of grant money intended for career readiness programs, while California districts grappled with the immediate loss of funds for ongoing construction projects. Wisconsin took a proactive approach by providing districts with detailed reports on the potential impact of funding cuts, particularly on staffing levels.

While the impact varies by state, some districts are facing immediate program shutdowns, and others are dealing with potential future losses. A common concern is the lack of clear communication and the short notice given for these changes.

• Ohio: Grant programs for career readiness funding pulled back.
• Wisconsin: Impending threats of funding cuts impacting staffing, with districts provided with impact reports.
• California: $60 million in construction projects affected by sudden fund withdrawals.
• New Jersey: $85 million of COVID-19 relief extension funds pulled back.
• Missouri: The US Department of Education will accept new requests to extend the funding for any previously approved projects.

These anecdotes painted a picture of uncertainty and the need for districts to be agile and resourceful in their financial planning.

AI and Its Application in Schools

The Collaborative also explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address common communication challenges. Finalsite briefly showcased its upcoming intelligent website assistant, Ask AI, a tool designed to provide instant answers to common parent questions about things like lunch menus, board meeting policies, and event updates.

The tool's ability to provide instant, accurate information based on publicly available information on the school or district's website was seen as a way to save administrative time and improve parent engagement. 

Members are welcome to request a demo and learn more about how Finalsite’s Ask AI can better serve their community. A few other school leaders also shared their own experiences with AI tools, including:

• Fyxer AI: AI-powered email management and note-taking.
• Notebook LM: A Google tool for organizing information and generating summaries. Many have found that it's especially helpful for creating podcasts.
• While members are familiar with ChatGPT, Magic School was also mentioned as a valuable platform, especially for those within education.

Enrollment Challenges and School Choice

Another central theme was the ongoing debate around school choice and its impact on district enrollment. Superintendents from several different states brought up the challenges posed by voucher programs, charter school expansion, and open enrollment policies.

The group shared a few personal accounts of declining enrollment, budget constraints, and the difficult decisions districts are forced to make, such as school closures. Concerns were raised about funding disparities, accountability, and the potential for these policies to destabilize public school systems, particularly in rural areas. Those concerns included:

• Funding disparities: Vouchers often provide more funding per student than public school allocations.
• Accountability: Charter schools and voucher programs may lack the same accountability as public schools.
• Impact on rural districts: Open enrollment and voucher programs can disproportionately affect rural districts with limited resources.
• Immigration issues are causing hesitation in enrolling in TK (transitional kindergarten) and kindergarten.
• The financial impact of losing students and how it affects staffing.

Thanks to all the members who were able to attend the discussion live. We appreciate your thoughtful input and participation. The next meeting of the Collaborative is Thursday, May 1, at 11 am Eastern — we hope to see you there!