he past several months have been transformative for K–12 schools. The shift to remote learning in the spring pushed school leaders and teachers to rethink what teaching and learning look like today and how that vision could shape the future of education.

But transitioning to an online environment was far from easy. The pandemic further exacerbated existing challenges, from connectivity issues to achievement and equity gaps. Teachers also struggled to engage students with virtual lessons, particularly those who did not have reliable access to a device, adequate Wi-Fi or tech support at home.

Now that most schools are starting the academic year with extended online learning, that student engagement piece is even more important to have. School leaders will need to collaborate with teachers and education stakeholders to provide purposeful learning experiences while tackling equity issues and meeting students where they are.