5 Ways to Set Your School Up for Student Success Next Year

As the school year winds down it’s the perfect time to reflect: Are your systems truly supporting your core mission and helping improve student outcomes?

Here are five key areas schools are reevaluating as the year wraps up—along with practical ways to make next year more efficient, connected, and focused on what truly matters: supporting students, staff, and families.

1. Are Lesson Planning Tools Helping Teachers Support Students?

Teachers already juggle grading, classroom management, and meetings. If lesson planning tools aren’t reducing that burden or enabling effective instruction, it may be time for a change.

Look for tools that offer:

• Standards alignment so lessons are clearly mapped to learning objectives
• Flexible planning that allows teachers to adjust for different learners and changing needs
• AI Assisted support with built-in resources to promote creativity and differentiation
• Collaboration features so plans can be shared or reused to save time and reduce repetition
  

The right tools can help teachers spend more time teaching and less time managing content.
→ Learn more about lesson planning solutions

2. Are Parents Getting the Communication They Need to Stay Engaged?

Keeping parents informed is vital for student success. But inconsistent communication—especially when spread across multiple platforms—can leave families out of the loop.

An effective system should include:

• Consistent updates that give families regular, meaningful insights into their child’s progress
• User-friendly messaging that allows staff to communicate without added stress
• Centralized access so parents can view grades, events, and messages in one place

A more unified approach helps parents stay engaged and better equipped to support their child’s education.
→ See how to streamline parent communication

3. Do Teachers Have the Student Data They Need to Respond Effectively?

Student performance shifts quickly. Without real-time access to data, teachers may miss key trends or opportunities for early intervention.

Your data system should deliver:

• A unified view of all student information in a single platform
• Timely insights that help staff identify patterns early
• Actionable data that supports instruction, interventions, and parent conversations

Empowering staff with better data leads to faster, more impactful support for students.
→ Discover ways to unify student data

4. Are Payments and Fees Easy for Families to Manage—and for Staff to Track?

While not directly tied to academics, managing fees efficiently supports smooth school operations and reduces stress for both families and staff.

A good payment system should provide:

• Centralized tracking for administrators to monitor and manage balances easily
• A clear family experience where families can see what they owe and make payments online
• Automated reminders to simplify overdue notices and follow-ups

Clear, simple payment systems free up time and improve the experience for everyone.
→ Explore smarter billing solutions

5. Is Your Budget Supporting Tools That Help Students, Teachers, and Families Succeed?

With limited resources, it’s essential to invest in systems that directly support your mission—without redundancy or unnecessary complexity.

An optimized edtech budget should reflect:

• Minimal tool overlap so you’re not paying for systems that do the same thing
• Improved efficiency by reducing the time staff spend navigating disconnected tools
• Strategic alignment between tech investments and student success goals

Optimizing your edtech strategy can reduce costs and make a bigger impact where it matters most.
→ Find ways to maximize your edtech budget