The following resources might be helpful to school districts and the community partners who work with them.

Is It Time to Stop Funding Schools With Local Property Taxes? This Ed Note blog post comes from Michael Griffith, school finance strategist at Education Commission of the States, and overviews how school funding relates to property taxes.

School District Innovation Zones: A New Wave of District-led Efforts to Improve Economic Mobility This piece describes the Bridgespan Group’s latest research project, School District Innovation Zones: A New Wave of District-led Efforts to Improve Economic Mobility. The report focuses on a new wave of district-led “innovation zones”, including Chicago Public Schools, that holds promise to overcome the challenges of turning around failing schools and deliver significant improvements in student outcomes. (The Bridgespan Group)

Districts Tap Paraprofessionals to Meet Demand for Special Ed Teachers Familiarity with students can be a benefit, but the transition into new roles can also be a challenge. (Education Dive)

Thanks to Makerspaces, Rural Schools Can Teach STEM Skills Too Students learn valuable lessons and help their communities through creation. (EdTech)

2017 State Policy Review: School and district leadership This special report provides context and examples of new legislation impacting preparation, certification, induction, professional development, evaluation, and compensation for leaders of schools and districts.

Using Data to Accelerate the Impact of Early-stage Investments Why having enough money and data is the difference between success and failure for early stage organizations.