By LeiLani Cauthen
Effective leaders are distinguished by their ability to accurately estimate what it takes to succeed. That clarity of purpose is what makes consistent winners and, ultimately, great leaders.
We do not want to add more gloom to an already difficult year, but the results of our Digital Transition Survey make one thing clear: the journey ahead is longer and more complex than many expected when the year began. More than 32,000 schools and districts interacted with the survey, and the patterns emerging across the country require immediate attention.
- Significant declines in enrollment. In some districts these losses amount to tens of thousands of students. Trusted administrators who work closely with the Learning Counsel warn that a number of districts could face closure if these trends continue. This is a profound and urgent challenge for public education.
- Large drops in teacher retention. We’re seeing educators leave for alternative arrangements, including neighborhood co-ops or “PODs” where teachers are paid directly by parents to run small learning groups. This kind of attrition weakens the stability of traditional school systems.
- Widespread belief that “normal” will not return. In over 60 webinars hosted this year by the Learning Counsel, a clear consensus has emerged among administrators and educators: the previous status quo is unlikely to come back in the same form.
- Students absent and achievement slipping. The crisis affects more than attendance on scheduled video calls. Even when students are nominally enrolled and schools allow in-person attendance, many are not physically present, and overall achievement is suffering.
- Rising rates of opting out and disengagement. This is not only a pandemic phenomenon. There’s a growing divide in how families view public education, and a simultaneous rise in consumer expectations for seamless, personalized digital experiences. Many families now expect learning to combine high-quality digital workflows with human interaction, flexible timing, and convenient access—far beyond the simple model of moving a classroom to a video call. From a consumer perspective, this demand is understandable: even young children navigate sophisticated digital services with ease.
If “normal” is not coming back, should we give up on public education? Absolutely not. But we must rethink its design and delivery. A new model is emerging. I call it the Big Fix—not a patch, but an institutional-level reimagining of how learning is delivered.
This model will go beyond hybrid classrooms where teachers mix in-person and virtual instruction. Instead, institutions will blend programs, services, and delivery modes in ways that meet families’ expectations for flexibility, personalization, and quality. These changes will require leaders to level up their understanding of the landscape and to build capacity across entire school and district teams.
To prepare for these shifts, everyone on your teams should be familiar with the current scene and the language that describes it. If you’ve missed Learning Counsel Special Reports, now is the time to catch up. A useful place to start is the EduJedi Dictionary, which clarifies terms and functions that matter in today’s digital learning environment.
From Section 2: Categories: ACTIONS — Functions of the code that do things, generally singularly and discretely without involvement with other processes.
DEFINITION: 1. Annotating
Annotating is the function that allows users to add notes, highlights, comments, and other markings directly into a piece of content using a cursor, mouse, digital stylus, voice input, or touch. These annotations can be saved, organized, and manipulated for later review, collaboration, assessment, or reporting. Well-designed annotation features support student engagement, provide evidence of learning, and enable more meaningful feedback.
Up Your Digital Game
Start now by getting your entire team to read and understand these definitions. Encourage staff to volunteer to review sections, discuss implications, and apply the ideas in planning and instruction. Build your knowledge aggressively and collaboratively so you can meet the heightened expectations of parents and students and restore confidence in your programs. This is not incremental change; it is a strategic elevation of how education is delivered and experienced.
Download it now
About the author
LeiLani Cauthen is CEO and Publisher of The Learning Counsel. She specializes in the digital content ecosystem, software development, adoption processes, and models for school coverage. With two decades of research, media publishing, and market leadership across the high-tech, education, and government sectors, she helps define the practical changes shaping teaching and learning in this century.