Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are six K-12 school districts to watch out for in 2020, some have seen educational success stories and some face threats and lawsuits. 

• How can philanthropy contribute to the success of school systems? What are some distinct education successes in your community? 

• Learn more about understanding the state of education philanthropy. 

As we continue into the new year, here are six districts worth keeping an eye on.

  1. San Diego Unified School District, California  While the most recent National Assessment of Education Progress provided few results to celebrate, the San Diego Unified School District was one district participating in the Trial Urban District Assessment that continues to see gains in reading and math in both 4th and 8th grades.
  2.  Paradise Unified School District, California   With newly appointed superintendent Tom Taylor, the Paradise Unified School District, north of Sacramento, continues to rebuild and recover from the deadly and devastating Camp Fire, which burned down or damaged most of its nine school buildings in November 2018.
  3. Providence Public Schools, Rhode Island Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced a takeover of the district in November, just months after parents urged state intervention and a scathing report from Johns Hopkins University detailed the district's "deep, systemic dysfunctions" that "clearly, and very negatively, impact the opportunities of children in Providence."
  4. Houston Independent School District, Texas Texas too attempted a takeover of its largest district in November, citing the school board's "breakdown in governance" and one chronically underperforming high school as reasons.
  5. Rowan-Salisbury School System, North Carolina Deemed a "low performing" district in 2015, the Rowan-Salisbury School System has risen to prominence in the years since as a beacon of innovation among the nation's public schools.
  6. Frisco Independent School District, Texas A northern suburb of Dallas, Frisco ISD has experienced quite a boom over the last 25 years, expanding from a handful of schools to nearly 70 as its student population ballooned to top 60,000 among local business growth. Even as the district meets expectations from the state, that growth brings its own share of challenges.

Read the full article about K-12 school districts 2020 by Linda Jacobson, Roger Riddell and Naaz Modan at Education Dive.