Education Resource Strategies

05/28/2026

ERS is pleased to announce that Jonathan Travers will step into the role of CEO on July 1, 2026, following a carefully planned transition. After more than 20 years of visionary leadership, Karen Hawley Miles will transition to a Founder in Residence role while continuing to serve as Board Chair.

Jonathan brings more than 25 years of experience in K-12 strategic resource use, including 20 years with ERS. Under his leadership, ERS will continue to be a trusted and valued partner to districts and states across the country as they look to better serve students and educators.

Please join us in congratulating Jonathan on becoming CEO and in celebrating Karen's impact both in leading the organization and in the field.

Read our full announcement below for more information.

Education Resource Strategies (ERS) announced today that Jonathan Travers will step into the role of CEO effective July 1, 2026, following a planned leadership transition. After more than 20 years of service, Karen Hawley Miles will step down as...

05/19/2026

How do you ensure district investments are truly improving experiences and outcomes for students?

Our facilitated Education ROI course—offered in partnership with ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College—supports district leaders in applying an ROI process to real decisions, engaging stakeholders around shared priorities, and leaving with a clear path forward.

The first 10 registrants can enroll at 50% off with code PELH-ERS-F50. Learn more and register here:

Learn the five-step EdROI process to align resources, support innovation, and lead financially sustainable, data-driven school and district strategies.

05/18/2026

This budget season has asked districts to do more with less—and communicate tough choices in a climate of uncertainty and distrust. If you want to strengthen the process for next year, our 5-step tune-up can help you get started: https://hubs.la/Q04fZzSs0.

Do more with less. District leaders have been coming up against this mantra for decades, but this current moment of intense instability is bringing it to the forefront at an unprecedented level. Declining enrollment, flat...

05/14/2026

“Do more with less” has long been part of district budgeting. But this moment—marked by declining enrollment, flat or declining revenue, and rising costs—has made that challenge feel especially acute.

As teams wrap up this cycle, it’s understandable if the process felt particularly difficult. Our new article lays out 5 steps finance leaders can take to ensure that next year's process feels better and more strategic:

Do more with less. District leaders have been coming up against this mantra for decades, but this current moment of intense instability is bringing it to the forefront at an unprecedented level. Declining enrollment, flat...

05/13/2026

We’re thrilled to offer our Education ROI facilitated course—developed in collaboration with Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College—at 50% off for the first 10 registrants.

Designed for district leaders, this course helps teams focus investments where they matter most for students. Participants will apply an ROI process to a real district challenge, build a plan for engaging stakeholders around shared priorities, and earn a certificate of completion.

Use code PELH-ERS-F50 at checkout to claim the discount:

Learn the five-step EdROI process to align resources, support innovation, and lead financially sustainable, data-driven school and district strategies.

05/12/2026

While district finance leaders may be focused on closing the books on this year's budget cycle, there are steps they can begin thinking about now that can make the next budget process more strategic—and less painful—to work better for leaders, educators, and students.

05/11/2026

Did you know we're offering a facilitated course in collaboration with Mary Lou? And we're offering the course at 50% off for the first 10 registrations. The course is designed for district leaders to help them ensure their investments have the greatest impact for students. By the end of the course, leaders will have applied this ROI process to a real challenge they're facing, created a plan for engaging stakeholders and district leaders around shared priorities, and earned a certificate of completion. Be sure to enter the code PELH-ERS-F50 when signing up to receive the discount.

Learn the five-step EdROI process to align resources, support innovation, and lead financially sustainable, data-driven school and district strategies.

05/04/2026

Are you a district leader looking to make the most of limited resources—without compromising student learning?

Come join ERS experts in a brand-new collaboration with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning for a facilitated, asynchronous online course focused on uncovering the true ROI of academic strategies, aligning resources, and supporting both financial sustainability and innovation.

Over the course of 5 weeks, you’ll apply the process to real-world challenges, and develop a plan to engage stakeholders and use data to evaluate the impact of strategies on student and teacher outcomes.

The course will run from May 26 through June 27.

Learn more here:

Learn the five-step EdROI process to align resources, support innovation, and lead financially sustainable, data-driven school and district strategies.

04/30/2026

We’re bringing our popular System Strategy ROI training into the virtual classroom!

ERS is collaborating with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning to offer a facilitated online course for district leaders focused on measuring the true ROI of academic strategies, aligning resources, and supporting both financial sustainability and innovation.

Through an asynchronous, 5‑week learning experience, you’ll apply a “system strategy” approach to ROI to your own district context—using data to evaluate impact on student and teacher outcomes.

The course takes place from May 26-June 27. After completing the course, you’ll earn a certificate and micro-credential. Learn more here:

Learn the five-step EdROI process to align resources, support innovation, and lead financially sustainable, data-driven school and district strategies.

04/29/2026

We’re thrilled to share our revamped framework for what strategic school system design looks like: https://hubs.la/Q04dbmdj0.

This vision highlights the seven integrated strategies that district leaders can tackle together to reshape student and educator experiences in their schools.

- Standards and instructional materials
- Teaching and leadership
- Student-centered school designs
- Partnerships and technology
- Funding and school portfolio
- School support and accountability
- Operations

Read our latest paper to learn more about the seven strategies:

School systems are navigating a moment of unprecedented challenge: increased student need, declining enrollment, rising costs, and a fraught funding landscape.  And yet, this moment also offers an opportunity for bold...