School leaders have the privilege of doing one of the most important jobs in the world. But it’s also one of the most difficult jobs.

Leadership magazine is one place they can turn to for advice and practical information from their colleagues to help them be even more effective in their roles.

Written by school leaders and for school leaders, ACSA’s Leadership magazine is published five time a year and distributed to all ACSA members.

Each spring, Leadership selects themes based on critical topics leaders will need to know about in the coming year, said Leadership Editor Michelle Carl.

“When our members find something that works at their schools or in their districts, they want to pass it on. Leadership magazine is a great vehicle for doing that,” she said. “I hope this year’s themes will inspire our members and other educational leaders to share what’s working in education.”

Next year, authors will answer some of the most pressing questions educators face, such as, How do I stay focused on students with all the political noise? How do I empower families? How do I balance the books? How do I prepare my students and schools for climate change? How do I better serve our most vulnerable students?

ACSA received 118 submissions in the 2024-25 school year. Although there is only room to publish six to eight articles in each issue, many of the top submissions this year that weren’t published in the magazine found another home in EdCal or on ACSA’s Resource Hub.

ACSA members and thought-leaders in education are encouraged to begin submitting written work on these themes starting now. Suggested subtopics are included, however authors can choose any angle that relates to the issue theme. Deadlines for each issue are also listed below.

Submissions can be up to 2,500 words and include practical information written in an informal style. In-text citations and references in APA style must be included if the articles are quoting studies or content from other authors. Article submissions can be sent via e-mail to Carl at mcarl@acsa.org.

“Leadership magazine is one of the many ways ACSA fulfills its mission to develop, empower and inspire equity-minded educational leaders,” Carl said. “I encourage all educators to review these themes and consider sharing their responses to some of the biggest questions facing education leaders today.”

September/October: Finding Common Ground As federal policies change and the ideological divide only appears to grow wider, what are strategies for honoring diverse viewpoints while staying focused on serving students?

• Navigating students’ and parents’ rights.
• Communication strategies on divisive subjects.
• Protecting DEI programs/mixed status families/transgender students.
• Civil board meetings.
• Engaging diverse viewpoints.
• And more ...

Submission Deadline: June 9, 2025

November/December: Family Engagement The well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children. With the demands of raising children in today’s world, how can schools better empower and support parents as partners in the development of their children?

• Building trust with parents.
• Successful conferences, incorporating families’ voices in IEPs.
• Communication best practices.
• Equity-centered family engagement (culturally responsive and accessible).
• Empowering parents through LCAP, Parent Advisory, etc.
• Connecting families with resources to support student success.
• And more ...

Submission Deadline: August 4, 2025

January/February: Navigating Fiscal Challenges With school funding constantly in flux, leaders must navigate shifting state and federal budgets, advocate for resources, and find creative ways to sustain programs.

• Budgeting for uncertainty.
• Grants, bonds and alternative funding sources.
• ADA and declining enrollment.
• Responsible budgeting for long-term school success.
• Advocacy strategies for protecting and increasing education budgets.
• Staffing reductions.
• And more ...

Submission Deadline: Sept. 29, 2025

March/April: Green Schools How are we preparing our school facilities — and our students — for the reality of climate change? What innovative practices and initiatives are contributing to more sustainable, equitable and healthy school learning environments?

• Sustainable schools.
• Curriculum on ecology/science, CTE for green careers.
• Energy independence: solar arrays, electric fleets.
• Outdoor learning.
• Green building design/facilities.
• Environmental justice.
• And more ...

Submission Deadline: Nov. 17, 2025

May/June: At-promise Students While every student has the potential to succeed, some students face greater obstacles than others. What new practices are schools using to better serve their most vulnerable students?

• Serving students from historically socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
• Foster youth and students experiencing homelessness.
• Newcomer students and multi-lingual learners.
• Special education students.
• Credit-deficient students.
• Pulling incarcerated and gang-affiliated youth out of the “pipeline.”
• And more ...

Submission Deadline: Feb. 2, 2025