Executive Summary

Administrative software—the foundational technologies that schools rely on for scheduling, data tracking, financial management, and more—is holding back innovation in K-12 education. 

Over the course of six months, we tested this hypothesis with more than 40 leaders working within innovative school models and school system technology. 

Our interviews with education leaders from Arizona to North Carolina, and with technologists, intermediaries, and funders, highlighted the challenges experienced by institutions as they implement evidence-based models like strategic school staffing, community schools, and career-connected learning.

Our research surfaced how SIS, ERP, and HRIS software:

• Affects schools’ ability to gather high quality data;
• Creates potentially serious data security risks;
• Limits instructional staff’s confidence to fully implement innovative models; and
• Inhibits the transition from pilot stage into broader implementation.
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If innovative school models are to flourish, administrative software has to move from the role of barrier, to enabler. We believe this transition can only happen by working both with school systems—the demand side—and administrative software providers—the supply side. With this in mind, the report identifies three critical areas in which to develop both short- and long-term solutions, addressing both sides of the market:

1. Build school system capacity and improve decision-making around administrative software
2. Grow the influence of school systems with administrative software providers
3. Catalyze a software ecosystem that addresses both current and emergent innovative school model needs

Six “solution explorations” are proposed for deeper discussion and review:

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To advance the solutions above, and to increase awareness of the role that administrative software plays in scaling new models, funders and other supporters of educational transformation can incorporate five key actions in their work:

1. Consider administrative software
2. Align digital infrastructure with innovation
3. Encourage collaboration
4. Push for interoperability
5. Invest for a better ecosystem

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School systems, the educators and administrators who run them, and the parents and children who rely on them, should be at the center of efforts to transform education in the U.S. Improving administrative software is a hidden but critical path to achieving these shared goals.

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This work is just getting started! Common Group is bringing together a diverse group of school leaders, administrative software providers, and funders to develop an action plan and next steps. If you’re a(n)… 

• Administrator or School leader who has struggled with administrative software and is ready to demand new solution spaces 
• Administrative software or point solution provider who is currently investing in these solution spaces 
• Foundation leader investing in edtech and infrastructure, and ready to see new solutions drive the future of education

…we want to explore these solution areas with you. 
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Email hiddensystems@commongroup.org for more information.