District leaders across the country are facing difficult decisions.
Budgets are tighter. Staffing challenges continue to grow. Attendance issues remain persistent. At the same time, schools are still expected to improve academic outcomes, strengthen engagement, and prepare students for an increasingly complex future.
The challenge isn’t simply reducing costs.
It’s determining which investments are truly helping students succeed — and making sure resources are aligned to the work that matters most.
At the 36th Annual National Dropout Prevention Conference, district leaders will explore practical strategies for strategic resource allocation, system improvement, and long-term sustainability through real-world district examples and evidence-based practices.
Jeremy Batchelor, Superintendent of Youngstown City School District, will share how his district shifted from reactive budgeting toward a more intentional approach focused on student outcomes, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Using real examples from district leadership experience, this session will explore how school systems can:
Every district investment affects students.
Staffing structures, intervention programs, attendance supports, instructional initiatives, mental health services, and career readiness pathways all shape whether students remain connected to school and on track to graduate.
Strategic reinvestment is not about doing less.
It’s about making sure the work schools continue to invest in is producing meaningful outcomes for students, staff, and communities.
The National Dropout Prevention Center has spent decades helping schools and districts implement evidence-based strategies that improve engagement, attendance, resilience, and graduation rates.
This leadership-focused learning experience connects those same student success priorities to the operational and financial decisions districts are navigating every day.
This leadership experience is designed for:
Explore practical approaches for aligning district resources, staffing, and investments to measurable student outcomes and long-term sustainability.
Learn how districts are identifying inefficiencies, improving systems, and making more intentional decisions during financial pressure.
Discover evidence-based practices designed to strengthen student engagement, improve attendance, and support graduation outcomes.
Hear directly from district leaders implementing strategic resource allocation and system-wide improvement efforts in real-world settings.
Connect with superintendents, district administrators, and school leaders navigating similar operational and student success challenges.
Leave with practical ideas, leadership insights, and implementation strategies that can be applied immediately within your district or school system.
The National Dropout Prevention Conference brings together education leaders from across the country to explore evidence-based solutions that improve student outcomes and graduation rates.
The conference focuses on practical implementation, real-world district examples, and strategies schools can apply immediately to support student success.
October 11–14, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South
Orlando, Florida
Join District Leaders at NDPC36