An issue that will likely gain more and more attention in the next few years in education is the lack of readiness for school in young students.

On the WHOW Morning Show, Wednesday, Clinton Schools Superintendent Drew Goebel told Regional Radio that in just the last few years, the district has been leaning into data to help make it easier on the staff on the ground level with these kids, particularly on the academic side.

While it's been something they've done for quite a while, Goebel indicates it has been fine-tuned in the last few years to make sure they are completely able to help students and place them where they need to be.

The Social Emotional Learning curriculum, or SEL, has come a long way. Goebel credits Assistant Superintendent Kara Jenssen for leading the charge in that effort.

The English as a second language population in the district is growing as well, and Goebel indicates they have had to hire additional staff to accommodate those students.

Many school leaders speculate that a lot of the emotional challenges of young students stem from access to devices like iPads and cell phones at a very early age, while some also note that COVID likely stunted some development of young people. It is leading to districts having to respond to those challenges and bring kids up to the level they should be at.