DMC: A History

The District Management Council (DMC) was founded in 2004 with the goal of providing public school system leaders with superior strategic insights and practical solutions to the most common and pressing management challenges. DMC has spent many years exploring and researching the best way to support the work of superintendents and their leadership team. They also wanted to identify best practices that not only raised student achievement but also improved district operations and saved money. The commonly heard need was well summarized by one large-city superintendent:

  • I need to know what actions other superintendents and districts are taking to solve problems like mine, but I don't have any way to get that information…I am inundated with people who keep redefining problems without offering solutions.
  • I need a way to get information that meets my needs when I need it, from people who know, and I want to be confident that I am getting complete and reliable knowledge. My needs remain unmet by associations and it is only through ad hoc alliances that I begin to receive some measure of assistance."

Today, member school districts in The District Management Council serve more than 4 million students across 37 states. Participants include urban, suburban and rural school systems, and range in size from some of the largest districts in the country to districts with fewer than 2,000 students. As we enter 2011, our 8th year, we are pleased to expand our services and provide wider variety of membership plans to take advantage of them. DMC Membership offers a wide range of benefits, from superior actionable management advice to networking opportunities with other members.

Since our first research topic, Marshalling Resources: Aligning Financial Resources with Strategic Objectives, released in August 2004, DMC has provided its members with best practice reports covering more than fifty management topics, including succession planning, strategic planning, branding, communications, leadership development, succession planning, and dozens of others. The focus of our research, events and publications has remained helping school districts to identify and implement management practices that can improve student achievement, enhance operational effectiveness, and reduce cost.

The District Management Council was launched with the following principles:

  • Devote the membership to superintendents and senior executive staff
  • Focus on practical results
  • Showcase best practices
  • Create opportunities for superintendents and other district leaders to learn from one another.
  • Serving leaders regardless of size, location, or urbanity.