Post-pandemic, big city K-12 leaders are doing everything they can to strengthen their schools and meet student needs. However, the districts they lead are tapped out in terms of teacher and administrator capability, dollars, and political support. Urban school districts need to: Make school more engaging for students Flex to meet the needs of students who are far behind after the pandemic Make teaching more attractive Give students coherent learning experiences despite teacher absenteeism Adapt to declines in enrollment and funding Help students link to jobs and the new economy Try out new ideas, reproduce successes, and abandon failures However, the regulations, labor contracts, and mindsets that structure big city public schools make needed adaptations impossible.