EdTech K12 Magazine
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EdTech Magazine explores technology and education issues that IT leaders and educators face when they're evaluating and implementing a solution for K-12 and Higher Ed.
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The EdTech Quality Collaborative, a group of six education-focused organizations, recently released a new tool for assessing and purchasing K–12 technology. The guide grew from an issue that touches every district in the nation: tech sprawl. The average district accesses nearly 3,000 distinct ed tech products in a year, but until now there was no K–12-specific framework for evaluating these tools. That lack of guidance — and the disconnect between procurement and actual classroom use — often leads to low tech adoption and wasted funds. The collaborative, made up of 1EdTech, CAST, CoSN,…
Data from a recent Comparitech report shows a 9% decline in the number of confirmed ransomware attacks on U.S. educational institutions from 2024 to 2025. While incidents may not be rising as fast as they once were, and though average ransom amounts are down 33%, the overall rate of attacks and the severity of breaches is still high. The bottom line is that cyberattacks of any kind aren't going anywhere, and that’s leading schools to shift from emergency response mode toward a longer-term cyber resilience strategy. Brock Boggs, IT director of Cityscape Schools in Dallas, Texas, says that his…
Artificial intelligence has transformed many areas of education, from lesson planning and personalized learning to administrative tasks. It can analyze data, identify patterns in student learning that might otherwise go unnoticed and provide insights that support instructional planning and earlier intervention. AI systems can analyze patterns in student participation, attendance, assessment data and even student engagement within digital learning environments. These systems may identify patterns suggesting that a student is at risk academically long before those concerns become apparent…
ESSER was one of the largest federal K–12 funding initiatives in decades, empowering schools to purchase the technology needed to support learning during and after the pandemic. But ESSER funds officially ran out for all districts in early 2026. Now, many K–12 IT leaders are taking a hard look at how to make significant budget cuts without disrupting learning, because the expansion of digital programs and access to devices was a key priority. Click the banner below to explore funding options for your district’s educational technology.
The technology that turns the most heads in K–12 schools tends to be the flashy equipment — interactive displays, 3D printers, powerful gaming computers, lifelike robots. But IT leaders know that the technology that matters most is often invisible. It’s a fast network designed to handle a classroom full of devices, clear policies that guide smart decisions, and cybersecurity strategies that guard student and institutional data. Click the banner below to find the tools you need to protect your district from cyberthreats.
Recent breaches involving Canvas and PowerSchool, resulting in the theft of millions of individuals’ private information, have intensified attention on third-party technology risk in K–12 education environments. The incidents underscore that a district can protect its own environment and still be exposed through a vendor — a risk difficult to contain when the average district relies on thousands of ed tech tools, many delivered through Software as a Service (SaaS). While small IT teams cannot investigate every provider with the resources of an enterprise security organization, they can build…
America’s youngest learners are still struggling to regain reading ground lost in the pandemic, according to data from education research group NWEA. First and second grade reading scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, even as math performance has begun to recover. Because the youngest learners in schools were just babies during pandemic shutdowns, the stagnant scores may suggest deeper, systemic issues affecting early literacy development, both inside and outside the classroom, researchers say. “Some of the most significant reasons for the gaps may include interrupted foundational…
For some districts, the concept of using data and artificial intelligence to make decisions seems far off in the future. But K–12 districts are already collecting a tremendous amount of data in various systems, from attendance records and grades to behavioral reports and the number of substitute teachers employed in a single semester. The challenge, explains Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing at Microsoft, is aggregating the data from these disparate systems into a single place and making something of it. “The goal isn’t more data collection. It’s helping educators…
Human error is the soft underbelly of cybersecurity. According to IBM, it plays a role in roughly 95% of breaches, a statistic that looms especially large in K–12 education. Schools are uniquely vulnerable, with thousands of users, limited IT resources, and an environment built on openness and trust. “People talk about humans as the weakest link,” says Randy Rose, vice president of security operations and intelligence at the Center for Internet Security. “And the reason they get that rap is because the No. 1 factor in a majority of cyber incidents is social engineering, mostly phishing emails…
Technology defines the modern learning landscape. In the K–12 classroom, one-to-one device programs, BYOD policies, cloud-based learning platforms, digital displays and Internet of Things devices all are driving educational outcomes. In this environment, the network has quietly become the most critical piece of infrastructure. Success today is defined by the ability to support both current technology demands and tomorrow’s needs. With more devices coming onto the network all the time at New Trier Township High School District 203 in Illinois, CTO Michael Marassa saw the writing on the wall. “…
A teacher has issues accessing a learning platform. Students struggle to log in to an online assessment. A classroom full of devices suddenly loses connectivity. For K–12 IT teams, solving those problems has become increasingly complicated, with today’s tech environments spanning on-premises networking equipment, cloud-hosted applications, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms and thousands of endpoint devices spread across multiple schools. When an issue occurs, the root cause could reside almost anywhere. That complexity is pushing many districts to look beyond traditional monitoring tools…
What’s one certain sign that your school district’s STEM program is heading in the right direction? Just three years after building a dedicated facility for students to explore real-world applications for science, technology, engineering and math, you’re already looking to expand. In 2023, Hemlock Public School District (HPSD) in Michigan found itself in that very situation. Its Lockwood STEM Center, built in 2020, was a place where students went to test robots and experiment with industrial fabrication machines. By all accounts, the center was a success, but it soon became clear that it was…
Ambient artificial intelligence is being hyped as a new wave of AI with the potential to make today’s tech-enabled classrooms even smarter. Compared with the transactional nature of traditional AI, ambient AI “fades into the environment rather than sitting in a visible tool waiting for someone to type a prompt,” explains Narmeen Makhani, founder of AIxecute, a strategic advisory and consulting firm. The technology is already being employed in medical settings, helping clinicians with note-taking and after-visit summaries. To pick up on engagement and classroom interaction in real time,…
A few years ago, Jenn Judkins was attending a data governance training session when the instructor posed a question: “You may say you have a good data privacy practice in place, but is it documented? If it’s not documented, does it really exist?” That question resonated with Judkins, technology director at Wayland Public Schools in Massachusetts. She had spent years thinking about how to protect student data, working with her team to follow best practices around access, data protection and vetting software vendors. But none of it was formally written down. The instructor, Melissa Tebbenkamp,…
For K–12 IT teams, summer is one of the busiest and most important times of the year. Once devices are collected, classrooms are cleared and summer projects begin, technology teams must assess, repair, update and prepare the tools that students and teachers will rely on when they return to school. Classroom technology use continues to grow, driven by new tools. Chromebooks and other personal devices are transported between home and school, and not always in the most careful ways. By the time June arrives, devices show signs of use. There may be missing keys, cracked or damaged screens,…
Although cybersecurity has been on K–12 districts’ radar for several years, many have yet to achieve maturity. The goal is resilience — the ability not only to detect an attack that is already underway, but also to anticipate threats, manage risks, minimize the impact of attacks and restore secure operations quickly. Here are five pillars of a resilient cybersecurity posture. Click the banner below for a cybersecurity roadmap built for K–12 schools.
Technology can accelerate learning when chosen with care, but it can also become a distraction if it doesn’t meet the everyday needs of students and educators. Education program budgets nationwide are in flux, and demands on educators are high, so it’s crucial to evaluate edtech tools strategically. Here are five questions every school leader should ask before making their next technology investment. Click the banner below to find the guidance you need to manage your device ecosystem.
Washington’s Mercer Island High School introduced instruction in the art and science behind podcasting as part of its curriculum about seven years ago, just as the medium started to gain widespread popularity. MIHS Students in the school’s radio and podcasting program have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience operating recording studio equipment and contributing to the district’s FCC-licensed radio station, KMIH 88.9 FM The Bridge. “Students develop skills to formulate an introduction, perform background research, make an interview sound great on the airwaves,” says Natalie Woods,…
Walk into any school computer lab during a language arts lesson, an online standardized test or a remote learning session, and audio challenges are immediately apparent. Students on adjacent machines bleed sound into each other’s ears. Spoken instructions compete with the hum of the heating and cooling system. Younger learners yank cables, twist boom arms and subject hardware to the kind of punishment that turns most consumer headsets into trash within weeks. The Jabra Biz 1100 EDU was built in direct response to these conditions, and I recently tested it to ensure it could stand up to the…
Andy Mann’s model is deceptively simple. Informed by years of experience as a technology teacher, he developed a vision to get $10,000 virtual reality headsets and other sought-after devices in the hands of teachers who wanted to try them in their classrooms without the steep investment of buying them. Using strategic funding, Mann meticulously amassed a collection of STEM items that teachers from the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District in Michigan can check out. At his ISTELive 26 session, “Borrow Don’t Buy: Creating a STEM Loaner Library,” Mann shared how he built his STEM loaner…
One of the greatest group project collaborations in K–12 right now has nothing to do with social studies or science projects. The IT leaders who understand the risk tend to speak in technical language, while the administrators and educators who control the budget speak in outcomes. Finding a shared vocabulary helps them fight — and ultimately fund a defense to — the K–12 cybersecurity crisis. The school year ended with a historic cybersecurity attack across K–12 and higher education, punctuating a point that teachers, IT leaders and school districts have been very aware of, with…
Accessibility has always been a legal obligation. But leaders in the K–12 space are expanding that conversation to include how it could be more than that: a design principle that creates an improved learning experience for every student, not just the ones with IEPs. At ISTELive 26, Tara Nattrass, chief innovation strategist for education at Lenovo, broke down what hybrid AI means at the device level and why it matters for students who rely on accessibility tools. Nattrass helped lead seven sessions at the conference, including “Strengthening Accessibility and Inclusivity with Hybrid AI.” The…
Lynsy Curry gave some students in her class a mission — if they chose to accept it. The elementary media specialist at Timbers Elementary School taught the fifth graders technology tips a couple of years ago when she was their teacher. When they began showing other teachers what they learned in her class, she asked them if they would be interested in forming a technology team and being her student helpers. Challenge accepted. The tech team was born in the Humble Independent School District in Humble, Texas, nearly three years ago. During her session “From Helpers to Leaders: Building a…
In the post-ESSER era, many schools and school districts are learning how to iterate their resource allocation to do more with less and build durable plans that center planning around the mission instead of the money. During her session “Driving Innovation When Budgets Are Tight” at ISTELive 26, Kirsten Baesler, assistant secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for the U.S. Department of Education, discussed the importance of having a clear framework for what sustainability looks like alongside panelists Chris Lehmann, CEO and principal of the Science Leadership Academy…
As artificial intelligence’s capabilities continue to make themselves evident in the classroom, the technology is quickly moving from a novelty to a necessity. To that end, at the ISTELive 2026 conference in Orlando, Fla., the organization unveiled its expanded Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate. Joseph South, chief innovation officer for ISTE+ASCD, said that in identifying trends and themes involving AI in teaching and learning, his team noticed a gap. While early frameworks focused on AI literacy, teaching students the fundamentals of AI and how to interact with it, guidance didn’t go much…
K–12 school districts are packed with digital tools, and it’s up to IT leaders to manage the governance, data and risk associated with them. But no single department can do this alone and without all of the facts they need to make an informed decision. At ISTELive 2026 in Orlando, Fla., technology experts explained how cybersecurity, data privacy, accessibility and governance work together and why building a safe, intentional, student-centered digital environment depends on breaking down the silos between IT and the rest of the district. Cybersecurity Maturity Assessments Can Help Guide…
As the debate about screen time and digital tools in the classroom continues in school districts around the country, speakers at ISTELive 26 in Orlando, Fla., presented research noting that a balance between digital tools and foundational learning is the best path to effective learning. “This is not pro-tech versus anti-tech,” said Amanda Bollinger, associate administrator in the teaching and learning department at Jordan School District and a member of the Utah State Board of Education. “It’s just current reality. How do we balance those two things?” Cari Warnock, education…
The E-Rate program, a federal initiative that has been providing broadband discounts to K–12 districts since 1998, is currently under review, and experts are asking individuals to advocate for the program during a public comment period. That was the messaging at ISTELive 26 in Orlando, Fla., where Dave LeNard, E-Rate manager for CDW, and Amy Passow, senior manager of education funding solutions for CDW, spoke to school and district leaders about the importance of saving this program. What Is E-Rate? The E-Rate program is designed to provide connectivity to schools and libraries. It…
More than 9 in 10 U.S. school districts say they have planned to purchase Chromebooks for their students or staff this year. So, when rumors began to buzz about the Googlebook, which brings together elements of ChromeOS and Android, many district leaders understandably had a lot of questions. Will my school’s devices eventually become obsolete? What can I do to future proof my device program? We have good news for K–12 districts that are concerned about this change: The real story is that schools have ample time and multiple options to prepare for the upcoming upgrades. By beginning to plan…
Wireless presentation tools have become necessity rather than a convenience. Teachers expect to walk into a classroom and share content instantly, without fumbling for adapters or waiting on IT support. The BenQ InstaShow WDC15 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) wireless presentation system is designed to meet that expectation while also addressing security and reliability. At its core, the WDC15 focuses on ease of use. Presenters simply connect a dedicated HDMI or USB-C connected button to their laptop and begin sharing content wirelessly with a single touch. No software installation is required…
When leaders of Huntsville City Schools in Alabama realized the district was outgrowing its career and technical education setup, it opted to build a centralized facility for its students interested in pursuing a workforce development track. The 81,000-square-foot Huntsville Center for Technology opened in August 2025 and houses a range of technical programs, from culinary arts and cosmetology to welding and precision machining. Technology is at the forefront of the facility, both from a networking perspective and embedded in each classroom. Click the banner below to read more…
When K–12 school districts implement a new technology, they typically invest significant time planning the technical deployment and far less time preparing the people who will ultimately determine the success of the change. “Most technology implementations do not fail because of the technology itself. They struggle because organizations tend to focus heavily on the technical rollout and underestimate the human side of change,” says Julie Whitten, CEO of Julie Whitten Consulting, a change leadership advisory firm. “I have seen districts successfully launch systems from a technical perspective…
The success of today’s modern classrooms relies on a combination of resources, technologies and policies to maximize learning for students. From the funding that brings technology to schools to the rules and regulations that govern how it is used, these factors work cohesively to ensure an optimal experience for teachers and students alike. At this year’s ISTELive conference, held June 28 to July 1 in Orlando, Fla., expert speakers will present on a range of topics that address the future of modern classrooms. K–12 instructional staff, technology leaders, superintendents and librarians…
Engaging in professional development is never simple for educators, who must juggle classroom learning, curriculum planning, grading assignments and administrative responsibilities. Too often, PD takes a backseat to everything else. With artificial intelligence–related classroom training, it’s even more difficult to accommodate the necessary instruction. “The pace of change with AI is so rapid, it can be daunting for educators to keep pace,” says Jennie Magiera, global head of education impact at Google. “And it’s a second-order change to incorporate AI into classrooms, creating novel ways of…
Artificial intelligence has rapidly transformed K–12’s cyberthreat landscape, turning phishing scams into more sophisticated, multichannel attacks that exploit trust, familiarity and the platforms educators and students use every day. Phishing is no longer just an inbox problem — it’s an “everywhere” problem. For many years now, we’ve taught K–12 staff and teams to check an email sender’s address as one way to stay safe. In today’s threat landscape, the advent of AI-powered vishing, deepfake impersonations and automated social engineering, that advice is now obsolete. Cyber fraud is now…
Paper hall passes have been around forever. But they aren’t always the best tool for the job. “A conventional hall pass basically just says that this student has permission to leave the classroom. That’s where the information stops,” says Tyler Shaddix, co-founder and chief innovation officer at GoGuardian. Modernized tools can do a lot more. With digital hall passes, schools can support student safety, track trends around how spaces are used and automate permissions for who can be in the hall, when and where. Click the banner below to learn how CDW and GoGuardian support safer, more…
In a K–12 setting, deepfakes hold a lot of power. These falsified images or videos, virtually impossible to identify with an untrained eye, can be wielded to harm educators’ reputations, cyberbully vulnerable students, and blackmail individuals and schools. With artificial intelligence image generation, the problem is growing rapidly. Super-realistic images can be created quickly and deployed easily, creating a concerning scalability. Faced with the malicious use of AI-generated images — both of students and school officials — leaders must redouble their efforts around deepfake detection,…
Lately, school-related data breaches seem to keep coming. PowerSchool and Canvas made major headlines this year. Countless smaller incidents may not hit the news, but they disrupt instruction and expose sensitive student data just the same. For K–12 IT leaders, threats to their district are inevitable. The question is whether their teams will be ready when those threats materialize. After years of conducting maturity assessments, working alongside district security teams and witnessing the aftermath of incidents, we can say with confidence that most districts aren’t there yet — not because…
Across K–12 schools, the conversation around student device use has shifted from whether phones belong in classrooms to how schools can manage them in a way that supports learning. As digital devices become increasingly embedded in students’ daily lives, educators are navigating a complex balance between maintaining safety and minimizing disruption. The challenge is no longer simply about restriction but about designing systems that are practical and sustainable at scale. One of the most pressing issues schools face is that mobile phone distraction is rarely limited to overt misuse. Even when…
Weapon detection solutions have evolved from locked doors and metal detectors to AI-powered systems. What were previously one-off purchases are now integrated with a broader, layered approach to safety that balances security with a more welcoming environment. Here are tips CIOs and CTOs should keep in mind as they consider physical security and related solutions. Click the link below to discover the benefits of modernizing your physical security infrastructure.
Raising your hand in class and patiently waiting until you’re called before speaking. Sharing with classmates in a group project. Understanding what you’re feeling and how best to express it safely. These are a few examples of what social-emotional skills look like in the classroom. Social-emotional learning (SEL) houses a variety of skills, all of which have always been embedded in the K–12 experience. As recent research points more directly to the value of weaving these learning moments into the K–12 curriculum, educational technology has risen to meet the demands. The Evidence for Social-…
Smaller school districts received some helpful news recently: K–12 districts serving 50,000 or fewer residents now have an extra year — until April 26, 2028 — to make their websites, learning platforms, online forms and mobile apps conform to the updated Americans With Disabilities Act Title II web accessibility standards. The Department of Justice has adopted Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA as the new technical standard of compliance for all public entities. What this means is that school districts must ensure videos are captioned, images include alt text, documents are…
During conversations with district technology leaders at CoSN and throughout the year, I heard a clear shift in how they are approaching technology decisions. The focus is on reliability, security and measurable impact: whether each investment can keep learning moving in their schools, reduce friction for teachers and support students over time. The stakes are practical and immediate: When technology works, teachers can keep teaching; when it doesn’t, learning loses momentum. That shift in framing is significant. For years, one of the biggest challenges in K–12 technology was access: getting…
As K–12 school districts explore tools such as Microsoft Copilot and artificial intelligence-driven insights — along with new, AI-enabled experiences emerging on Copilot+ PCs — something is becoming increasingly clear: AI success does not start with the tool; it starts with the data. According to Pari Dalal, senior partner solutions manager for cloud and AI at Microsoft, “AI systems are only as reliable as the data they access, so districts need governance, privacy and data protection strategies in place from the beginning.” The benefits that AI can offer depend on having a strong,…
K–12 districts are flush with data. Throughout a given school year, educators and district employees work with attendance records, assessment scores, course grades, behavior logs and more. But it is often stored in separate systems, rarely connected or parsed. To make an impact, that raw data must be turned into useful insights. As visualization tools become more accessible and easier to integrate, districts are finding ways to turn that scattered data into something educators can actually act on. When interpreted in a way that educators and leaders understand, such data can help schools spot…
Digital-based learning is the norm in almost every K–12 classroom in the nation. Nearly 9 in 10 schools have a one-to-one program, meaning at least some of students’ lessons, exams or homework is done on a computer or tablet. But some parents are questioning the value of in-class devices. Their top concerns are that too much screen time can hinder academic performance and shorten attention spans, while unfettered access to the internet brings its own risks. In my experience, however, the conversation is often muddled. Not all devices are the same, and not all screen time is created…
For over a decade, K–12 schools have relied on artificial intelligence on school-issued devices to manage digital safety: filtering harmful content, analyzing online activity and identifying students in crisis by surfacing concerning online patterns. These tools have become table stakes in education technology, woven into the daily fabric of classroom management and student protection. But AI in schools is evolving beyond the browser. Driven by the critical need to secure physical spaces against rising threats and violence, we’re entering a phase in which AI is being applied to physical…
School districts are facing a growing reality: With K–12 environments increasingly dependent on cloud-based systems, small mistakes can quickly become major security incidents. Ransomware attacks against K–12 institutions jumped 92% in between 2022 and 2023, while phishing attempts continue targeting students, teachers and administrators through email, collaboration platforms and classroom applications. Technical defenses remain essential, but many districts are finding that firewalls and endpoint protection alone cannot stop attacks rooted in human behavior. Cybersecurity awareness training…
As K–12 school districts consider and implement artificial intelligence technology solutions, they often need guidance and answers. Unlike a typical tech tool implementation, AI solutions have the potential to completely overhaul the way that teaching, learning and administrative work happen. “Avoid approaching AI like just another tech purchase,” says Jaraun Ransome, principal of Ella Fitzgerald Middle School in Newport News, Va. “It’s important to understand the problems we’re trying to solve and invest in staff training. The investment in AI solutions will be more meaningful when you…
In some K–12 districts and schools, multicloud environments are the result of many years of ed tech adoption, specific grants or department-level (often, personnel-level) decisions. No matter how they got there, the result is usually fragmentation: Multiple clouds host identity systems, learning management systems, classroom applications and more, all with inconsistent security controls and unpredictable costs. Bringing order to the chaos doesn’t require eliminating a multicloud environment that may offer a strong foundation for districts embarking on other modernization projects. Rather, to…
If you have browsed devices recently, you might have faced some sticker shock. Or maybe you placed an order and found yourself waiting longer than expected for inventory to arrive. K–12 IT leaders across the country are navigating the same reality: Devices cost more, lead times are stretching, and the budget that worked two years ago no longer covers a district’s needs today. I’ve spent years working with districts on device strategy and watched supply chain disruptions ebb and flow. First, it was the one-to-one adoption surge of the early 2010s, then the COVID-19 pandemic when virtually…
K–12 environments have shifted from centralized IT to highly distributed ecosystems, with districts now operating dozens of Software as a Service platforms, devices and third-party integrations — each introducing its own data flows, identities and risk surface. From a compliance standpoint, the challenge is not just where data lives but also how it moves and who accesses it. For example, student data is continuously shared across learning apps, vendors and cloud services. Meanwhile, visibility into that data flow is often incomplete and responsibility is fragmented across providers, making…
A new quantum computing technology campus is on its way to Chicago’s South Side, and local K–12 students were recently given the chance to design their own versions. When completed, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), currently planned for construction in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood, will be a 128-acre campus that serves as a global center for quantum-enabled research and technology development. The campus will bring jobs in quantum computing to the region, and Chicago Public Schools leaders are already thinking about how to prepare their students for the…
As K–12 districts and schools grapple with the growing challenges of building consolidations, changing neighborhood demographics and shifting student enrollments, there's a feeling that more is on the line when leaders and school boards approach budget planning season and priorities for spending. Without a crystal ball, it's difficult to forecast precisely where funding shortfalls may occur, what supply chain challenges may arise or which neighborhoods may see student populations spike or collapse. Working with a third-party consulting partner to smooth out the wrinkles of planning and…
The National Center for Education Statistics projects that about 40 states will see K–12 enrollment declines between 2022 and 2031, with total enrollment projected to decrease by 5% in that period. For IT leaders, such dramatic shifts mean tighter per-pupil funding, potential school consolidations and difficult infrastructure decisions. Three K–12 educational technology leaders shared five tips on how to approach planning and get more from every classroom technology dollar spent. Their insights serve as a strong starting point for conversations with building and district leadership,…
Cybercriminal group ShinyHunters has executed one of the largest educational data breaches on record, targeting Instructure, the company behind learning management system Canvas. Instructure detected unauthorized activity on April 29. On May 2, the company reported that it had “revoked privileged credentials and access tokens associated with affected systems, deployed patches to enhance system security,” rotated certain keys and increased monitoring efforts across all platforms. On May 7, a second wave of activity occurred when some users reported seeing extortion messages when logged in to…
For years, K–12 districts have been leaning into cloud-based resources for everything, including productivity suites, learning management systems (LMSs) and student information systems (SISs). Cost-efficiency, scalability and enhanced collaboration are just a few of the benefits gained from anywhere, anytime access to cloud resources. But this widespread reliance creates challenges when access to the cloud is interrupted. Ransomware attacks, extreme weather events and cloud provider outages can force a district offline, bringing learning and school operations to a halt. Many schools are now…
Campus security is changing in a fundamental way. What used to be a mix of cameras, locks and alarms is becoming a connected system that can surface issues in real time. AI-enabled video, access control and sensors now work together to provide a more complete picture of what is happening across campus, helping to equip schools with higher levels of security than ever before. As these technologies advance, institutions are under increasing pressure to make thoughtful decisions about what to adopt and why. National School Safety and Security Services, a private, independent school safety…
When it comes to learning new skills and adopting new tools and technologies for the classroom, I’ve been truly impressed by the willingness of the teachers and educators who attend CDW’s Connected Classroom workshops. Our most recent series of in-person events covered ways to get more out of the Google for Education environment using Google’s AI assistant, Gemini for Education, and NotebookLM. As teachers progress from thinking about artificial intelligence less as an efficiency tool, and more as a thought partner or assistant, having true conversations with Gemini marks an important turning…
In Jonathan Haidt’s recent book, The Anxious Generation, the author summarizes a common understanding among K–12 educators: Adolescent access to smartphones has led to a generational mental health crisis. There is a great push in education to avoid a similar outcome with an even more transformative technology: artificial intelligence. A key strategy is boosting AI literacy among K–12 educators and students. Higher education plays a critical role in this mission, providing the research, training and critical understanding of how to best harness this technology for educational purposes…
Professional development in K–12 education often focuses on teachers, but as districts expand their use of digital tools and AI, IT teams increasingly need role-specific training as well. “The role of IT in schools has never been more strategic; it is a driving force behind the adoption and integration of the most impactful technologies in education,” says Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing for Microsoft. “As K–12 schools navigate digital transformation, the role of IT has evolved from supporting infrastructure to enabling innovation, safeguarding digital learning…
As K–12 IT leaders, you’re often thinking about what’s next as technology, curriculum and workforce needs evolve. In the face of this evolution, the challenge for IT teams is holding true to the values and models that have worked for years while adapting to modern needs and implementing the technology that improves legacy ways of working. Modernization is often framed as a dramatic change as schools implement new tools, programs, and ways of thinking about teaching and learning. But progress rarely looks like a clean break from the past. It’s more often a careful progression that balances…
More than half (53%) of K–12 teachers report feelings of burnout, compared with 39% of workers in other professions, according to RAND’s 2025 State of the American Teacher survey. High levels of burnout contribute to teacher turnover, which is an expensive and destabilizing problem for schools. While salaries and culture are important components to alleviating teacher burnout, smart IT investment can also play an often-overlooked role in reducing the administrative burden that’s driving educators away. “Teacher burnout can be one of the clearest signals that district technology either is or…
“Passwordless authentication” has generated buzz in the broader tech world, but in K–12 it is still very much an emerging concept. While passwordless is not yet common in schools, it sits right at the intersection of two trends we see often in K–12 districts: pushback against multifactor authentication (MFA) and pressure to secure school systems against increasingly sophisticated threats. That combination is exactly why K–12 leaders should pay attention to this authentication method now, even if they are not yet ready to roll out a solution. Click the banner below for a roadmap to a more…
Donna Prudhomme leads Beaumont Independent School District’s career and technical education (CTE) program, which last year saw more than 3,700 students enrolled in courses ranging from diagnostics and therapeutic services to law enforcement, cosmetology and more. Many students complete industry-based certifications, while others earn dual credits from Lamar Institute of Technology or Lamar State College Orange, gaining college-level experience while reducing the burden of college debt. Prudhomme’s leadership has earned widespread recognition. In 2023, the Career and Technical Association of…
Due to its location in rural Indiana, East Noble School Corporation at one point had to rely on three different internet providers to get enough bandwidth for the district’s students and educators. Only a small number of cybersecurity vendors could provide firewall capabilities for all three, and East Noble’s vendor charged based on bandwidth. This meant that as the district’s use of online resources grew, so did its security bills. Eventually, the cost increases led the district to adopt a FortiGate next-generation firewall (NGFW) from Fortinet. While the move was initially driven by cost,…
Over the past few years, the artificial intelligence conversation in K–12 districts has moved from one of fear to one of curiosity and interest. Now that districts have realized the potential of AI as a learning and productivity tool, they are increasingly seeking to craft policies and guidance that address all facets of this evolving technology. At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, IT leaders from K–12 districts shared how they are formulating their AI policies and guardrails to ensure responsible adoption. AI Guidelines Mirror District Values When ChatGPT was released in…
At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, artificial intelligence touched nearly every session in some way, appearing in discussions about classroom modernization, cybersecurity, screen time and everything in between. But how are districts using AI in practice? Here are some takeaways from the conference with examples of how K–12 schools are using AI in the classroom, among leadership teams and in IT operations. 1. Teachers and Students Use AI in the Classroom For teachers, AI has been framed as a productivity tool, saving them time in creating lesson plans and in assessing student work…
For K–12 IT teams, staying ahead of the latest cyberthreats can be a challenge. This pressure is amplified at small and medium-sized districts, where budgets are tight and staff members juggle multiple responsibilities. At the the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, IT leaders from small districts detailed how they and their teams are keeping their students and staff protected with limited resources. Cyber Stakes Are High for K–12 Districts Edward McKaveney, technology director for Hampton Township School District in Pennsylvania, outlined five reasons that districts must make…
Teaching is getting more complex all the time. “It's difficult to be a teacher these days. Educators are juggling a high-tech environment with many devices, a wide range of languages in the classroom, and vastly different learning needs all at once,” says Tom Chapman, a product manager on the Chromebook Education team at Google. And while the right technology can help teachers be more effective, parents are concerned about how these devices are used in the classroom. Teachers need solutions that ensure students use devices intentionally and help structure student screen time, all without…
In February 2026, CoSN released its 2026 Driving K–12 Innovation report, outlining the hurdles, accelerators and tech enablers in education and technology for the year ahead. The advisory board that compiles the report is made up of approximately 130 members from 14 countries and 32 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, a panel of IT leaders who served on the report’s advisory board unpacked the results of the report and shared examples from their own districts that illustrate its themes. Hurdles Address Challenges in Staffing, Security and Media…
The students in today’s K–12 classrooms will enter a workforce in which artificial intelligence proficiency is table stakes. Districts that build AI literacy now and give students hands-on experience with real tools are giving them a meaningful head start. Adobe sees AI as a catalyst for creativity, ideation and deeper engagement, not a shortcut that replaces critical thinking. That belief is driving a significant expansion of AI-powered tools and training resources designed specifically for K–12 educators and students. It has meaningful implications for how technology leaders plan, deploy…
Cyber readiness in K–12 schools is not a product you buy or a box you check; it is a journey that every district is on, whether they realize it or not. The issue of cybersecurity is more than just determining whether your district is secure. IT teams must know their current security posture, their goals for the future and how they will achieve them with the resources they have. Cybersecurity is universally recognized as a concern, but that recognition does not always translate into action. District technology leaders are often constrained by limited budgets, small staffs, competing…
Digital accessibility in K–12 education has largely been something districts respond to when a specific need arises. The latest update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act changes that framing. With the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2024 rulemaking, digital accessibility is now a systemwide requirement. By April 24, 2026, digital content produced by state and local government services serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet accessibility standards. Early childhood education providers and K–12 districts are included among these institutions. The digital content…
At the CoSN 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, educators, IT leaders and administrators will gather for educational and networking opportunities and to learn about the latest ed tech products and services from exhibitors. The theme for this year’s conference, which runs from April 13-15, is “Building What’s Next Together,” addressing how educational technology leaders can collaborate on the future of teaching and learning to build innovative and safe learning environments to enhance student success. The opening keynote, titled “Tomorrow Starts Here,” will feature David Schuler, executive…
Rising college costs and projected skills shortages in occupations that don’t require a bachelor’s degree are helping to drive enrollment in K–12 career and technical education programs — which increased 10% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, according to U.S. Department of Education data. Some districts have added CTE-dedicated facilities that provide a multitude of tech-centric educational amenities, ranging from flight simulators to robotic arms. In Alabama — where the Association for Career and Technical Education anticipates 34% of jobs will require an education beyond high…
As K–12 districts navigate a growing ecosystem of artificial intelligence tools and solutions, research suggests that the parent perspective can’t be overlooked — especially when it comes to building understanding and trust around how AI is used. A statewide poll of more than 1,300 Massachusetts parents released in January 2026 by EdTrust revealed that parents are divided over AI’s role in the classroom. “Only a third feel positively, a third feel negatively and another third are unsure,” says Jennie Williamson, state director for EdTrust in Massachusetts. There were similar mixed…
When parents call Clovis Unified School District’s transportation department with questions about a school bus issue or incident, they expect answers. But under the California district’s old camera system, getting those answers could take hours. Staff had to wait for buses to return to the yard to retrieve the drive from an onboard digital video recorder and transfer the video to an office computer. If a bus was out all day and then transported students for after-school sports, it might not return until late at night. “They’d wait for the bus to come back, and we were wasting a lot of staff…
Summer break is a busy time of year for K–12 school IT departments. It’s typically when districts replace aging hardware, roll out new cybersecurity tools and tackle major upgrades while students and the majority of teaching staff are out of the building. But those high‑stakes summer technology projects can’t happen unless the planning starts months earlier. Before purchase orders can be issued, IT leaders have a lot of decisions to make. This includes figuring out what to retire now versus what to patch for another year, how to consolidate overlapping tools without increasing security risk…
Throw out any ideas that school security rests solely on the back of one department. Keeping students, staff and visitors safe is a collaborative effort, and developing a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan requires planning, consistency and technology. Michele Gay, executive director of Safe and Sound Schools, a nonprofit organization, encourages schools to find ways to practice and discuss emergency preparedness in trauma-informed, low-stakes environments. “There are plenty of examples of procedures and protocols at work every day to support safety,” says Gay. “We advocate…
Esports is no longer a fringe activity in K–12; it’s one of the fastest-growing school programs in the country, with some 55% of school district leaders prioritizing a gaming initiative in the past two years. It’s no wonder that TCEA 2026’s esports sessions were packed with attendees curious about how to get started. Educators aren’t just asking if esports belongs in schools; they’re ready to build those programs right now. The sticking point? Equipment. Understanding what schools need — and how much it will cost — is a hurdle for even the most motivated and tech-savvy educators. Acer offers…
As augmented reality, virtual reality and other extended reality technologies become more widely adopted in K–12 classrooms, districts are exploring their potential to increase engagement and support experiential learning in a variety of subject areas, including social studies, science, and career and technical education. How can schools that are looking to get started with AR and VR ensure that the technology has the best chance of being adopted as a meaningful instructional tool? EdTech talked to a leader in educational AR/VR technology as well as educators in K–12 for advice on what…
Artificial intelligence in a K–12 setting? At the Jewish Leadership Academy in Florida, they’ve never known it any other way. Built from the ground up and opened in 2023, JLA classrooms were purposefully designed to support hybrid learning, with Zoom Rooms equipped with interactive flat panels, ceiling-mounted microphones and auto-tracking cameras. With a press of a button, teachers start their classes and class recordings. Then, a tool called Panopto — a video-hosting platform integrated with Zoom — automatically imports the recordings directly into the school’s learning management…
At Epic Charter Schools, Oklahoma’s largest public virtual charter school, esports is, well, epic. With about 30,000 students in Pre-K–12, the school boasts between 300 and 500 active participants in its video gaming program. “We have students who want to compete at a high level and those who aren’t competitive at it, who just want to play the game for fun,” says esports coach Steve Briggs. “We want to get as many students involved as we can.” Epic’s ability to make that happen is quite an accomplishment, considering all of the challenges faced by small, rural and charter schools. With…
In the classroom and in district offices, K–12 schools are increasingly implementing artificial intelligence. According to a report from Cambium Learning Group, 61% of administrators are using AI to interpret or analyze student data, and 56% are using it to manage student records. In order for districts to use AI to its highest potential, a cohesive data strategy must be in place. Rex Washburn, chief architect and head of engineering for data at CDW, outlines six data trends that are shaping the future of AI. SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to get the latest EdTech content delivered to your inbox weekly.
In one-to-one K–12 districts, device management can be a major challenge. Just think of all of those verbs: IT teams need to configure, deploy, connect, secure, track, decommission and repeat for potentially thousands or tens of thousands of devices. To stay ahead without draining their limited resources, they need scalable, automation-friendly approaches that allow them to provision, refresh, wipe, redistribute and troubleshoot without hiring additional staff. Click the banner below to discover how CDW can help manage your district’s device lifecycles.
When Ergotron introduced its new pre-wired charging cart at ISTELive in June 2025, the company emphasized efficiency, flexibility and speed in a compact design. The YES Adjusta cart, available in 24- and 36-device models, delivers on those promises. I tested the larger YES36 model to see how it performed in a busy middle school classroom. As a middle school technology electives teacher, I’ve used many charging carts over the years. They are essential for device storage and charging, but most are bulky and take up too much space. The YES Adjusta immediately stood out because of its smaller…