K-12 Cyber Threats Are Rising. Here's What Vendors Need to Know to Protect Themselves and Their Customers.
K‑12 school districts are tightening procurement standards, demanding robust cybersecurity from ed‑tech vendors as cyber‑attacks on schools surge. Recent data shows ransomware and data‑breach incidents in K‑12 rising sharply, prompting administrators to treat security on par with educational outcomes. Vendors must now demonstrate concrete security controls, compliance certifications, and incident‑response plans to win contracts. The shift signals a broader industry move toward security‑first purchasing in education technology.
PowerSchool’s New CEO Sees Data, Automation as Key to K-12’s Next Era
PowerSchool appointed Antonio Pietri as its new chief executive, marking a strategic shift toward data‑centric and automated solutions for K‑12 education. Over his first seven months, Pietri has been mapping the mounting pressures on school districts—from budget constraints to heightened...
What Makes Schools Keep, or Cut, Ed-Tech Tools?
School districts are increasingly scrutinizing ed‑tech portfolios, favoring tools that demonstrate clear instructional impact, cost efficiency, and data‑privacy compliance over flashy features. Administrators cite budget pressures, the need for measurable student outcomes, and alignment with curriculum standards as primary criteria...
Inside a Pilot Using AI to Rethink Assessment, Capture Students' Durable Skills
A consortium of five Illinois school districts has launched a pilot that uses artificial‑intelligence algorithms to evaluate students’ durable skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving. The AI platform ingests written assignments, video recordings of group work, and...
Do Students Really Have Critical Thinking Skills? Inside the Market's Race to Assess the 'Unquantifiable'
Education firms are racing to quantify traditionally unquantifiable K‑12 skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and communication. New assessment platforms blend project‑based tasks with data analytics to generate scores that claim to reflect a student’s growth in these competencies. Districts...
Major North Carolina District To Buy SEL Curriculum; Utah District Seeks Classroom Management Software
A large North Carolina school district has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase a socio‑emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for its schools. At the same time, a Utah district is seeking a comprehensive classroom and computer‑lab management software solution....
Literati Gets PE-Backing to Grow Book Fairs; StudyPoint Scooped Up
Literati, the children’s book‑fair provider that generated $40 million in annual revenue and serves 2.5 million students, was acquired by private‑equity firm Trustbridge Partners. Trustbridge will integrate Literati with its existing children’s publishing portfolio, which includes Candlewick Press and Holiday House. In...
AI’s Hidden Costs: What K-12 Needs to Know About Energy and Infrastructure
School districts are shifting from AI pilots to district‑wide deployments, prompting a new focus on the physical infrastructure needed to support these tools. Leaders must grapple with rising electricity demand, the rapid expansion of on‑site and cloud data centers, and...
California District to Buy AI-Focused PD; South Carolina System Looks for Instructional Investment Tracking Platform
A California school district has issued an RFP for professional development centered on artificial intelligence, aiming to equip teachers with AI competencies. Meanwhile, a South Carolina district is soliciting an instructional investment platform to track spending and outcomes across curricula....
Does Virtual Professional Development Tie Directly To Young Students' Academic Outcomes?
A three‑year randomized trial by Rutgers’ National Institute for Early Education Research examined whether virtual professional development (PD) boosts outcomes in 125 New Jersey preschool classrooms using Teaching Strategies’ curriculum. Teachers who received extra synchronous virtual PD saw a 23‑point rise...
New Jersey District Needs PD Platform; Mississippi System Looks for Instructional and Student Support Services
Several K‑12 districts are actively seeking new education solutions, according to recent procurement notices. A New Jersey district has issued a request for proposals for a professional development (PD) platform to support teacher growth. Meanwhile, a Mississippi school system is...
3 Mistakes Superintendents Say They've Made in Rolling Out AI
Superintendents from Rush‑Henrietta, San Diego Unified, and Broward County shared lessons at the ASU+GSV conference about missteps in K‑12 AI rollouts. They highlighted three common errors: assuming every leader was prepared, neglecting labor unions and parents, and spending excessive time...
Massachusetts District Seeks IEP Solution; New Jersey System to Buy Science of Reading Training
A Massachusetts school district is issuing an RFP for a comprehensive IEP management platform to streamline special‑education workflows. At the same time, a New Jersey district announced plans to purchase Orton‑Gillingham certified professional development, aligning with the Science of Reading movement....
3 Ways State ESSA Waivers May Change the K-12 Market — And 3 Ways They Don't
Iowa and Louisiana have received Education Department waivers that relax key Title grant restrictions, notably lifting the 15% rollover cap on Title I‑A funds and the 15% technology‑spending limit on Title IV‑A. The changes let districts carry more money into the next...
Computer Science Education Will Look Different in the Age of AI, Says Code.org's New CEO
Code.org has appointed a new chief executive who says artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape K‑12 computer science instruction. The leader emphasizes that AI will move curricula beyond basic coding toward understanding how technology works and solving real‑world problems. Code.org plans...