Back to school in 2026: The trends shaping K-12 education this year
From AI and student engagement to teacher support, schools are entering the new year focused on turning innovation into meaningful impact
As students and educators settle into the 2026-27 school year, K-12 leaders are navigating a landscape shaped by rapid technological change, persistent academic challenges, and growing pressure to demonstrate that new tools and strategies actually improve teaching and learning.
Top Stories
The oral exam is back, and AI may be the reason
In 2023, Catherine Hartmann, a professor at the University of Wyoming, gave students in a history of meditation course a deeply personal assignment: try a contemplative practice and write a reflective analysis on the experience.
Let’s work to keep our students while we still have them
According to research I recently saw , About 16% of young people ages 18 to 24 are not in employment, education, or training. Researchers call them NEETs, or disconnected youth. After 35 years in public education, I read the number a different way.
Quit saying “I’m not a math person”
It’s quite rare to hear someone say, “I can’t read” or “I’m illiterate so I don’t read.” On the other hand, lots of people claim that they’re “not a math person.” The phrase isn’t just “I don’t like math.”
5 questions to help every district leader make better decisions
As budgets remain tight and expectations for measurable student growth increase, every instructional decision carries greater weight. Choosing one initiative often means delaying another, making it even more important to separate promising ideas from approaches supported by stronger evidence.
Why K-12 cybersecurity education needs practice, not just awareness
Students are already making cybersecurity decisions every day. Giving them a list of rules is not the same as teaching them how to recognize a threat.
The compliance trap waiting on the other side of Title II
Every few years, something shifts how schools think about accessibility. A law changes, a new technology arrives, or a group of advocates succeeds in bringing attention to the topic. Right now, it’s Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The everyday access control gaps schools overlook
School leaders have invested heavily in campus security over the past decade. Cameras, visitor management systems, emergency communication platforms, and access control upgrades have become standard parts of many districts’ safety strategies.
AACTE releases national framework on AI in educator preparation
A new national framework from AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) aims to help educator preparation programs (EPPs) navigate the rapidly changing role of artificial intelligence in education.
EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTERS
Evaluations That Elevate: Moving Your District From Compliance to Growth
What if evaluation felt less like paperwork and more like progress? Observation cycles, rubric scoring, summative ratings, SLOs, and growth plans shouldn’t live in disconnected systems. Explore how one platform helps HR directors, superintendents, and instructional leaders bring it all together — for every employee, every role, every district.
Sponsored Content
Why interactive solutions are a smarter investment for schools
School IT leaders face a constant balancing act to deploy technology that enhances learning while keeping systems secure, manageable, and cost-effective.
Advancing digital equity through teacher leadership
Meaningful opportunities for teachers to build expertise and leadership beyond their classroom add to a sense of professionalism and fulfillment. In an age when the role of technology in education is rapidly changing, why not allow teachers to lead the way?
Why interactive solutions are a smarter investment for schools
School IT leaders face a constant balancing act to deploy technology that enhances learning while keeping systems secure, manageable, and cost-effective.
Wearable tech helps students overcome central vision challenges
Central vision loss–a condition that impairs the ability to see objects directly in front of the eyes–can have profound academic and social impacts on K-12 students.
