data Archives

Rethinking MTSS: How schools can turn student data into meaningful support

July 10, 2026July 10, 2026 by Erin Hornbeck, RethinkEd

The future of MTSS lies in helping educators turn information into meaningful, timely support that improves outcomes for every student.

Schools today are navigating an unprecedented convergence of academic gaps, behavioral challenges, chronic absenteeism and rising student mental health needs.

District Management

Most districts still struggle to fill specialist roles

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 by ESchool Media Contributors

Specialist roles like special education, psychology, and nursing roles remain among the hardest to fill in the majority of school districts.

As school districts prepare for the 2026–27 academic year, new national data from BlazerWorks reveals a growing staffing crisis across K–12 education, with more than 90% of district leaders reporting increased…

District Management

Data-driven decision-making is the key to unlocking K-12 district success

July 3, 2026 by Jennifer Duvall, Red Rover

Data-driven decision-making helps districts create a more stable and motivated educational environment that benefits both staff and students.

Today’s K-12 school districts have numerous responsibilities, from managing staff resources, to ensuring student safety, to fostering a learning environment where all students flourish.

District Management

We need accessible data and greater student agency

June 29, 2026 by Elisabeth Read & Dr. DeNay Speaks, Jefferson County Public Schools

Increased student agency strengthens and enables a growth mindset and supports the transfer of classroom knowledge into real-world skills.

Students are more than letter grades and test scores. They are unique individuals with their own goals, skills, and needs--deserving an educational journey that supports all three.

K-12 Cybersecurity

For schools, cyber resilience starts at the data layer

June 24, 2026 by Katherine Hennessey, Everpure

In cyber resilience, protect the data layer and build recovery plans around the data and services that keep learning and operations moving.

Cyber resilience in education starts at the data layer. That is because the data layer is where schools' most important information lives and where recovery begins when something…

District Management

Engaging K-12 families over the summer

June 10, 2026 by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus

The school communications calendar between May and September is a single arc, and districts that use this window well have a genuine head start.

It’s easy to connect with the families who show up in September already invested: responding to messages, attending events, kids showing up on time. In most cases, building…

District Management

Data alone doesn’t determine school success–leaders who know how to use it do

June 3, 2026 by Chris Rose, Abre

School leaders must weigh quantitative data against qualitative insight and focus on long-term outcomes rather than short-term fluctuations.

Educators often see recommendations, dashboards, and strategic plans labeled as “data-backed,” as if the numbers themselves drive outcomes. The truth is that data alone cannot make decisions or…

School Library Innovations

Demonstrating impact with data: How librarians can make the case for increased funding

May 21, 2026 by Jennifer Miller, @MeetMeInTheMediaCenter

After years of spending all their time on smartphone screens, today’s students are heading back to the school library for a range of reasons.

Libraries are more than a quiet corner of school where students can pick up a book now and then--they are vibrant learning environments that support classroom curriculum, spark…

College and Career Readiness

Despite concerns, Gen Z students are optimistic about AI

May 20, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

A new report ranks Gen Z's top 100 dream colleges, preferred employers, and the values shaping their career decisions--including views on AI.

There’s never been a more turbulent time for young people to plan for and embark on their futures, and a new survey gives insights on their feelings and…

Newsline

ClassMate by World Book Recognized with Prestigious ISTE Seal

May 5, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

CHICAGO, May 5, 2026 — ClassMate by World Book, the leading platform of trusted content that helps build knowledge through ... Read more

Student Data Security

The hidden cost of fragmented student data in K–12 schools

May 1, 2026 by Aruna Adoor, SchoolCues

Addressing fragmented student data is not just an operational improvement--it directly impacts the school-home connection

In many K–12 schools today, fragmented student data has quietly become one of the most significant barriers to effective decision-making and day-to-day operations. While digital tools have expanded…

AI in Education

From innovation to impact: Three ways school districts can build a sustainable AI framework

April 24, 2026 by Carl Hooker, Innovation & Digital Learning Leader, Matt Holley, Lubbock-Cooper ISD & Amy Liang, Los Gatos Union School District

School leaders must move beyond experimentation and build AI systems that prioritize governance, purpose, and data integrity.

AI is here, and it’s moving fast. For schools, that speed is both an opportunity and a risk: The right tools can transform learning, but the wrong ones…

AI in Education

We can’t wait for another Mississippi Miracle

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026 by Nancy Weinstein, MindPrint Learning & Otus

AI should play a role in supporting learning, but it must be in a way that enhances--not interferes with--core learning science principles.

Recent findings on the negative impacts of AI on learning might be sparking national debate, but they are unsurprising to learning scientists.

District Management

How to navigate historically high absenteeism

March 27, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Truly successful chronic absenteeism solutions are those that focus on re-engaging students with their school communities.

Chronic absenteeism has stabilized at historically high levels, signaling a long-term engagement challenge rather than a short-term pandemic disruption, according to a new national white paper released by…

AI in Education

Student use of AI for homework rises as concerns grow about critical thinking skills

March 25, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Students are clearly embracing AI as a learning tool, but they’re also conflicted about what it means for their own learning.

Student use of AI for homework increased in 2025, even as more students are worried the technology may be harming their ability to think critically, according to a…

School Data Management

Data intelligence in education: Building the right foundation for better decisions

March 19, 2026 by Rishi Raj Gera, Magic EdTech

Education needs systems that make trusted data usable--that is where real transformation in data intelligence and data management begins.

Data has become one of the most important strategic assets in education. Yet across institutions, publishers, and edtech companies, it often remains fragmented, inconsistently governed, and difficult to…

District Management

A superintendent’s view: Engagement, not enforcement, is the answer to absenteeism

March 17, 2026 by Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent, Ithaca City School District

Chronic absenteeism rarely begins with a student deciding to break a rule--more often, it reflects a gradual erosion of engagement.

Chronic student absenteeism has reached troubling new heights in the post-pandemic K-12 landscape, with one in four students in many systems now missing significant class time.

District Management

Key tips to help district leaders use data to improve attendance

March 11, 2026 by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus

Chronic absenteeism is predictable and preventable--if district leaders respond quickly enough to change the pattern.

Chronic absenteeism has become one of the most pressing challenges facing K-12 education today. According to the American Enterprise Institute, chronic absenteeism rates are leveling out at 23.5…

District Management

In districts, reaching readiness, retention, and success

March 5, 2026 by Laura Ascione

Using data to drive decisions through every district process helps you retain teachers who give their best to students. teacher retention

It's critical that schools create an environment where students thrive and teachers and staff feel supported and empowered.

District Management

Too many apps, too many missed messages

March 3, 2026 by Crystal Famania, Phoenix Elementary School District #1

How a 100 percent Title I district strengthened family trust through consistency and unifying school communication.

In our district, families were checking multiple apps just to keep up with school communication. One child’s teacher posted in one platform. Another school used something different. District…

Curriculum & Assessment

Sparking civic engagement as we approach America’s 250th

January 23, 2026 by Melaney Sánchez, Ph.D., Mt. Harmony Elementary

When every subject and resource become hubs for civic engagement, students begin to see citizenship as something they live.

Imagine students who understand how government works and who see themselves as vital contributors to their communities. That’s what happens when students are given opportunities to play a…

District Management

Beyond the dashboard: Why K-12 educators need data literacy, not just data

January 20, 2026 by Dr. Curt Merlau, Resultant

The power of any data dashboard isn't in the dashboard itself--it's in the conversations that happen around it. Data literacy is critical.

Walk into any data meeting at a K-12 school today, and you'll likely see a familiar scene: educators huddled around printed reports, highlighters in hand, trying to make…

Edtech Trends

49 predictions about edtech, innovation, and–yes–AI in 2026

January 16, 2026January 1, 2026 by Laura Ascione

Schools face challenges and opportunities to innovate, integrate new edtech practices, and move beyond classroom walls for lifelong education.

As K-12 schools prepare for 2026, edtech and innovation are no longer driven by novelty--it’s driven by necessity. District leaders are navigating tighter budgets, shifting enrollment, rising cybersecurity…

K-12 Cybersecurity

AI vs. identity fraud: 3 threats putting student safety at risk

December 17, 2025 by Ashwin Sugavanam, Jumio Corporation

As digital learning becomes the norm and AI accelerates, identity fraud will only get more sophisticated and schools must protect students.

In today’s schools, whether K-12 or higher education, AI is powering smarter classrooms. There’s more personalized learning and faster administrative tasks. And students themselves are engaging with AI…

Curriculum & Assessment

A smarter path to standards-based success: How Superior Public Schools united curriculum and data

December 11, 2025 by Tricia Kuhlmann and Jodi Fierstein, Superior Public Schools

From the beginning, school leaders knew the district's transition to a standards-based curriculum needed to be intentional and collaborative.

Creating consistency between classrooms and ensuring curriculum alignment school-wide can be challenging, even in the smallest of districts. Every educator teaches--and grades--differently based on their experience and preferences,…

District Management

From silos to systems: The digital advantage in schools

November 20, 2025 by Sara Douglas, Campbell County Schools

Going digital for critical student services helps education leaders centralize data and ensure seamless support across campuses.

When I first stepped into my role overseeing student data for the Campbell County School District, it was clear we were working against a system that no longer…

Future-proof your district’s network: Smarter, faster, and more secure classroom connectivity

November 5, 2025October 21, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Innovative districts are modernizing and future-proofing district networks to power learning, safeguard data, and maximize E-rate funding.

As digital learning continues to evolve, K-12 districts are under pressure to deliver connectivity that’s as fast, secure, and flexible as the learning it supports.

K-12 Cybersecurity

K-12 districts are fighting ransomware, but IT teams pay the price

October 10, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

Recovery times are improving, and ransomware payments are falling, but K-12 IT staff burnout and stress are on the rise.

The education sector is making measurable progress in defending against ransomware, with fewer ransom payments, dramatically reduced costs, and faster recovery rates.

Curriculum & Assessment

Why critical data literacy belongs in every K–12 classroom

October 2, 2025 by Evan Shieh, Young Data Scientists League

Critical data literacy is essential to help students navigate cultural nuance, question assumptions, and collaborate across disciplines.

An unexpected group of presenters--11th graders from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago--made a splash at this year’s ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT).

Reaching New Heights: Students Share How AI-Powered Math Tools Drive their Progress and Build Confidence

September 22, 2025 by Jeff Festa

Individualized edtech tools are transforming the way students approach math, opening new pathways for deeper understanding, confidence, and achievement. These ... Read more

K-12 Cybersecurity

Districts eye proactive cyber threat protection as risks increase

September 22, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

CoSN recommendations help schools and district align cybersecurity priorities with areas of need to protect students and information.

Cybersecurity threats to K-12 schools are growing in frequency, sophistication, and cost, yet many school districts remain under-resourced and underprepared, according to the CoSN 2025 State of EdTech District…

AI in Education

In training educators to use AI, we must not outsource the foundational work of teaching

August 26, 2025 by Timothy Cook, Chalkbeat

The problem is not AI or technology; it’s that educators and systems continue prioritizing finished products over messy learning processes.

I was conferencing with a group of students when I heard the excitement building across my third grade classroom. A boy at the back table had been working…

Internet Connectivity

Optical LAN: The silent hero of modern learning

August 20, 2025 by Ana Pesovic, Nokia

The minimum learning requirement today is maximal connectivity--and this is where Optical LAN becomes a game changer.

From immersive AR/VR learning in science labs to hybrid classrooms, real-time collaboration platforms, and remote learning at scale, how students learn and educators teach is changing rapidly.

2025 AI in Education – A Microsoft Special Report

September 17, 2025August 16, 2025 by Jeff Festa

To better understand the state of AI in education, Microsoft Education has conducted numerous studies and surveys and collaborated with ... Read more

AI in Education

Data, privacy, and cybersecurity in schools: A 2025 wake-up call

July 30, 2025 by Rishi Raj Gera, Magic Edtech

In the rush to embrace AI, schools must not lose sight of their responsibility to protect students' data and privacy from shadow AI tools.

In 2025, schools are sitting on more data than ever before. Student records, attendance, health information, behavioral logs, and digital footprints generated by edtech tools have turned K-12…

Edtech Trends

Districts are more selective about edtech tools as they face a budget crisis

July 9, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new report offers a comprehensive view of how districts are navigating the crowded and complex landscape of edtech tools.

As districts grapple with mounting financial pressures, a new report notes a noticeable shift in edtech strategy as leaders prioritize impact over volume, demanding stronger alignment with institutional…

District Management

How our district turned a sea of data into a compass for change

July 7, 2025 by Dr. Adrienne Usher, Bullitt County Public Schools

Consolidating data in a single system helped a district more effectively meet the varied needs of its 13,000 students.

Before Bullitt County Public Schools implemented a comprehensive data system, we often found ourselves looking at multiple different data sources for each individual child.

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional SD focuses on student data, achievement

June 30, 2025 by Laura Ascione

In a first of its kind agreement, New Jersey’s West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District (WWP) announced a new partnership with Otus, the leading ... Read more

Newsline

Otus Awarded Practitioner-Informed Design Product Certification from Digital Promise

June 25, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

Chicago (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Otus, the leading K-12 assessment, data, and insights solution, has been awarded the Practitioner-Informed Design product ... Read more

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