Vibe coding: 3 easy steps to classroom magic
No matter where you turn today, it feels as though people just can’t stop talking about artificial intelligence (AI). Suddenly it’s become a part of our workspace, our…
educators
Teachers weigh the realities of classroom technology in new national survey
While classroom technology is nearly universal, educators are navigating a growing disconnect between how digital tools are mandated and how they actually function, according to Teaching for Tomorrow:…
Abre Launches “Vera,” Analytics Agent Built to Retire Static K-12 Dashboards
Integrated directly into Abre’s Data Intelligence Platform, Vera delivers real-time, role-aware answers to plain-language questions without compromising student privacy or ... Read more
A blanket screen-time ban won’t fix what’s broken in edtech
Many parents, policymakers, and educators are worried about screens in schools. They’ve observed the positive effects of cell phone bans and are wondering how edtech might contribute to…
A Stronger Cybersecurity Foundation Starts with a Modern SIS
Your SIS is central to district operations and security. Learn what to look for in a modern SIS, from role-based ... Read more
The New Math for EdTech: What Counts When Measuring Technology’s Value
Districts are being asked to justify technology spend they can’t yet measure. This report shows how districts hope to close ... Read more
Uncovering the college and career readiness shifts that exceptional school systems are making
If you ask most educators where college and career readiness (CCR) begins, many will point to high school. That's when many students start thinking seriously about graduation requirements,…
5 ways AI can strengthen your teaching this school year
A year ago, many educators were still asking whether artificial intelligence belonged in the classroom. Some were cautiously experimenting with AI-generated lesson plans, while others were focused on…
The foundation for student success is a positive classroom culture
As the school year begins, teachers often devote significant time to planning lessons, reviewing standards, organizing classrooms, and establishing routines. While these are all essential components of effective…
The grade gap: Helping parents understand students’ academic progress
For as long as school has existed, so has the parental question: How are my kids doing? For nearly two centuries, educators have used some type of report…
The one literacy metric schools miss: Students’ love of reading
To ensure children build foundational reading skills in the early elementary years, educators have embraced the Science of Reading with its emphasis on phonics and phonemic awareness.
Not all screen time is equal
With the growing movement to limit technology in schools, parents and educators are right to question how much time students spend on screens. But, as schools reconsider the…
The best time to be a teacher: Leading with AI and technology in the age of personalized learning
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and an unprecedented explosion of information, public education stands at a pivotal and exciting crossroads.
5 ways to rest, reflect, and recharge this summer
Summer break has finally arrived, and if you're like most educators, you're probably feeling a lot of conflicting emotions. There's relief that the school year is behind you,…
Data-driven decision-making is the key to unlocking K-12 district success
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.
Outcomes-based partnerships and accountability are the future of education
The answer to stagnating test scores is not adopting technology that has never demonstrated any ability to move test scores. Educators have to finally recognize that hope is not a strategy…
Learning doesn’t happen by accident–it starts with consistency and communication
A student’s school experience can shift dramatically--not just from year to year but from classroom to classroom each day. They may feel seen and encouraged by one teacher,…
Career-connected learning and life skills development in the middle grades
The future of high-quality middle level engagement will include career exposure and exploration with a focus on transferable skills and the development of career goals.
With students tuning out, it’s time to rethink the classroom
Across classrooms right now, many educators are noticing the same shift: Students are even harder to reach than they were just a short time ago. In a recent…
We need to start giving agency to educators instead of edtech vendors
American schools spent roughly $30 billion on educational technology in 2024--a figure that's projected to nearly double by 2033. Superintendents are constantly bombarded with emails, brochures, and demos…
AI Literacy and PD for Educators
With AI For Education x Frontline Professional growth, you can deliver and sustain AI in ways that support real adoption. ... Read more
Beyond the ban: Rethinking cell phone policies in schools with smarter solutions
Across the country, educators, parents, and policymakers are struggling with a question that schools can no longer afford to avoid: What role should cell phones play in today’s…
How AI helps teachers spend less time on assessments and more time on impactful instruction
The overreliance on AI is a widely discussed topic for teachers, administrators, and families alike. The last thing we want is for technology to stifle the creativity, expertise,…
How comprehensive school safety planning protected our teachers and students
When people outside of education talk about comprehensive school safety planning, it can sometimes sound theoretical: a checklist of protocols or a compliance exercise.
In Illinois, charting a path for responsible AI use
AI is a daily reality in the nation's schools, and in Illinois, it shapes how students research, problem-solve, and create. Now, Teach Plus Illinois and the Illinois Digital…
What higher ed can do about getting research into the K-12 classroom
Educational research has never been more abundant, yet its impact on classroom practice remains uneven at best. While universities continue to produce studies on instructional strategies, student outcomes,…
What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders
After 20 years teaching high school math, I thought I understood why students struggled. Then I sat in my first professional learning session focused on early math and…
5 ways to make reading click for teens
Reading is competing for attention in a world built for scrolling. A recent University of Florida study found that the share of Americans who read for pleasure on…
School Specialty Honors Top Educators with 12th Annual Crystal Apple Awards
GREENVILLE, Wis., April 21, 2026 — School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments and supplies to the pre-K-12 education ... Read more
The screen-time debate’s blind spot
Last fall, during a professional development session I was running with a group of teachers in São Paulo, a fifth-grade teacher raised her hand and asked a question…
The next wave of K-12 innovation: How educators are shaping the future of edtech
Every school year brings an influx of IT solutions designed to reinvent K-12 education. Schools are primed to jump on the latest technologies to address the issues most…
As classrooms go digital, are educators ready?
Today, about 80 percent of K–12 students use computers or tablets at school--up from about 50 percent before the pandemic. Even as parents worry about too much “screen…
Too many apps, too many missed messages
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…
Celebrating Teachers: Nominate Outstanding Educators for Crystal Apple Awards
School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments, instructional solutions, and supplies for preK-12 education, is proud to celebrate outstanding educators with its 12th annual Crystal Apple Awards.
A new PLC model that builds collective efficacy and fights teacher burnout
In schools across the country, teacher turnover and burnout have reached crisis levels. Educators are stretched thin, often working in isolation, and many professional learning communities (PLCs) fail…
What’s in and out in literacy instruction for 2026
The conversation around literacy instruction has reached a turning point. After decades of debate, we're finally seeing a broad consensus around evidence-based practices--but the challenge now is moving…
Retention First: Hire Teachers Who Stay
When staffing eats up 85% of a district’s budget, retention matters. Learn how K-12 districts use cross-department collaboration, smarter planning, ... Read more
School Specialty Expands Learning Beyond the Screen with New Outdoor Furniture Line
Childcraft expands early learning beyond four walls and screens with durable, sustainable furniture designed for outdoor discovery.
Despite platform fatigue, educators use AI to bridge resource gaps
Sixty-five percent of educators use AI to bridge resource gaps, even as platform fatigue and a lack of system integration threaten productivity, according to Jotform's EdTech Trends 2026 report.
Beyond the dashboard: Why K-12 educators need data literacy, not just data
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…