educators Archives

A blanket screen-time ban won’t fix what’s broken in edtech

August 31, 2026 by Todd Wirt, Discovery Education & Former Public School Superintendent

A ban on edtech and screen time won't work if we want to prepare students for the future and help them build digital fluency and AI literacy.

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

September 1, 2026August 28, 2026 by Vcarlson

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

September 1, 2026August 20, 2026 by Vcarlson

Districts are being asked to justify technology spend they can’t yet measure. This report shows how districts hope to close ... Read more

College and Career Readiness

Uncovering the college and career readiness shifts that exceptional school systems are making

August 19, 2026 by Dr. T.J. Vari, MaiaLearning & Thomas O’Brien, Winward Academy

Instilling college and career readiness in students is the cumulative result of thousands of intentional moments across 13 years of schooling

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,…

AI in Education

5 ways AI can strengthen your teaching this school year

August 17, 2026 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University & the College of Westchester

The conversation around AI and teaching has changed and is no longer about using AI—it’s about using it wisely.

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…

Student Well-Being

The foundation for student success is a positive classroom culture

August 13, 2026 by Tiffany Wilson-Pugh, Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Dr. Luther Riley, & Rachel Campbell, Empower Community School

A positive classroom culture is built not built on a single activity but through thousands of intentional interactions.

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…

District Management

The grade gap: Helping parents understand students’ academic progress

August 12, 2026August 3, 2026 by Scott Peters, PhD, NWEA, & Kara Stern, PhD, SchoolStatus

What closes the grade gap between reporting and understanding is real-time context around what impacts student 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…

Literacy

The one literacy metric schools miss: Students’ love of reading

July 31, 2026 by Dr. Jared Bloom, Franklin Square Union Free School District

Literacy technology that amplifies teachers’ expertise ensures students spend less time on their screens and more time reading and learning.

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.

Digital Learning Tools

Not all screen time is equal

July 20, 2026 by Dr. Carolyn Brown, WordFlight

Screen time debates should center on if individual technologies, programs, and digital learning experiences support student growth.

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…

AI in Education

The best time to be a teacher: Leading with AI and technology in the age of personalized learning

July 14, 2026 by Dr. Harold Jeffcoat, AASA, The School Superintendents Association

Teachers shouldn't fear that AI and advancements in technology will diminish their expertise--instead, they amplify it.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and an unprecedented explosion of information, public education stands at a pivotal and exciting crossroads.

Teacher Well-Being

5 ways to rest, reflect, and recharge this summer

July 8, 2026 by Jamie MacPherson, Van Andel Institute for Education

Summer offers educators a chance to focus on self-care, reflect on their teaching successes, and gear up for another academic year.

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,…

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

Outcomes-based partnerships and accountability are the future of education

June 30, 2026 by Mark Angel, Amira Learning

Edtech and educators must take shared ownership of doing what matters--driving student growth--through outcomes-based partnerships.

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…

District Management

Learning doesn’t happen by accident–it starts with consistency and communication

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026 by Dr. Mike Ryder, Hardyston Township School District

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,…

Durable Skills

Career-connected learning and life skills development in the middle grades

June 23, 2026 by Thomas O'Brien, Winward Academy & Dr. T.J. Vari, MaiaLearning

We must move beyond isolated skill instruction and integrate durable skills into curriculum, school programming, and extracurriculars.

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.

Classroom Management

With students tuning out, it’s time to rethink the classroom

June 16, 2026 by By Patti Clark, Chief Academic Officer at Lakeshore Learning

Disengagement is often less about student behavior and more about how the classroom learning experience is designed.

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…

Education Policy & Funding

We need to start giving agency to educators instead of edtech vendors

June 8, 2026 by Priten Soundar-Shah, PedagogyVentures

Teachers and students need agency as they are voicing concern and disagreement over administrators’ edtech purchasing decisions.

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…

Edtech Trends

Beyond the ban: Rethinking cell phone policies in schools with smarter solutions

May 29, 2026May 29, 2026 by Taki Skouras, Cellairis

Schools can implement systems and policies that allow for access to student devices while limiting their use during instructional time.

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…

AI in Education

How AI helps teachers spend less time on assessments and more time on impactful instruction

May 27, 2026 by Dr. Carla Braun, Community Unit School District 201

AI should never replace teachers in collaboration or expertise, but should shine a light on the insights that spark deeper conversations.

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,…

Emergency Planning & Response

How comprehensive school safety planning protected our teachers and students

May 19, 2026 by Gregory Vaughn, S.L. Mason Elementary School, Valdosta City Schools

Why in-building coverage is a lifeline for school safety

When people outside of education talk about comprehensive school safety planning, it can sometimes sound theoretical: a checklist of protocols or a compliance exercise.

AI in Education

In Illinois, charting a path for responsible AI use

May 14, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Illinois educators urge that statewide AI guidance be grounded in classroom realities, empower teacher leaders, and center human connection.

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…

Teacher Professional Development

What higher ed can do about getting research into the K-12 classroom

May 11, 2026 by Dr. Steve Baule, Dr. Tammy Champa, and Dr. Jessa Cook

A lack of structured collaboration between K-12 and higher ed contributes to a disconnect between research and practice.

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,…

District Management

What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 by Olivia Paris, Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19

$As teacher confidence grows, the way that math feels in the classroom begins to shift and evolves into a move positive experience.$

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…

Literacy

5 ways to make reading click for teens

April 23, 2026 by Carey Sweet, The Reading League Florida Chapter

Five classroom-tested approaches that make reading engaging, relevant and sustainable for teens and middle school students.

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…

Newsline

School Specialty Honors Top Educators with 12th Annual Crystal Apple Awards

April 21, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

GREENVILLE, Wis., April 21, 2026 — School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments and supplies to the pre-K-12 education ... Read more

AI in Education

The screen-time debate’s blind spot

April 17, 2026April 15, 2026 by Adriana Perusin, IASEA & Flip Education

The point of AI is not to replace the teacher--it is to give her more of what he or she actually needs: time and structure.

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…

Teaching Trends

The next wave of K-12 innovation: How educators are shaping the future of edtech

March 30, 2026 by Dr. Matthew X. Joseph, New Bedford Public Schools

Edtech innovation can come from teachers who remove learning guardrails and show students the joy and excitement in trying something new.

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…

Digital Learning Tools

As classrooms go digital, are educators ready?

March 9, 2026 by Emma B. Kassan, Sy Doan, and Julia H. Kaufman, RAND

Educators can develop best practices that ensure digital learning fulfills its promise rather than amplifies its problems.

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…

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…

Newsline

Celebrating Teachers: Nominate Outstanding Educators for Crystal Apple Awards

February 17, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

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.

Teacher Professional Development

A new PLC model that builds collective efficacy and fights teacher burnout

February 13, 2026 by Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey, San Diego State University & Health Sciences High and Middle College

Why modern professional learning communities need to focus on adult learning, real problems, and spreading innovation--enter PLC+.

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…

Literacy

What’s in and out in literacy instruction for 2026

February 11, 2026 by Stacy Hurst, Reading Horizons

Solving the literacy crisis requires commitment to implementation and letting go of familiar approaches that aren't serving students.

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

February 9, 2026February 5, 2026 by Vcarlson

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

Newsline

School Specialty Expands Learning Beyond the Screen with New Outdoor Furniture Line

February 3, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Childcraft expands early learning beyond four walls and screens with durable, sustainable furniture designed for outdoor discovery.

AI in Education

Despite platform fatigue, educators use AI to bridge resource gaps

February 2, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Better integration between AI tools and digital learning tools may help relieve educator frustration, according to a new survey.

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.

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…

Teaching Trends

5 tips for educators using video

January 9, 2026 by Karl M. Kapp, Ed.D., Learning and Development Mentor Academy

Educators can create instructional videos to save time, expand their reach, and create greater impacts on their students

When you need to fix your sink, learn how to use AI, or cook up a new recipe, chances are you searched on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or even…

AI in Education

AI use is on the rise, but is guidance keeping pace?

January 2, 2026 by Laura Ascione

As AI becomes a fixture in schools, educators and students need reliable guidance on how to use it well--especially as AI use evolves.

The rapid rise of generative AI has turned classrooms into a real-time experiment in technology use. Students are using AI to complete assignments, while teachers are leveraging it…

AI in Education

25 predictions about AI and edtech

December 30, 2025 by Laura Ascione

As generative AI tools mature, AI predictions contend that K-12 education will leverage AI in new ways to transform teaching and learning.

As generative AI technologies evolve, educators are moving away from fears about AI-enabled cheating and are embracing the idea that AI can open new doors for teaching and…

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