IT Archives

We built evaluation for accountability–now it’s time to build it for growth

January 8, 2026 by Jena Draper, RefynED

Real leadership means moving past outdated educator evaluation processes and redesigning it around evidence, clarity, and authentic feedback.

Teacher evaluations have been the subject of debate for decades. Breakthroughs have been attempted but rarely sustained. Researchers have learned that context, transparency, and autonomy matter.

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…

School Management

Being a principal just got harder–and here’s why

December 29, 2025 by Chris DeRemer, Chalkbeat

A principal should create an environment so safe and accepting that students and staff never feel like they must look over their shoulder.

There is a squeaky old merry-go-round in my neighborhood that my own children play on from time to time. Years of kids riding on it have loosened its…

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…

Teacher Professional Development

How AI can fix PD for teachers

December 10, 2025 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

Too many PD sessions remain generic, compliance-driven, or disconnected from day-to-day teaching realities--but AI can help.

Many teachers have experienced PD sessions that are disorganized, disconnected from practice, or delivered by outsiders who misunderstand the local context.

Students with Special Needs

Modernizing the special education workforce is a national imperative

December 9, 2025 by Kevin Eberly, FillerB

Teaching vacancies are most acute in special education due to attrition, burnout, and early retirements--workforce support is critical.

America’s special education system is facing a slow-motion collapse. Nearly 8 million students now receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), but the number of qualified teachers…

Literacy

Solving the staffing crisis is key to the Science of Reading movement

December 5, 2025 by Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group

As someone who’s dedicated my career to advancing the Science of Reading movement, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to help every child become a strong, fluent reader.

Literacy

From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science

December 1, 2025 by Kimberly Stockton, Ed.D.

When it comes to structured literacy, implementation science is a roadmap for translating the science of reading into instructional routines.

When districts adopt evidence-based practices like Structured Literacy, it’s often with a surge of excitement and momentum. Yet the real challenge lies not in the initial adoption, but…

Digital Learning Tools

3 reasons to switch to virtual set design

November 26, 2025 by Jared Cole, Churchill High School, Livonia Public Schools

Virtual set design offers more than just impressive shows--it provides a cost-effective, flexible, and innovative approach to storytelling.

If you’ve attended a professional show or musical recently, chances are you’ve seen virtual set design in action. This approach to stage production has gained so much traction…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Resilient learning begins with Zero Trust and cyber preparedness

November 25, 2025 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

Even in districts with limited staff and funding, schools can take important steps toward stronger security with Zero Trust and cybersecurity

The U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recently warned of a surge in cyberattacks from “insider threats”--student hackers motivated by dares and challenges--leading to breaches across schools.

Leveraging E-Rate to Transform Learning

December 1, 2025November 21, 2025 by Vcarlson

Digital learning allows for more personalized, engaging and student-centered instruction. It empowers students to take control of their education, leading ... Read more

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…

AI in Education

Preserving critical thinking amid AI adoption

November 17, 2025November 14, 2025 by Dipesh Jain, MagicEdTech

Small but intentional practices keep humans at the center of the critical thinking process and turn AI into a gym for the mind.

AI is now at the center of almost every conversation in education technology. It is reshaping how we create content, build assessments, and support learners. The opportunities are…

How CTE inspires long and fulfilling careers

November 12, 2025 by Dr. Richard McPherson, Ed.D.

CTE offers something few other learning pathways can match: a direct skills-based progression from classroom learning to readiness in careers

One of the most transformative aspects of Career and Technical Education is how it connects learning to real life. When students understand that what they’re learning is preparing…

K-12 Cybersecurity

10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t just a fix--it protects students, strengthens IT resilience, and equips classrooms for an AI-powered future

K-12 IT leaders are under pressure from all sides--rising cyberattacks, the end of Windows 10 support, and the need for powerful new learning tools.

K-12 Cybersecurity

How school IT teams lock down QR-based SSO without hurting usability

November 10, 2025 by Charlie Sander, ManagedMethods

Phishing via QR codes, a tactic now known as “quishing,” involves attackers embedding malicious QR codes in emails or posters.

Schools can keep QR logins safe and seamless by blending clear visual cues, ongoing user education, and risk-based checks behind the scenes

The Road to Efficiency for K-12 Schools

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 by Jeff Festa

This whitepaper discusses the financial challenges faced by K-12 school districts and advocates for the modernization of travel, expense, ... Read more

Academic Esports

Reliable and relatable resources build confident students: The triple Rs of scholastic esports

November 4, 2025 by Julius Edwards, Palm Beach Lakes Esports & Sunshine State Esports League

Scholastic esports is about giving students in under-resourced communities the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to make those dreams real

I know what it feels like to stand in front of a classroom that does not have enough. Not enough computers. Not enough up-to-date software and technical tools.…

Literacy

3 strategies to boost student reading fluency this school year

October 31, 2025 by Dr. Carolyn Brown, Foundations in Learning

All students can become strong, proficient readers when they are given the right tools, instruction, and support in reading fluency.

With the new school year now rolling, teachers and school leaders are likely being hit with a hard truth: Many students are not proficient in reading.

Edtech Trends

Do screens help or hurt K-8 learning? Lessons from the UK’s OPAL program

January 14, 2026October 22, 2025 by Nesreen El-Baz, ESL Educator

In education, we don’t have to choose between tech and tradition--the real challenge is finding balance in learning.

When our leadership team at Firthmoor Primary met with an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) representative, one message came through clearly: “Play isn’t a break from learning, it…

Digital Learning Tools

Rethink the classroom: How interactive tech simplifies IT and supercharges learning

October 22, 2025 by Laura Ascione

For tech leaders balancing innovation, security, and scalability, interactive solutions offer a chance to reimagine what’s possible.

Today’s school IT teams juggle endless demands--secure systems, manageable devices, and tight budgets--all while supporting teachers who need tech that just works.

Internet Connectivity

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.

Teaching Trends

Plenty of schools have no-zeroes policies. And most teachers hate it, a new survey finds

October 17, 2025 by Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat

Many schools are rethinking what students should have to do to get a high school diploma, and how well no-zero policies work.

About one in four teachers say their schools don’t give students zeroes. And nearly all of them hate it.

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

How teachers and administrators can overcome resistance to NGSS

October 9, 2025 by Nancy Nasr, Ed.D., Santa Paula Unified School District

A helpful first step is to approach the NGSS not as a set of standards, but rather a set of performance expectations.

Although the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were released more than a decade ago, adoption of them varies widely in California. I have been to districts that have…

District Management

I asked students why they go to school–this answer changed how I design campuses

November 7, 2025September 30, 2025 by Enrico Giori, Chalkbeat

Students should be included in shaping the school environments they spend most days in--after all, they're a critical piece.

In February of 2023, I was leading a visioning workshop with a group of middle schoolers in Southern California. Their energy was vibrant, their curiosity sharp. We began…

Literacy

Building a literacy framework that works: A district leader’s journey in Peoria

September 23, 2025 by Lindsay Bohm, Peoria (Ill.) Public Schools District 150

AI can be more than a tool--it can help every student reach their fullest potential, and teachers who are supported help students achieve.

When I stepped into the role of curriculum coordinator for Peoria Public Schools District 150 in 2021, I entered a landscape still reeling from the disruption of COVID-19.…

Curriculum & Assessment

The advantages of supplementing curriculum

September 23, 2025September 19, 2025 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University

The most successful classrooms are not those that follow a book, but those where teachers supplement curriculum to benefit all learners.

Classroom teachers are handed a curriculum they must use when teaching. That specific curriculum is designed to bring uniformity, equity, and accountability into classrooms.

Literacy

4 tips to help older K-12 readers

September 17, 2025 by Miah Daughtery, EdD, NWEA

Middle schoolers and older readers will encounter interdisciplinary subjects that play a unique role in their developing literacy skills.

Teachers are noticing that older readers need ongoing support to read materials used in their classrooms. In a study commissioned by the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund…

AI in Education

Why AI’s true power in education isn’t about saving time

September 16, 2025 by Melissa Serio, GoGuardian

AI's purpose in education isn't to automate teaching, but to clear space for the creativity, experimentation, and human connection.

As a former teacher, educator coach and principal, I've witnessed countless edtech promises come and go. The latest refrain echoes through conference halls and staff meetings: "AI saves…

Special Needs

Supporting neurodiverse learners requires more than accommodation: It demands systemic change

September 12, 2025 by Dr. Melanie Johnson, Collaborative for Children

Neurotypical students who learn alongside neurodiverse students and peers develop critical social-emotional skills.

Approximately 1 in 5 children in the United States are estimated to be neurodivergent, representing a spectrum of learning and thinking differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and…

AI in Education

5 keys to AI success: A roadmap for K–12 administrators

September 9, 2025 by Ben Talsma, Van Andel Institute for Education

AI and its growing presence can make teachers nervous, but it doesn’t change the fundamental mission of education.

Like many educators, I have strong feelings about the abundance of artificial intelligence now used in schools. Some teachers choose to take a Gandalf approach to AI and…

AI in Education

5 ways to infuse AI into your classroom this school year

September 1, 2025 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University

AI won’t replace teachers--but thoughtful AI use can lead to deeper student engagement and increased classroom efficiency.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the educational landscape, teachers have a unique opportunity to model how to use it responsibly, creatively, and strategically.

Newsline

Catapult Learning is Awarded Tutoring Program Design Badge from Stanford University’s National Student Support Accelerator

August 26, 2025 by ESchool News Contributor

The recent development of large language models like ChatGPT has opened new possibilities for the implementation of computer-based tutors.

Organization recognized for excellence in high-impact tutoring design and student achievement gains PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 25, 2025 – Catapult Learning, a division of ... Read more

Teaching Trends

The power of instructional intent statements in assignment design

August 18, 2025 by Steven M. Baule, Ed.D., Ph.D.

Weaving instructional intent statements into assignment design represents a shift toward more transparent, student-centered pedagogy

In education--and particularly with my graduate students in higher education--students occasionally focus on the individual points of an assignment rubric instead of stepping back and looking holistically at…

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

Newsline

Counslr Launches in Schools Across the Country to Increase Mental Health Care Access

August 12, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

New York, NY, August 12, 2025 – Counslr, a leading mental health and wellness platform, announced today that it has expanded its ... Read more

Literacy

5 steps to a successful literacy training rollout for teachers

August 12, 2025 by Catherine Guillory, Lafayette Parish School System

A lot of teachers assume that once students get to fourth or fifth grade, they already know how to read. And while this is true most of the…

Literacy

Nine in 10 educators back evidence-based reading, but training and implementation lag

August 12, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new whitepaper around the science of reading IDs gaps in preparation, uneven curriculum adoption, and high demand for professional learning

While most New York educators enthusiastically support the science of reading, few report using it as their primary approach to literacy instruction, according to a new statewide survey conducted by…

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