IT Archives

How CTE inspires long and fulfilling careers

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

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

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

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

Academic Esports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…

Teacher Professional Development

We’re losing STEM teachers–here are 5 ways to keep them and grow the ones we need

Recruiting and retaining STEM teachers isn’t just about filling vacancies--it’s about giving every student an opportunity to be inspired.

The critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers continues to challenge schools and districts across the country. This is especially true in high-need schools where early-career or uncertified teachers…

Student Well-Being

Supporting youth mental health through connection, creativity, and community

The mental health needs of students are evolving, and our systems have struggled to keep up. For many families, accessing care is still time-consuming, costly, or confusing.

This Fall Bring Gaming To the Classroom with Gaming Concepts

Gaming Concepts is a turn-key, standards-aligned curriculum that uses gaming to teach academic, social, and career skills. Whether you’re in ... Read more

AI in Education

Integrating AI into education is not as daunting as it seems

Lessons on AI and learning from an education veteran who helped educators through several technological transformations.

Forty-some years ago, students sat in straight rows with books, papers, and pencils neatly lined up on their desks. But beginning in the 1990s, educators faced very different…

AI in Education

Just thank ChatGPT: How teens turned a secret tool into a shared success

AI isn’t going away--it’s already the silent partner in many students’ academic journeys, and educators should support them.

The more we listen to our students, the clearer it becomes: AI is not on the sidelines of learning anymore, it’s at the center. Students are using it…

K-12 Cybersecurity

5 cybersecurity green flags: A practical guide for sourcing edtech

Every school district can take meaningful, manageable steps to reduce risk, establish guardrails, and build trust with cybersecurity.

Although educators are excited to innovate, school leaders must weigh every new app or online platform against cybersecurity risks and the responsibility of protecting student data.

AI in Education

Grading student writing with AI: What we lose when AI replaces teachers

Our students don’t write to impress a rubric--they write to be heard, and using AI to grade student writing misses the mark.

A colleague of ours recently attended an AI training where the opening slide featured a list of all the ways AI can revolutionize our classrooms. Grading was listed…

AI in Education

From pen to prompt: Navigating AI in the classroom

Students can (and should) still show their work in the age of AI--but it might look a little different in today's classroom.

Education helps develop our cognitive muscles. Letting AI do it for us is not the answer, but could AI be a thought partner to help build this skill?…

Innovation Insights

eSchool News Live @InstructureCon25

Spokane, Washington, may not be the first place you think of when downloading some of the biggest edtech news of ... Read more

AI in Education

5 AI tools that offer more than hype

High-impact AI tools in education typically provide real-time feedback on student work and adapt instruction based on performance.

The term "AI-powered" is today's most popular buzzword--particularly in education. A growing number of edtech tools now claim to leverage AI, promising smarter, faster, and more personalized learning…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Rethinking K-12 cyber strategies amid federal budget cuts

Incremental but intentional steps to strengthen cyber hygiene help school districts improve their security posture and realize savings.

The recent suspension of the K-12 Cybersecurity Government Coordinating Council marks a pivotal shift in how the nation’s public school systems manage cybersecurity.

AI in Education

AI tools are everyday study buddies, survey finds

Over-reliance on AI tools yields surface-level learning instead of the cognitive involvement that leads to long-term learning.

Across the U.S., AI tools are becoming go-to learning companions for students--helping them brainstorm essays, practice languages, and solve tough math problems.

District Management

Real talk: What it really takes to lead successful grading reform

After 10 years of reimagining grading, these school leaders are still evolving when it comes to grading reform and standards-based grading.

What started as a deeply rooted effort to promote equity has grown into a districtwide, cross-curricular system that blends teacher voice, clarity for families, and support from the…

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