What Next?! Edtech Predictions for 2024

Through December, the editors at eSchoolNews will be collecting, reporting, and sharing the bold, provocative, and even dare we say, audacious predictions of edtech experts. Want to join in the fun? It’s as easy as sending us a voice or video recording, or even just a comment on our LinkedIn page. We’ll be selecting the best for our annual prediction post!


The predictor: Noel Loughrin, Strategic Solutions Manager at Laserfiche

Click below to hear Noel’s predictions in context:…Read More

Discovery Education’s Sandbox AR Honored with Global Educational Supplies and Solutions Award 

Charlotte, NC — During the recent 16th edition of Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Dubai, Discovery Education’s Sandbox AR App was named Best XR/VR/AI Product as part of the GESS Education Awards. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.   

GESS Dubai provides educators access to the products and solutions that meet the needs of the modern classroom and transform the way students learn. Alongside the exhibition and conference is the GESS Education Awards program, which rewards outstanding educational products, services, and people, as well as the best educational establishments and the most dedicated members of the teaching profession. The GESS Education Awards aim to encourage the raising of educational service and product standards throughout the industry and is an accolade of excellence.  

Sandbox AR is an augmented reality “maker” app that allows students and teachers to create, share, and even inhabit virtual environments. By placing a stage on a flat surface and adding models to create a sandbox, students create a virtual world they can experience and share. …Read More

Committee for Children Joins Forces with Aperture Education to Integrate Assessments and Curriculum to Build Social-Emotional Skills

Charlotte N.C. – Aperture Education, a Riverside Insights company and the leading provider of social-emotional skills assessment and intervention solutions, and Committee for Children, the leading provider of social-emotional curriculum programs in the U.S., announced today that they will partner to offer four co-developed assessments to support schools in demonstrating the impact of evidence-based social and emotional programs. 

Built from the Aperture DESSA suite, these assessments complement Committee for Children’s Second Step® programs, which are research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula developed to nurture SEL in children’s daily lives, both in and outside of the classroom. By having integrated assessment and curriculum tools, educators can gain valuable insights from reliable, real-time data about instructional effectiveness and the impact of SEL curriculum on students.

“As schools introduce social-emotional learning into their curriculum, it’s imperative to show how these investments translate into improved outcomes for their students. Years of evidence show how Second Step improves critical life skills and mental wellbeing,” said Riverside Insights CEO Vivek Kartha. “We are proud to collaborate with the Committee for Children and contribute to improving student outcomes by aligning our gold standard DESSA assessments with their world-class curriculum.”…Read More

Cumberland County Schools Recognized in 2023 K-12 Hero Awards for Implementation of S.P.I.R.E. Reading Program

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —  EPS  School Specialty, the leading provider of Pre K–12 supplemental literacy solutions, is pleased to announce that Catherine LeCleir-Salas, K–5 Instructional Specialist at Cumberland County Public Schools, was named a  finalist in the  2023 eSchool K–12 Hero Awards for her outstanding implementation of S.P.I.R.E., an EPS reading intervention program based in the Science of Reading.

“As staff and students at Cumberland County Schools look to the future, Catherine DeCleir-Salas’ dynamic legacy as a trailblazing educator will undoubtedly continue to shape their progress and ensure their success,” said Janine Walker-Caffrey, the Chief Product Officer at EPS. “LeCleir-Salas’ remarkable ability to turn challenges into opportunities, unite educators, and equip students with the tools they need makes her more than deserving of this award.”

The K–12 Hero Awards is a platform dedicated to recognizing and celebrating exceptional educators nationwide, and LeCleir-Salas’ approach is representative of the exceptional educators honored within the program. Rooted in the Orton-Gillingham methodology, S.P.I.R.E. aligns with the North Carolina Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021 and supports beginning readers, striving readers, and students with dyslexia. As the district transitioned to S.P.I.R.E., DeCleir-Salas was a constant source of support and encouragement for educators, caregivers, and students—dedicated to creating a holistic environment where every learner can thrive. As a result of DeCleir-Salas’ efforts, S.P.I.R.E. achieved tremendous success, boasting a teacher participation rate of 85 to 90 percent.…Read More

Evidence-Based Phonemic Awareness Program for Young Learners Unveiled by 95 Percent Group

Lincolnshire, IL– 95 Percent Group LLC, the trusted source for proven literacy solutions, unveiled 95 Phonemic Awareness Suite™, a comprehensive program for developing awareness of speech sounds for students grades K-1. Aligned with the latest research on phonemic awareness and part of the One95™ Literacy Ecosystem™, the new suite includes core and intervention lessons, intervention tools, assessments and teacher professional learning. 

Building phonemic awareness means developing the understanding that spoken words are made up of specific sounds, called phonemes. The focus of phonemic awareness is on those sounds, but recent research reports that good phonemic awareness instruction makes the critical connection to the grapheme—letters or groups of letters—that represents the sound. The 95 Phonemic Awareness Suite is a prime example of this research brought to life in the classroom.

“Building a foundation in the ways that written words connect to spoken words begins with phonemic awareness.  Phonemic awareness is essential for developing literacy skills and a strong predictor of reading success,” said Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer, 95 Percent Group. “Our new 95 Phonemic Awareness Suite is grounded in the current research on phonemic awareness, providing teachers with an evidence-based, comprehensive program that will help young learners develop a foundation for becoming proficient readers.”…Read More

SchooLinks Honored on Inc.’s 2023 Power Partner Awards List for its Remarkable Growth and Innovative College and Career Readiness Solutions

Austin, TX, (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SchooLinks, the leading college and career readiness platform, is thrilled to announce its recognition as an honoree on Inc. magazine’s prestigious 2023 Power Partner Awards list. This achievement underscores SchooLinks’ remarkable growth, unwavering commitment to excellence, and its modern, innovative solutions that support students and educators nationwide.


The Inc. Power Partner Awards are a testament to the outstanding performance of companies that go above and beyond to drive their own success and that of their clients. Out of thousands of applicants, only a select few were chosen for this prestigious recognition, making SchooLinks’ inclusion a clear indication of its exceptional dedication to client growth and satisfaction.


Over the years, SchooLinks has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its reach and influence in the field of education. The platform’s unwavering commitment to helping students prepare for college and career success has driven its rise to prominence. SchooLinks offers innovative and comprehensive solutions that empower students and educators alike, fostering their journey towards successful futures.


SchooLinks’ Modern Innovative College and Career Readiness Solutions:

  • Personalized Learning Plans: SchooLinks’ cutting-edge platform offers personalized learning plans for students across all grade levels. The platform guides students as they navigate their personal interests, career goals, and educational aspirations and translates them into an actionable plan for their future.
  • Educator Support: SchooLinks understands that educators play a pivotal role in shaping students’ futures. The platform equips teachers, counselors, and administrators with the resources and insights they need to provide exceptional guidance that helps students make informed decisions about their future.
  • Integration and Accessibility: SchooLinks offers a seamless integration of tools and resources, making it easy for students and educators to access the necessary information. This can help districts reduce redundant systems, ensuring rapid adoption and engagement across the district. 

“We are honored to be listed as an Inc. Power Partner, and this recognition reaffirms our commitment to our mission of equipping students with the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their education and career paths,” said Katie Fang, Founder & CEO at SchooLinks.


SchooLinks continues to demonstrate that its passion for education and dedication to client success is unwavering. The company looks forward to building on this success in the years to come, continually evolving and innovating to meet the ever-changing needs of students and educators nationwide.

…Read More

Illustrative Mathematics and Imagine Learning Expand Partnership to Empower More Students in Math

TUCSON, Ariz. /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —  Illustrative Mathematics (IM), a nonprofit dedicated to creating a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics, announces the organization is expanding its partnership with  Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S.

The fortified relationship with the Imagine Learning team will continue scaling the reach of the high-quality curriculum with the launch of Imagine IM, Imagine Learning’s new edition of the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum, empowering even more students to learn grade-level mathematics and develop positive mathematical identities. Available for implementation in the 2024–2025 school year, Imagine IM provides reinvigorated print resources along with an immersive digital experience. Imagine Learning will support its district partners with effective professional learning and ongoing implementation support.

According to a recent research brief from the RAND Corporation, more than 50% of educators reported wanting materials that better engage students and provide more options for students with diverse abilities. With math scores taking the largest dip in decades, as evidenced by the 2023 NAEP scores, this need is greater than ever. Imagine Learning and Illustrative Mathematics are answering the call with engaging materials that meet students where they are and provide opportunities to learn grade-level mathematics.…Read More

The importance of agency in successful edtech adoptions

Key points:

Education is changing because the world is changing. During the pandemic, teachers and students rapidly adopted new tools to pivot to remote and hybrid learning. With the recent advent of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies, conversations in education are now abuzz about AI’s potential to redefine lesson delivery, homework and formative assessments. The emergence of AI comes at an interesting time, when educators are looking for solutions to close the gap of pandemic-era learning loss and prepare their students for an increasingly technology-driven world.

As educators introduce new technologies in their classrooms, successful adoption and improvements to student outcomes will hinge on thoughtful strategies and intent to embrace change.…Read More

Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Launches Sister Schools Program Across Four States and the Territory of Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) today announced the launch of the ALAS Sister Schools Program, a year-long partnership in which teams of students from schools in the continental US and Puerto Rico collaborate on projects focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).

A total of eight schools have been selected to participate in the inaugural program. For the program, which launched during Hispanic Heritage Month, students work together to develop solutions to real-world challenges. Each sister school team will develop their own solution and the project will culminate in April 2024 with each team creating a TED Ed Student Talk about their solution.

“We created the Sister Schools Program to connect and enrich learning for students at predominantly Latino-serving schools across North America including our territorial affiliate, Puerto Rico,” said ALAS Executive Director Dr. Maria Armstrong. “It’s an amazing opportunity for these students to go beyond their traditional lessons and we’re excited to follow their experiences and their progression in academic and 21st Century skills, and to celebrate their successes at the end of the year.”…Read More

5 strategies to ignite student engagement

Key points:

When you think of education, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For some, it might be a pile of homework or a stack of books that need reading. Others may recall the flashcards they used to memorize specific formulas or expand their vocabulary. All these examples have a place in the learning ecosystem, but true education should be about so much more. Student learning should involve curiosity, discovery, and the opportunity to experiment with a variety of different solutions. To put it more simply: true education requires student engagement.

Every teacher hopes to ignite, empower, and engage the students who walk through their classroom door. Ample research has shown that student engagement is crucial to overall learning and long-term success. However, implementing this is easier said than done. To better ignite student curiosity and interest, teachers should consider trying one of these strategies that help make student engagement second nature:…Read More

What students are reading

Key points:

About five years ago, my New Year’s resolution was to read all the books on my bookshelf I’d never managed to crack. While that resolution was a complete failure (I still have unread books on my shelf), it reignited my love of reading.

Each year, I document my #BritReads reading journey on my social media channels. This year, I decided to bring #BritReads to life with my close family and friends. In lieu of a Christmas present, I’m buying each of them four books a year – books I’ve read or those that are at the top of my list to read. Rather than a one-size-fits-all #BritReads Book Club, I’m curating books just for each of them. For example, my Christmas movie-loving, hopeless-romantic childhood friend will not get my favorite thriller or whodunit!…Read More