EdTech Magazine

K–12 environments have shifted from centralized IT to highly distributed ecosystems, with districts now operating dozens of Software as a Service platforms, devices and third-party integrations — each introducing its own data flows, identities and risk surface. From a compliance standpoint, the challenge is not just where data lives but also how it moves and who accesses it. For example, student data is continuously shared across learning apps, vendors and cloud services. Meanwhile, visibility i

A new quantum computing technology campus is on its way to Chicago’s South Side, and local K–12 students were recently given the chance to design their own versions.  When completed, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), currently planned for construction in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood, will be a 128-acre campus that serves as a global center for quantum-enabled research and technology development. The campus will bring jobs in quantum computing to the region, and Chic

As K–12 districts and schools grapple with the growing challenges of building consolidations, changing neighborhood demographics and shifting student enrollments, there's a feeling that more is on the line when leaders and school boards approach budget planning season and priorities for spending. Without a crystal ball, it's difficult to forecast precisely where funding shortfalls may occur, what supply chain challenges may arise or which neighborhoods may see student populations spike or collap

The National Center for Education Statistics projects that about 40 states will see K–12 enrollment declines between 2022 and 2031, with total enrollment projected to decrease by 5% in that period. For IT leaders, such dramatic shifts mean tighter per-pupil funding, potential school consolidations and difficult infrastructure decisions.  Three K–12 educational technology leaders shared five tips on how to approach planning and get more from every classroom technology dollar spent. Their insights

Cybercriminal group ShinyHunters has executed one of the largest educational data breaches on record, targeting Instructure, the company behind learning management system Canvas. Instructure detected unauthorized activity on April 29. On May 2, the company reported that it had “revoked privileged credentials and access tokens associated with affected systems, deployed patches to enhance system security,” rotated certain keys and increased monitoring efforts across all platforms. On May 7, a seco

For years, K–12 districts have been leaning into cloud-based resources for everything, including productivity suites, learning management systems (LMSs) and student information systems (SISs). Cost-efficiency, scalability and enhanced collaboration are just a few of the benefits gained from anywhere, anytime access to cloud resources. But this widespread reliance creates challenges when access to the cloud is interrupted. Ransomware attacks, extreme weather events and cloud provider outages can

Campus security is changing in a fundamental way. What used to be a mix of cameras, locks and alarms is becoming a connected system that can surface issues in real time. AI-enabled video, access control and sensors now work together to provide a more complete picture of what is happening across campus, helping to equip schools with higher levels of security than ever before. As these technologies advance, institutions are under increasing pressure to make thoughtful decisions about what to adopt

When it comes to learning new skills and adopting new tools and technologies for the classroom, I’ve been truly impressed by the willingness of the teachers and educators who attend CDW’s Connected Classroom workshops. Our most recent series of in-person events covered ways to get more out of the Google for Education environment using Google’s AI assistant, Gemini for Education, and NotebookLM. As teachers progress from thinking about artificial intelligence less as an efficiency tool, and more

In Jonathan Haidt’s recent book, The Anxious Generation, the author summarizes a common understanding among K–12 educators: Adolescent access to smartphones has led to a generational mental health crisis. There is a great push in education to avoid a similar outcome with an even more transformative technology: artificial intelligence.  A key strategy is boosting AI literacy among K–12 educators and students. Higher education plays a critical role in this mission, providing the research, training

Professional development in K–12 education often focuses on teachers, but as districts expand their use of digital tools and AI, IT teams increasingly need role-specific training as well.  “The role of IT in schools has never been more strategic; it is a driving force behind the adoption and integration of the most impactful technologies in education,” says Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing for Microsoft. “As K–12 schools navigate digital transformation, the role of IT has e

As K–12 IT leaders, you’re often thinking about what’s next as technology, curriculum and workforce needs evolve. In the face of this evolution, the challenge for IT teams is holding true to the values and models that have worked for years while adapting to modern needs and implementing the technology that improves legacy ways of working. Modernization is often framed as a dramatic change as schools implement new tools, programs, and ways of thinking about teaching and learning. But progress rar

More than half (53%) of K–12 teachers report feelings of burnout, compared with 39% of workers in other professions, according to RAND’s 2025 State of the American Teacher survey. High levels of burnout contribute to teacher turnover, which is an expensive and destabilizing problem for schools. While salaries and culture are important components to alleviating teacher burnout, smart IT investment can also play an often-overlooked role in reducing the administrative burden that’s driving educator

“Passwordless authentication” has generated buzz in the broader tech world, but in K–12 it is still very much an emerging concept. While passwordless is not yet common in schools, it sits right at the intersection of two trends we see often in K–12 districts: pushback against multifactor authentication (MFA) and pressure to secure school systems against increasingly sophisticated threats. That combination is exactly why K–12 leaders should pay attention to this authentication method now, even if

Donna Prudhomme leads Beaumont Independent School District’s career and technical education (CTE) program, which last year saw more than 3,700 students enrolled in courses ranging from diagnostics and therapeutic services to law enforcement, cosmetology and more. Many students complete industry-based certifications, while others earn dual credits from Lamar Institute of Technology or Lamar State College Orange, gaining college-level experience while reducing the burden of college debt. Prudhomme

Due to its location in rural Indiana, East Noble School Corporation at one point had to rely on three different internet providers to get enough bandwidth for the district’s students and educators. Only a small number of cybersecurity vendors could provide firewall capabilities for all three, and East Noble’s vendor charged based on bandwidth. This meant that as the district’s use of online resources grew, so did its security bills. Eventually, the cost increases led the district to adopt a Fort

Over the past few years, the artificial intelligence conversation in K–12 districts has moved from one of fear to one of curiosity and interest. Now that districts have realized the potential of AI as a learning and productivity tool, they are increasingly seeking to craft policies and guidance that address all facets of this evolving technology.  At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, IT leaders from K–12 districts shared how they are formulating their AI policies and guardrails to ensu

At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, artificial intelligence touched nearly every session in some way, appearing in discussions about classroom modernization, cybersecurity, screen time and everything in between. But how are districts using AI in practice? Here are some takeaways from the conference with examples of how K–12 schools are using AI in the classroom, among leadership teams and in IT operations. 1. Teachers and Students Use AI in the Classroom For teachers, AI has been fram

For K–12 IT teams, staying ahead of the latest cyberthreats can be a challenge. This pressure is amplified at small and medium-sized districts, where budgets are tight and staff members juggle multiple responsibilities. At the the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, IT leaders from small districts detailed how they and their teams are keeping their students and staff protected with limited resources. Cyber Stakes Are High for K–12 Districts Edward McKaveney, technology director for Hampton T

Teaching is getting more complex all the time. “It's difficult to be a teacher these days. Educators are juggling a high-tech environment with many devices, a wide range of languages in the classroom, and vastly different learning needs all at once,” says Tom Chapman, a product manager on the Chromebook Education team at Google. And while the right technology can help teachers be more effective, parents are concerned about how these devices are used in the classroom. Teachers need solutions that

In February 2026, CoSN released its 2026 Driving K–12 Innovation report, outlining the hurdles, accelerators and tech enablers in education and technology for the year ahead. The advisory board that compiles the report is made up of approximately 130 members from 14 countries and 32 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. At the 2026 CoSN Annual Conference in Chicago, a panel of IT leaders who served on the report’s advisory board unpacked the results of the report and shared examples from their own