https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/ en https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/artificial-intelligence-what-schools-can-actually-learn-their-data For some districts, the concept of using data and artificial intelligence to make decisions seems far off in the future. But K–12 districts are already collecting a tremendous amount of data in various systems, from attendance records and grades to behavioral reports and the number of substitute teachers employed in a single semester. The challenge, explains Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing at Microsoft, is aggregating the data from these disparate systems into a single place and making something of it.  “The goal isn’t more data collection. It’s helping educators… Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:54:53 -0400 Alexandra Shimalla https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/artificial-intelligence-what-schools-can-actually-learn-their-data https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/security-awareness-training-reduces-phishing-success Human error is the soft underbelly of cybersecurity. According to IBM, it plays a role in roughly 95% of breaches, a statistic that looms especially large in K–12 education. Schools are uniquely vulnerable, with thousands of users, limited IT resources, and an environment built on openness and trust. “People talk about humans as the weakest link,” says Randy Rose, vice president of security operations and intelligence at the Center for Internet Security. “And the reason they get that rap is because the No. 1 factor in a majority of cyber incidents is social engineering, mostly phishing emails… Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:23:40 -0400 Brad Grimes https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/security-awareness-training-reduces-phishing-success https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/closing-visibility-gap-k-12-it-observability A teacher has issues accessing a learning platform. Students struggle to log in to an online assessment. A classroom full of devices suddenly loses connectivity. For K–12 IT teams, solving those problems has become increasingly complicated, with today’s tech environments spanning on-premises networking equipment, cloud-hosted applications, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms and thousands of endpoint devices spread across multiple schools. When an issue occurs, the root cause could reside almost anywhere. That complexity is pushing many districts to look beyond traditional monitoring tools… Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:48:46 -0400 Nathan Eddy https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/closing-visibility-gap-k-12-it-observability https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/networking-modernization-supports-classrooms-tomorrow Technology defines the modern learning landscape. In the K–12 classroom, one-to-one device programs, BYOD policies, cloud-based learning platforms, digital displays and Internet of Things devices all are driving educational outcomes. In this environment, the network has quietly become the most critical piece of infrastructure. Success today is defined by the ability to support both current technology demands and tomorrow’s needs. With more devices coming onto the network all the time at New Trier Township High School District 203 in Illinois, CTO Michael Marassa saw the writing on the wall. “… Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:24:57 -0400 Adam Stone https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/networking-modernization-supports-classrooms-tomorrow https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/stem-centers-foster-high-tech-innovation-k-12-districts What’s one certain sign that your school district’s STEM program is heading in the right direction? Just three years after building a dedicated facility for students to explore real-world applications for science, technology, engineering and math, you’re already looking to expand. In 2023, Hemlock Public School District (HPSD) in Michigan found itself in that very situation. Its Lockwood STEM Center, built in 2020, was a place where students went to test robots and experiment with industrial fabrication machines. By all accounts, the center was a success, but it soon became clear that it was… Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:10:03 -0400 Chris Hayhurst https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/stem-centers-foster-high-tech-innovation-k-12-districts https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/can-ambient-ai-make-classrooms-smarter Ambient artificial intelligence is being hyped as a new wave of AI with the potential to make today’s tech-enabled classrooms even smarter. Compared with the transactional nature of traditional AI, ambient AI “fades into the environment rather than sitting in a visible tool waiting for someone to type a prompt,” explains Narmeen Makhani, founder of AIxecute, a strategic advisory and consulting firm. The technology is already being employed in medical settings, helping clinicians with note-taking and after-visit summaries. To pick up on engagement and classroom interaction in real time,… Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:26:26 -0400 Suchi Rudra https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/can-ambient-ai-make-classrooms-smarter https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/data-governance-helps-k-12-leaders-safeguard-school-data A few years ago, Jenn Judkins was attending a data governance training session when the instructor posed a question: “You may say you have a good data privacy practice in place, but is it documented? If it’s not documented, does it really exist?” That question resonated with Judkins, technology director at Wayland Public Schools in Massachusetts. She had spent years thinking about how to protect student data, working with her team to follow best practices around access, data protection and vetting software vendors. But none of it was formally written down. The instructor, Melissa Tebbenkamp,… Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:11:08 -0400 Wylie Wong https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/data-governance-helps-k-12-leaders-safeguard-school-data https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/schools-out-focus-device-maintenance-and-readiness-fall For K–12 IT teams, summer is one of the busiest and most important times of the year. Once devices are collected, classrooms are cleared and summer projects begin, technology teams must assess, repair, update and prepare the tools that students and teachers will rely on when they return to school. Classroom technology use continues to grow, driven by new tools. Chromebooks and other personal devices are transported between home and school, and not always in the most careful ways. By the time June arrives, devices show signs of use. There may be missing keys, cracked or damaged screens,… Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:04:27 -0400 Rachelle Dené Poth https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/schools-out-focus-device-maintenance-and-readiness-fall https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/5-questions-ask-when-choosing-edtech-solutions Technology can accelerate learning when chosen with care, but it can also become a distraction if it doesn’t meet the everyday needs of students and educators. Education program budgets nationwide are in flux, and demands on educators are high, so it’s crucial to evaluate edtech tools strategically. Here are five questions every school leader should ask before making their next technology investment. Click the banner below to find the guidance you need to manage your device ecosystem. Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:13:33 -0400 Madeleine Mortimore https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/5-questions-ask-when-choosing-edtech-solutions https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/five-keys-cyber-resilience-k-12-schools Although cybersecurity has been on K–12 districts’ radar for several years, many have yet to achieve maturity. The goal is resilience — the ability not only to detect an attack that is already underway, but also to anticipate threats, manage risks, minimize the impact of attacks and restore secure operations quickly. Here are five pillars of a resilient cybersecurity posture. Click the banner below for a cybersecurity roadmap built for K–12 schools. Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:10:27 -0400 Amy McIntosh https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2026/07/five-keys-cyber-resilience-k-12-schools