k 12 education trends 2022

State K-12 Education Trends for 2022

A look at key education themes across Governors’ State of the State addresses in 2022

By Catherine Van Ness

Nearly all Governors of the 55 states, commonwealths and territories deliver an annual State of the State address. By mid-March 2022, 47 Governors had delivered such an address. Some states align the State of the State address with the release of the Governor’s annual budget proposal and most use the address as an opportunity to celebrate prior accomplishments, to announce new endeavors, and to chart a path to the state’s future success. With the state’s role being central to K-12 and postsecondary education, both in funding and governance, the State of the State addresses provide a valuable snapshot of national trends in education policy.

Since 2019, the NGA’s Center for Best Practices K-12 education team has reviewed and analyzed our members’ State of the State addresses to identify key trends in education policy. For three years, we have also partnered with the Education Commission of the States (ECS) to publish a report of major education themes across all addresses. Below are brief highlights from each theme identified in that joint analysis:

K-12 Education Finance

This year, given the strong fiscal position that many states are in and the unprecedented levels of federal funding for K-12 education, at least 36 Governors mentioned school funding. For example, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker celebrated having grown K-12 public school investments by $1.6 billion, including full funding for the state’s Student Opportunity Act. Delaware Governor John Carney also celebrated growth in public school funding and highlighted $300 million committed to new school construction over the next two years. Learn more about NGA’s ARP State Funding Profiles .

“That’s why I am proposing more than $970 million in education funding with a priority focus on at-risk and disadvantaged students. A child’s zip code should never determine their future or their opportunities.” Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah

Learning Recovery and Summer Learning and Enrichment

This year, many Governors acknowledged the disruptions that teachers, students and families faced with transitions between remote, hybrid and in-person learning. At least 17 Governors emphasized the importance of efforts to support students in their academic recovery, including through afterschool and summer learning and enrichment opportunities. For example, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. dedicated $1.5 million to support community foundations working with students during the summer and after school hours to improve in math and reading. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced that a summer camp, launching this June, will focus on recovering learning gains in the areas of math, reading and civics. Learn more about NGA’s Reflect and Redesign Series .

“Using the federal Governors’ Emergency Education Relief fund, we’re also empowering schools and teachers to innovate and create projects to recover learning lost due to the pandemic.” Gov. David Ige, Hawai’i

Student and Staff Wellbeing

“We must also recognize that a mental health crisis exists in South Carolina, especially among our young people who have weathered two years of disruptions, virtual instruction, isolation and constant changes to normal routines. This crisis is here, right now. Students must have access to professional mental health counseling and services.” Gov. Henry McMaster, South Carolina

In addition to lost learning time, students and school staff faced social, emotional and mental health ramifications from pandemic-induced interruptions. At least 19 Governors called attention to the need for improved health and wellness services at schools from personal protective equipment during the pandemic to mental and behavioral health services to support students as they adjust to being back in the classroom. For example, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey celebrated increasing education investments, including student support services such as autism therapy and mental health care in schools. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer acknowledged that in-person learning has a positive impact on most students’ mental health and social development and celebrated investments in mental health services in schools. Learn more about NGA’s Student, Family and School Staff Wellbeing Project .

Educator Workforce

“Talk to someone who’s been successful and without fail they’ll tell you about a teacher who set them on their path. About someone who inspired them; who pushed them to be who they are today. Our teachers provide more than textbook instruction. They give emotional support and structure. They help guide our children through their most difficult and formative years.” Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa

Education has been impacted by staff shortages across many roles, from classroom teachers to bus drivers. With increases in education funding this year, at least 22 Governors also proposed increasing teacher salaries or providing bonuses to teachers and school staff with many acknowledging the importance of strengthening recruitment pipelines and career ladders to retain the best educators. For example, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a seven percent pay raise for all teachers and increases to the starting salaries for each tier of educators to help retain high-quality teachers. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson celebrated giving teachers raises over his tenure while increasing funding for education and creating a record high reserve fund.

Learn more about NGA’s School Leadership Hot Topics Series .

K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce Connections

Workforce and economic development are central focus areas for Governors and states are often most successful when they align objectives, strategies and investments across K-12 schools, postsecondary education and industry needs. At least 34 Governors mentioned workforce development, including career and technical education (CTE), apprenticeships and workforce training programs. For example, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy highlighted the importance of a strong public education system paired with high-quality institutions of higher education in attracting businesses to the state. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum urged the state to better align postsecondary degrees with the needs of businesses across the state, which will be aided by a new partnership with Western Governors University and career academies being stood up by the State CTE Board. Learn more about NGA’s Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship Report .

“[This year’s budget] will make historic investments in education, as world-class companies require a world-class workforce.” Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky

Postsecondary Affordability

Given the direct connection between postsecondary education and many career opportunities, at least 19 Governors mentioned strategies to make postsecondary education more affordable for their states’ students, including barring tuition increases, expanding scholarship programs and reaching underserved populations. For example, in his executive budget, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster included a freeze on in-state tuition at public colleges and announced that students who qualify for a federal Pell Grant could have all of their tuition paid for at an in-state institute of higher education. New York Governor Kathy Hochul outlined many strategies for improving the state’s large network of public colleges and universities and announced the expansion of eligibility for the state’s tuition assistance program to include part-time students. Learn more about NGA’s Postsecondary Education Program .

“I’m also proposing stronger support for our state’s institutions of higher education, including an expansion of available financial aid, and investments to help reduce costs and keep tuition flat.” Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado

A number of Governors also mentioned K-12 digital literacy and early childhood education in their State of the State addresses. NGA looks forward to continuing to support Governors on all of the issues outlined in their State of the State addresses. Learn more about NGA’s K-12 Education Program and stay updated on Governor Hutchinson’s NGA Chairman’s Initiative focused on expanding K-12 computer science education and overall student digital literacy.

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3 AI Trends to Watch in K–12 Educational Technology for 2022

Natalie Gross is a freelance journalist and podcast producer based in the Washington, D.C., area. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Georgetown University.

Editor’s note: To help IT leaders prepare for the year ahead,  EdTech  is pulling together the biggest tech trends for K–12 districts in 2022. You can find our  overall top trends here , and be sure to check out our  trends in cloud technology  and  asynchronous learning .

There’s no question the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to everyday life. But it has also  spurred rapid growth in technologies  that aim to make everyday life simpler, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Many industries have been fueling this growth, automating processes through AI (the  use of computers and machines  to mimic human problem-solving and decision-making abilities).

K–12 education is no exception. As schools rushed to accommodate remote learning with little notice — and maintain a secure online network for students and staff —  many incorporated elements of AI  and ML. Between digital assistants, endpoint security, chatbots and more, AI is gaining a foothold in U.S. classrooms.

Click the banner   below to be the first to learn about new trends in K–12 educational technology.

Here are three trends to look for in 2022:

1. AI in Digital Assistants Helps K–12 Teachers Manage Classrooms

“Alexa, read us a story.”

That’s  one way  teachers are using digital assistants, such as the popular  Amazon Echo  device — technology that many parents of home-bound students  used last year  to aid in their children’s educational routines — in the classroom.

One school district in California has integrated this technology even further with the  Symphony Classroom device  from Merlyn Mind, described as the world’s  first digital assistant for education . The device is powered by Edge AI, combining artificial intelligence with edge computing technology.

READ MORE:  A digital assistant for educators helps with K–12 classroom management.

It’s a way of getting technology to kids where they’re at and when they need it, says Brian Fish, an English teacher at Rancho Verde High School in California.

“Nothing can replace a teacher. However, technology can expand teaching,” Fish says.

Elsewhere in the Val Verde Unified School District, first grade teacher Jennifer Thornton says it comes in handy in her classroom because she’s never at her desk for very long. Through voice commands, Merlyn — the name given to the AI — can navigate tabs on Thornton’s computer and play or pause a YouTube video for a lesson, for example.

“It’s helped a lot with the classroom management,” she says.

Darren Crist, an elementary special education teacher in the district, also uses it for videos in his classroom. But Merlyn’s best feature, at least for Crist’s students, is its visual timer, which helps them with time management and more.

Crist also assigns students to be in charge of Merlyn as a classroom job, which helps them develop life skills.

“As a special ed teacher I’m focused a lot on, not just the normal standards of academics, but making sure that my kids are able to get some of that executive functioning they might be lacking,” he says.

Brian Fish English teacher, Rancho Verde High School

2. Next-Generation Cybersecurity Solutions Integrate AI Technology

The use of AI and ML is also shaping  cybersecurity and the IT industry . For example, these technologies “can offer IT security professionals a way to enforce good cybersecurity practices and shrink the attack surface instead of constantly chasing after malicious activity,”  BizTech  reports.

So, what does that mean for schools?

Between January and May 2020, as the pandemic took root, the use of remote management and collaboration apps  increased by 87 percent and 141 percent , respectively, in K–12 schools, according to an  Absolute Software survey  of more than 10,000 school and district representatives.

Despite the rise in online applications for teaching and learning, “educational institutions are spending more on endpoint security yet gaining less visibility and control. Forty-one percent of schools say tracking devices is one of their most significant challenges,” Forbes reported.

That’s where technology such as  next-generation endpoint security  comes into play. “This advanced protection leverages artificial intelligence to recognize potentially dangerous threats — both known and unknown — in real time without the need for signatures, increasing speed-to-action via a proactive, streamlined security protocol,”  according to a CDW•G white paper.

Cybersecurity solutions powered by AI and ML are  becoming more popular in school districts  because they give time back to small IT teams and allow them to scale security with the introduction of large device fleets.

EXPLORE:  Grade your district's cybersecurity preparedness with this IT checklist.

3. Chatbots Rely on AI to Improve Communication and Tutoring

AI-powered chatbots have been shown to  improve classroom efficiency  and help teachers communicate with parents.

Since the onset of the pandemic, even more uses for chatbots have started to gain steam. With tutoring seen as a solution to helping students overcome the COVID-19 learning disruption,  chatbots could help bridge the equity gap  between students who can’t afford private, traditional tutors and those who can.

“To me, AI is just a set of simple tools that we can use, in this case, to figure out some problems that teachers and kids are persistently having,” researcher Neil Heffernan, a computer science professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, says. “The real magic is giving human tutors and teachers a little bit of information on what’s going on so they can be more efficient.”

Google  released a suite of programs for higher education that include virtual assistants and,  as of November, an AI tutor . The applications in this software suite, called  Student Success Services , can be customized for use in K–12 classrooms.

Which of these trends is your district planning to explore in 2022? Follow  EdTech  on Twitter at  @EdTech_K12  using the hashtag  #K12TechTrends22  to learn more about popular educational technology all year.

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January 27, 2022  |  Amy Rambo

7 K-12 education trends for 2022.

As educators enter the second part of the school year, they continue to face uncertainty and burnout. Teachers are being challenged in a way they never have before.

To connect with educators and administrators, marketers first need to understand the challenges K-12 schools face and the priorities they hold. Think of this as an opportunity to provide solutions to their most pressing needs.

So what are those main priorities? To share more insight, we’re taking a look at the top K-12 education trends of 2022. These trends reflect what is most important to schools, as they continue to grapple with the pandemic and seek technology that improves the educational experience. With knowledge of these current priorities, companies will be better positioned to convey how their offerings will make a positive impact.

• 1. Technology solutions must provide value and meaning

The pandemic has required teachers to learn and rely on new technology – technology that is likely a contributor to educator burnout. In 2022, tech solutions need substance to support their style. Teachers want to find ways to use EdTech in a more meaningful way. They want tools that make their lives easier and enrich the educational experience.

It’s not enough to have the latest tech. To break through the clutter, technology will need to free up teachers’ time to focus on student instruction and interaction, help them streamline digital materials, and reinforce traditional learning methods. Some of the most cutting-edge trends to watch include AI (artificial intelligence), such as voice-controlled digital assistants, and the expanded use of cloud-based software.

• 2. Increase in threats sharpens the focus on cybersecurity

With the shift to remote learning and cloud-based technology, schools have experienced an increase in cyberthreats. The nonprofit Center for Internet Security estimates that the number of cybersecurity incidents in K-12 schools could jump 86% this school year, making cybersecurity a pressing concern for administrators.

The topic has also received national attention, as President Joe Biden signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act this past October. The first cyber-focused law for K-12 institutions, this act directs federal resources to investigate and address cybersecurity risks, and then provide strategies schools can use to protect their data.

Schools have to protect a great deal of personal information, such as medical and family information, Social Security numbers and academic records. But many aren’t sure where their data vulnerabilities lie or how to set up barriers against threats. To improve cybersecurity risk management, school districts are looking for turnkey tools to secure data and avoid ransomware attacks, data theft or other threats.

• 3. Asynchronous learning makes education more accessible

As children continue to learn from home, the virtual classroom has become a critical part of education. Asynchronous learning offers students the flexibility and freedom to access materials and learn on their own schedule. This self-paced model is especially beneficial for students with different learning styles and needs.

To capitalize on these benefits, teachers are looking for digital tools that help make asynchronous learning more accessible and personalized for diverse learners. They also recognize that the self-paced model requires keeping students motivated to learn on their own. As we move into yet another period of virtual learning, teachers need fresh, effective ways to engage remote students

• 4. Gamification and interactive learning capture students’ attention

In an effort to engage a generation that has grown up with smartphones, apps and video games, teachers are tapping into multimedia tools. Interactive games, video content, bite-sized lessons (also called micro-learning or nano-learning), and even virtual reality are increasingly integrated with more traditional teaching methods. These interactive, experiential tools make learning effective and fun, and they are accessible when students are remote.

Trends show that teachers are also turning to more interactive options to assess learning outcomes, including real-time progress tracking and feedback, video assignments, interactive quizzes and more. On a broader level, more schools are offering esports programs and other extracurricular opportunities. In the coming year,  options that “gamify” or make learning interactive will appeal to students and teachers alike.

• 5. Students present learning loss and social-emotional needs

It’s no secret that students have experienced learning loss, as well as increased stress and mental health issues, during the pandemic. Knowing that students need help academically and emotionally, school districts are focused on finding ways to give struggling children a boost. Promethean’s recent State of Technology in Education survey showed that 39% of educators say improving  social-emotional learning is a top priority for their school, and 26% say reducing learning loss is a key focus.

To meet these needs, tutoring programs, personalized learning solutions and extra support — inside and outside of the classroom — will be a focus in 2022. However, districts continue to deal with staffing shortages and are challenged with providing equitable access to underserved students. They need innovative, sustainable programs that address these issues and support all students.

• 6. Funding and staffing uncertainty plagues schools’ budgets

As we move into a new year, uncertainty about funding and staff retention is a pain point for K-12 institutions.  Different funding sources — across federal, state and local levels — and unpredictable timelines will require administrators to carefully budget and manage funding. Recent federal emergency funding, provided through the American Rescue Plan, shows where schools are prioritizing funds: after-school, summer learning and tutoring programs to reverse learning loss; mental health; equity concerns; and staffing issues.

With continuing staff shortages, schools nationwide plan to allocate funds to recruit, incentivize and support staff. According to a recent FutureEd analysis, districts expect to spend an average of $345 per student on teachers and instructional staff. Professional development for teachers is a part of that, especially as a strategy to boost educator engagement, provide technical knowledge and encourage retention. Moving forward, schools may face more unpredictable funding, and because of the uncertainty, they are looking for budget-conscious, proven solutions.

• 7. Supplies and systems for pandemic protection are still a need

In 2022, schools will continue to need supplies that keep students and staff safe, healthy and active during the pandemic — everything from PPE and cleaning supplies to playground equipment and flexible seating. Concerns with ventilation have driven school districts to look at upgrading HVAC systems, while others plan to repair facilities and invest in air filters to prevent the spread of COVID.

Even for those districts with established suppliers, recent supply chain disruptions have shaken up their typical processes and inflated pricing, impacting school lunch programs, paper supplies, electronic devices and more. Suppliers who can step in and provide these essentials will have an advantage.

How to connect with educators and administrators

With an understanding of the challenges educators face and the topics that are important to them, marketers and suppliers can better fulfill their needs in the new year. Teachers are often the ones using classroom tools and supplies, and they do have the power to influence buying decisions, but larger purchases may require reaching decision-makers at the administrative or district level.

The MCH K-12 database contains the most accurate and complete information for marketers looking to connect with school districts as they move into 2022. With millions of contacts in the database, MCH education marketing experts, along with a robust filtering system, can help marketers target the exact schools and job titles that best fit their product offerings.

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Education Trends That Will Shape K-12 in 2021-2022

Update 02/03/22:   Learn which lessons more than 200 educators will apply in 2022!

The new school year has arrived, and it's one that K-12 administrators have eagerly had their sights set on. And as school districts continue to plan for what will surely be an unpredictable year, technology remains a hot topic for all administrators, teachers and students.

We reached out to district administrators Paul from Chicago Public Schools, Lindie from Dublin City Schools and Arlin from Bellefonte Area School District to weigh in on the 2021-2022 school year and beyond. Check out their thoughts for the upcoming year!

What is top of mind for the 2021-2022 school year 🏫

Last year was unprecedented and created an unusual learning experience (to say the least) for students as well as teachers and administrators. Technology — and tech support — played a larger role than ever in the classroom.

“Lesson planning with technology has shifted from lesson planning and technology,” said Paul, a faculty member with Chicago Public Schools. “[And] the need for routines and procedures in the hybrid classroom is as strong if not more than in the regular classroom. Teacher coaching and support kept teachers afloat in a time of change, uncertainty and stress. The need is greater than we thought.”

Lindie, coordinator of educational technology at Dublin City Schools added that video technology has empowered students' voices. “Engagement can come in so many forms,” she said. “Students love to express themselves by video and they do not always have to be in the video.”

Related:  Hear from forward-thinking English teacher Ola Brorson on EdTech Heroes !

The importance of simplicity and privacy of tech in 2021 and beyond 👩‍💻

While reliance on technology has grown greatly in the past year, simplicity in the tech has remained a priority for K-12 administrators and educators.

“Tech tools must be easy to use and reliable especially when teachers are working with students who are learning from home,” said Arlin, an instructional technology specialist with Bellefonte Area School District. “... troubleshooting issues that students are experiencing at home is extremely difficult.”

Paul from CPS added that the simplest tools were the tools that have lasted — and made a lasting impact for educators.

“Teachers were initially bombarded with a litany of technological tools/resources to help them bridge the in-class/remote teaching and learning strategies they had become accustomed to, and it was too much,” he said. “After a few months of trying out and sifting through a variety of tech resources, we filtered out the duplicity and redundancy of the tools we were using and focused on the top 5 that our teachers used the most because of their simplicity.”

Ensuring all students learn and receive quality education 📚

While simple and effective technology play a role in student success, an entire community can play a part in their success, Paul of CPS wrote.

“Educators had to ensure all students learn,” he said. “We've learned that communicating and partnering with our community and families has made a larger impact than we've seen before. We must continue to clearly and frequently have everyone on the same page.”

Lindie of Dublin City Schools added that ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity for success is done by “keeping students engaged, curious and wanting to learn more.”

Learn more: 7 Ways Teachers Can Communicate With Parents Using Technology

How the last year-plus has changed K-12 education in the near term and long term 📅

The effects of last school year will reach well beyond the upcoming year. And many of the technological changes will become permanent, as Paul of CPS points out.

“Technology resources have become front-and-center instead of an option for teaching and learning. Teachers had to unlock the potential of using technology in order to keep learning afloat this year, and that has changed everything in their approach to whole-class, independent and group learning. It was necessary.”

Arlin of Bellefonte Area School agrees that the technological changes will have a lasting impact on in-classroom and remote learning.

“This year, our teachers were required to post all content in Google Classroom. I expect that this will continue to be required for the upcoming years. Teachers were also required to provide live instruction to remote and hybrid students who are working from home. [And] parents have become more engaged in keeping track of student assignments.”

Turning the Page to 2021-2022 📖

After a year of uncertainty, K-12 administrators are applying the lessons learned in 2020-2021 to ensure that students and teachers are successful in the new school year. Powerful yet simple technology is no longer optional when providing an equal opportunity for a quality education to every student. But these steps must be taken while maintaining privacy for educators and students — whether they’re inside or outside of the classroom.

Learn how to improve learning outcomes in your district with Screencastify and learn more about the future of tech in the classroom!

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What do the data say about the current state of K-12 STEM education in the US?

A conversation with Julia Phillips of the National Science Board on the state of elementary and secondary STEM education in the nation.

The importance of a diverse STEM-educated workforce to the nation's prosperity, security and competitiveness grows every year. Preparing this future workforce must begin in the earliest grades, but the latest report from the National Science Board finds that the performance of U.S. students in STEM education continues to lag that of students from other countries.

Julia Phillips is a physicist and materials science researcher who chairs NSB's Committee on National Science and Engineering Policy, which oversees the congressionally mandated  Science and Engineering Indicators  report, also known as Indicators, in collaboration with NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics .

The latest Elementary and Secondary STEM Education report , the first of the 2022 Indicators reports, raises more concern about the state of STEM education in the nation and its potential impact on the economy and the U.S. standing in the world.   Phillips discusses the key trends and their implications for science and education policy in the U.S.

Note: some of the conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

What does the report tell us about K-12 STEM education?

What we see is that the performance of children in the U.S. has not kept pace with the performance of students from other countries in science and mathematics for a decade or more. We have pretty much stayed steady, and other countries have improved dramatically. When you look at the closest economic competitors to the U.S., our scores are in last place in mathematics and in the middle of the pack in science. Math scores have not improved for more than a decade, and they're not good when you compare them to other countries.

This is just not something that we can be comfortable about. Our economy depends on math and science literacy. This is not only a concern for those with careers in those topics but also for the public at large.

You've said before that performance is "lumpy," with some groups of students performing very well and improving over time and others remaining stagnant or falling back. Where are the trouble spots?

I think it ought to be extremely disturbing to everyone in the U.S. that science and math performance is not equally distributed across the country. You see huge differences in performance based on race and ethnicity, so that Asian and white students do much better on these standardized tests than students of color. And you also see that there is a huge difference based on the socioeconomic background of students – students that are from higher socioeconomic backgrounds do much better than students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Data also show that the situation has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. We have a multi-year gap to pull out of just from COVID, and we were already in a weak position to begin with.

Why are the educational results so unevenly distributed?

We don't know exactly. But we can notice that certain things tend to occur at the same time.

For example, students of lower socioeconomic status or those from certain demographic groups tend to be in schools where teachers have less experience in teaching. There's separate evidence that teachers tend to get better as they get more experience.

Students from low socioeconomic status and minority backgrounds also tend to have teachers who are not originally educated in the fields that they teach, and that's particularly true in science.

Why should people care about these numbers?

Every parent should care, because careers in science and engineering are some of the best careers that a young person can pursue in terms of opportunities for making a really good living, from a certificate or associate degree all the way up through a Ph.D. You don't have to have the highest degree to make a really good living in a science and engineering field.

The second thing is that science and engineering is increasingly important for driving the U.S. economy. Many of the industries that we depend upon – including the auto industry, construction, all the way up through vaccine development – depend to an increasing level on literacy in math and science. If the U.S. is going to continue to have the wealth and prosperity that it has come to enjoy, being in the lead in many of these industries is going to be very important.

Julia Phillips on U.S. leadership in science

What can be done to turn these statistics around and improve STEM scores?

There has to be an all-hands-on-deck approach to emphasizing the importance of high-quality math and science education, beginning in the elementary grades and continuing all the way through as much education as a student gets. Communication is needed to say why it is important to have good math and science education.

NSF has prioritized programs that address this issue as well, like  INCLUDES , which uses a collective approach to help broaden participation in STEM.  Perhaps we could also be encouraging individuals with math and science backgrounds to go into teaching if they are drawn to that. We also need to increase the level of respect for the teaching profession.

How do you think education changed in recent decades, or even from when you were a student yourself and became interested in science?

In my own personal experience growing up in a small town in the middle of a bunch of cornfields in Illinois, I don't think I knew any practicing research scientists. But having teachers who were able to make science come alive with the things around us – whether it was nature, the stars, the gadgets in our house, whatever – they were able to make it interesting, relevant and exciting, and we were able to get a little taste for what we might be able to do. Teacher education programs must incorporate more STEM education so that elementary school teachers have the skills and comfort level they need to nurture young children's natural curiosity. NSF has funded some great research on STEM education that could be applied in the classroom, including work on teaching critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and digital literacy.

With the internet, it is now possible for students to talk to practicing scientists and engineers, even if they don't live close to where the student is. Perhaps one good thing that the pandemic has taught us is that – if done correctly – virtual connectivity can augment educational opportunities in a very dramatic way. 

I also think there needs to be communication between the various groups that are responsible for K-12 education. For the most part that happens at the local school district, and standards are often set by the state. There needs to be communication between the federal level – which is where much science and math policy is established – and the very local level where the education policy is set and the requirements for education are carried out. It is a big problem, and a big challenge. But also, a big opportunity.

When Sputnik was launched, the attention of the entire nation was riveted. We need to get a spirit of curiosity and drive to do something to change the world into every school district, both at the administration and teacher level but also on the part of the kids and their parents.

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How to use ESSER funds to tackle trauma and integrate social-emotional learning

Students build new relationships with learning when trauma is acknowledged, addressed and supported.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signs executive order challenging Title IX final rule

The order stands out from other approaches to derail the rule’s implementation, such as recent lawsuits and directives by state education leaders.

How can educators link esports to classroom learning?

Amid competitive gaming’s rise in popularity, teachers are seeking to engage students’ enthusiasm through links to STEM and specialized courses.

How a Pennsylvania superintendent factors community into innovation

For Matthew Friedman, prioritizing consistent communication is key to ensuring Quakertown Community School District can embrace future-ready learning.

Schools, colleges faced record-breaking year of ransomware attacks in 2023

There were 121 incidents found last year alone, according to an analysis by Comparitech, but researchers noted their findings “only scratch the surface.”

Kentucky middle school targets learning loss and trauma through aviation camp

Students visited an airport, explored a hot air balloon and launched rockets during the camp supported by a Louisville-based nonprofit.

Dual language immersion programs associated with more reading growth for ELs

Schools that lack such programs, don’t offer meetings with English learner families, and are overcrowded were associated with worse performance.

Teachers need resources for reading instruction, especially in older grades

Grade 3-8 teachers say nearly half of students always or nearly always have difficulty reading, according to a Rand Corporation report.

Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From one state’s disagreement over teacher vacancy numbers to school chaplain bills gaining steam, what did you learn from our recent stories?

Schools prepare for a post-ESSER reality

Education finance and policy experts say that although severe, widespread fiscal cliffs are unlikely, student needs continue.

Some school districts are still hesitant to put out AI guidance

A Digital Promise survey shows only 25% of districts have released AI guidance. One California district leader shares why he’s reluctant to do so.

Florida education department, teachers union spar over teacher vacancy figures

While there’s disagreement over statewide teacher vacancy data, one policy expert explains how it can be an unreliable measurement.

Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

Can AI ease teacher workload as a recruitment, retention strategy?

K-12 leaders and experts weigh in on whether AI tools have the potential to make teachers’ jobs more manageable and if that can ease staffing challenges.

Jury finds parents of Sante Fe High School shooter not liable

The negligence and wrongful death lawsuit comes amid other cases that have sought to hold parents of shooters responsible following mass shootings.

The key to reengaging students? Focus on content and durable skills

North Carolina’s state superintendent details how her state addressed a need to develop skills beyond traditional “technical” skills and academic knowledge.

11th Circuit deals another blow to Education Department’s Title IX rule

The latest order means states suing the agency have shown “a substantial likelihood” they will successfully argue the case.

Bills allowing chaplains in public schools gain steam

At least 30 bills introduced in 16 states since 2023 have proposed placing chaplains in schools as volunteers or employees.

California looks to build more teacher housing to boost recruitment, retention

Education workforce experts agree that raising teacher pay needs to be coupled with district incentives like affordable housing.

Teaching about history standards can provide critical thinking inroads

Having students consider the motivations behind what’s included or omitted in learning standards can broaden their analytical skills, one educator suggests.

Common App data shows substantial rise in minority student college applications

A predicted decrease in minority applicants has not materialized after the Supreme Court’s decision overturning race-conscious admissions.

What do schools need to know about AI paraphrasing detection tools?

Detection software can now spot text that summarizes generative AI, but one expert cautions against disciplining based on results.

Birth rates continued to decline in 2023

While teen birth rates are also down, the overall decline since the Great Recession stands to impact school enrollment and budgets in the long-run.

29% of LGBTQ+ students attend school with anti-LGBTQ+ policies

Students in schools with anti-LGBTQ+ policies report more negative experiences such as harassment and physical threats, Trevor Project data shows.

From ESSER spending deadline extensions to a boost in Head Start teachers’ pay, what did you learn from our recent stories?

Education Department approves all requests to extend ESSER spending deadlines

States and districts with COVID relief spending extensions have an extra 14 months to liquidate funds.

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2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition

This report profiles the trends and key technologies and practices shaping the future of teaching and learning, and envisions a number of scenarios and implications for that future. It is based on the perspectives and expertise of a global panel of leaders from across the higher education landscape.

Read full report: PDF  | Other materials

The Future of Teaching and Learning

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, much still feels the same, though in some important ways our thinking and behaviors may be shifting in anticipation of longer-term changes in the ways we structure our lives and our shared places and spaces. In higher education, these shifts may reflect an evolution from short-term "emergency" or "reactive" modes of offering education during extraordinary circumstances to making strategic and sustainable investments in a future that will be very much unlike our past. As this year's teaching and learning Horizon panelists gathered to reflect on current trends and the future of higher education, many of their discussions and nominations suggest that change may be here to stay and that there will be no return to "normal" for many institutions. This report summarizes the results of those discussions and nominations and serves as one vantage point on where our future may be headed.

Read more about the Horizon report on page 4 >

Trends: Scanning the Horizon

This section of the report describes the trends that are going to shape the future of global higher education teaching and learning.

Read more about these trends on page 6 >

Key Technologies & Practices

This section of the report details six key technologies and practices that will have a significant impact on higher education teaching and learning. Included in this section are college and university exemplar projects demonstrating the impact of the technologies and practices.

Learn more about the emerging technologies and practices on page 15 >

This year's report envisions a numbers of scenarios for the future of teaching and learning for which we can start to prepare today.

Read the possible future scenarios on page 35 >

Implications: What Do We Do Now?

This section features seven Horizon panelists exploring the report's findings through their own unique lens and offers reflections on the following questions: What should we do now? What plans should we make?

Read the essays exploring key issues in global higher ed on page 40 >

Expert Panel

The 2022 Horizon panel comprised 57 higher education experts from around the globe.

See the Expert Panel on page 57 >

Reports and Supporting Materials

• Report Icon 2022 Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning
• Webinar Icon EDUCAUSE Webinar
•   Report Icon Other Editions of the Horizon Report

Thank You to Our Teaching and Learning Horizon Report Sponsors

Issues, Technologies, and Trends Resources

Higher education leaders and decision makers use the annual Issues, Technologies, and Trends resources —the Top IT Issues, Trend Watch report, and the Horizon Reports —to know what's important and where to focus in their IT planning and management activities. When viewed together these resources provide more complete and nuanced guidance on institutional IT priorities.

Top 10 Innovative K-12 EdTech Trends to Watch Out in 2022

The global e-learning market valuation is expected to hit the 370 bn USD mark by 2026 and studies reveal that using a proper mix of gaming and reading in the eLearning scenarios produces better results.

While the global EdTech market has been gaining momentum since the previous decade, as we move towards another pandemic-struck year, the trends seem to be in huge favor for scholastic or K-12 education as well.

In some parts of the world, they have access to learning apps and devices right from when they start school, whereas the economic disparity and difference in the level of internet penetration in the other parts of the world is spurring a number of challenges as well.

From increasing safe internet access for the K-12 learners to offering AI-powered or AR/VR-powered learning to compensate for a proper classroom experience are making waves across the globe. Further, cybersecurity , facilitation of digital learning tools, and interactive learning solutions for K-12 learners are also some of the challenging aspects.

Hence, the future scope of K-12 EdTech is immense and with the increasing popularity of the eLearning tech such as AI , VR, AR, Big Data , and open learning, the industry is in for a huge revolution!

Below, we discuss some of the top K-12 EdTech trends to watch in 2022, but before proceeding, let us have an overview of K-12 EdTech.

What is K-12 EdTech: Understanding the Ecosystem

The following image offers a visual representation of the entire ecosystem for intelligent tutoring systems:

While the technology stays on the developer or vendor side, the Government policymakers and local infrastructure connect it with the final user or the education stakeholders.

Now, when we talk about the K-12 EdTech, the type of content, the UI of the final product, and the value proposition changes significantly, as the industry has to cater to young and budding learners.

Hence, instead of offering exhaustive and thoughtlessly tech-powered learning solutions, the businesses operating in the industry have to come up with proper protocols and EdTech strategies to solve the pain points of the learners.

Finally, the industry must consider the usability of the software solutions for the teacher, parents, and school administration.

Creating a self-propelling ecosystem for imparting modern education powered by advanced technologies will be realized gradually because it will require a comprehensive blending of multiple entities, as shown in the following visual:

Now that we have had an overview of K-12 EdTech let us move on to discuss the major trends for 2022 in the industry.

Top K-12 Educational Technology Trends to Watch in 2022

1. ai-powered learning.

Recent market reports suggest that the global AI adoption in the education market will demonstrate a CAGR of 47% till 2023, and the total valuation will reach the 3.68 bn USD mark.

McKinsey revealed that currently 49% of the working hours of a teacher are spent in direct interaction with the students and managing the various aspects of their education, behavioral growth, etc.

Technologies such as AI can help the teachers in reallocating their time towards activities that directly support learning, as shown in the following visual:

Using AI will allow the teachers to offer more targeted and personalized education and evaluation modules for students with different learning and understanding abilities. AI-based automation in the teaching profession, such as PrepAI question paper generator, will also help in reducing the educational inequalities in society stemming from economic well-being and exposure to technology.

Some other use cases of AI in K-12 EdTech are:

• Multi-lingual translators
• Enhancing the experience and knowledge level of educators
• Improving the learning level of students
• Offering personalized learning

2. Cloud and Cybersecurity

Cloud computing in the education market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 25.6 % and the trends suggest that cloud is going to be a major facilitating technology for EdTech in K-12 learning as well.

Learning beyond the classroom boundaries, strong requirements of reducing the management’s burden, and competition among the academic institutions are the major drivers of the trend.

Some of the notable use cases of cloud in K-12 EdTech are:

• Seamless and effortless connectivity
• Scalability
• Cloud-based ERP systems

The recent trends in cloud computing and cloud-based services call for a revision of security postures to ensure that there are no loose points in the entire network to avoid falling prey to cyberattacks and malicious data thefts.

Hence, a rise in the use of cloud-based services will also fuel the cybersecurity trends as more and more educational institutions will look forward to having a secure ecosystem.

3. Asynchronous Learning for Diverse Learning

Stats suggest that when students get the freedom to learn as per their own schedules, they are more engaged with the study material and also make the most efficient use of the classroom time . Some common examples of asynchronous learning that are also being used across educational institutions are reading and writing assignments, pre-recorded lecture videos, video demonstrations, and group or individual projects.

With more and more schools opting for asynchronous learning to improve student engagement in class, the trend is going to revolutionize the K-12 education industry in the year ahead.

Notable use cases of asynchronous learning in K-12 EdTech:

• Students can learn at their own pace
• More engaging and demonstrative form of learning
• Using open sources for diverse learning

4. Digital Learning Tools

Digital learning tools helmed the responsibility of facilitating education via online classes across the entire world as the COVID-19 pandemic struck!

Apart from offering means for students and teachers to collaborate without much hassle and facilitating real-time collaboration for working on projects, these tools also spurred many critical changes in the K-12 education industry.

Nearly 75% of the K-12 educators used some form of remote teaching facilitated by the digital learning tools, and 11% of them reported using this medium only since the pandemic.

Take a look at some more eye-opening stats that show the popularity of digital learning:

• 41% of the teachers will continue to use online quizzes even after the pandemic ends
• 32% of the teachers will opt for on-demand instructional videos in a post-pandemic learning scenario
• 24% of the teachers will continue using online tools to check academic integrity

Using smart paper creators like PrepAI , the teachers can create different types of questions, such as MCQs, true/false, fill-ups, descriptive, etc., within minutes . As the tool allows the teachers to use the content for paper creation from multiple sources, such as online articles, books, etc, the tool makes their job easier and better.

Some notable use cases of digital learning tools in K-12 EdTech are:

• Digital presentation and written documents
• Online education material sourcing
• Interactive learning

5. More Accessible Learning

Accessibility for learning resources and educational material showed a spike when the world went into the sudden grip of the pandemic, as educators and students, both had to get the technology and the devices necessary for the online classes.

Apart from making education technology more accessible, the trend also spurred the accessibility of educational material.

Recent studies also revealed that 45% of the parents would continue the online classes for their kids if possible, while 22% would prefer a hybrid model of learning with offline as well as online classes.

This creates a new chapter for accessible learning and assistive technologies for the same in the K-12 segment, where there is immense potential for accessibility.

Some of the notable use cases are:

• Internet access at homes and educational institutions for online learning
• Using open online educational resources for learning (Here also, the smart tools like PrepAI can be of extreme importance)
• Alternative learning and evaluation methods for students with special needs or disabilities

6. Personalized Learning Experiences

Technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and digital learning tools empower educators to impart highly curated learning materials for young learners, especially the first and second graders, that are still experiencing the world of education with all the attention. As the students grow, they tend to develop preferences for certain subjects, topics, and modes of learning and expression.

This is where personalized learning proves to be of extreme importance.

Using digital learning tools to create digital profiles of students with insights into their strengths, weaknesses and creating a holistic learning module accordingly — teachers can accomplish much more in the personalized learning arena.

Smart AI-powered solutions like PrepAI — a smart question paper creator that allows the teachers to create different types of question papers of different complexities — make personalized learning easier for both — the teachers and the students.

Some notable use cases in K-12 EdTech are:

• Enhanced support for educators
• Enhanced learning and engagement for students
• Individualized instruction
• Interest-driven education and learning

7. Interactive Learning Will Be a Major Selling Point

The global smart learning market is all set to grow with a CAGR of 21% and stand at a valuation of 95.4 bn USD by 2026. Apart from a huge demand for an interactive learning atmosphere to modern data-driven Learning Management Software (LMS) is nudging educational institutions to invest in human capital, technological resources, and the overall smart learning market.

Hence, the digital learning tools and EdTech businesses in the K-12 segment are going to project their readiness with smart and intuitive LMS and expertise in interactive learning as a major selling point.

• Interactive learning for better understanding
• Visual learning for diverse instruction
• Smart and interactive technologies for personalized learning

8. AR and VR Utilization in Learning

The market forecasts for AR and VR utilization in learning predict a CAGR of 16.2% and a market value of 19.6 bn USD by 2023.

Earlier used for higher education and simulation of surgeries and various other medical treatments, the increasing need to offer personalized learning experiences and offering diverse education to students from a young age have propelled the technologies as a sure-shot trend to watch in K-12 EdTech in 2022.

AR and VR use cases in K-12 EdTech:

• Visualization and virtual representation of natural events etc
• Visual demonstration
• Understanding the structures, and landforms with a better visual simulation

9. Consistent Professional Development of Educators

As the education industry keeps on evolving and getting disrupted with technological advancements and innovation, there is a huge need to ensure that educators are ready to embrace the changes.

Right from the ability to use and help the young learners use the latest EdTech tools, equipment, and educational material, to understand the tools for making the best possible use for instruction — the teachers have to be on their toes!

This is why the educational institutions have to ensure:

• Regular training and educating of teachers in relevance to EdTech
• Testing the teachers from time to time to ensure quality teaching
• Hiring new staff catering to the digital transformation, troubleshooting, and automation needs of the educational institutions

10. Nano-Learning Modules for Learning and Skill Enhancement

Micro and nano-learning modules will become all the more critical for imparting education as well as skill development in K-12 learners right from a young age. The educators will have access to a pool of small learning and skill development modules that they can assign to the students based on the analysis of their digital profiles.

They can also create separate pools of nano-learning modules for various age groups, allowing for better and more streamlined use of these modules.

Some of the most notable use cases of nano-learning modules in K-12 EdTech are:

• Targeted instruction keeping the future educational or occupational goals in mind
• Making skill acquiring and skill honing an easy step-by-step process
• Offering interest-specific learning modules in small packets for better understanding

Miscellaneous Trends in K-12 EdTech in 2022

Formative assessment solutions.

Gone are the days of the tedious pen and paper tests where the evaluation of written tests used to be the only means of assessment or student evaluation. Teachers, with access to modern educational apps and digital learning tools, will be able to create different types of question papers digitally and leverage the formative assessment methodologies.

Formative assessment is more productive and relies on various activities, such as presentations, hands-on demonstrations or projects, activities, etc.

Hence, the methodology is going to be a major trend in the K-12 EdTech segment.

Online Education

As discussed above, online education is going to be a major trend even in the post-pandemic education industry. Apart from offering the ease of monitoring the kids from the comfort of their homes to keeping them safe from the pandemic, the online classes also help keep the costs of education down, such as conveyance, cafeteria, outings, etc.

Hence, instead of being a trend, online education is a new normal that is here to stay in the education industry, K-12 and beyond!

Embracing the Revolution: Taking the First Step Timely

As the education industry is in for a huge revolutionary wave with digital transformation and smart learning being the key drivers, making an early entry on the EdTech scene is a wise step.

The educational institutions can take the first right step by consulting the EdTech solution providers and discussing the needs and pain points in the EdTech segment as per their K-12 student pool.

Then, adopting the EdTech tools and the smart learning methodologies is the sure-shot way to make the most out of the trends discussed above.

Originally published on PrepAI.in

Written by Kavika Roy

Kavika is Head of Information Management at DataToBiz. She is responsible for identification, acquisition, distribution & organization of technical oversight.

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The alarming state of the American student in 2022

Subscribe to the brown center on education policy newsletter, robin lake and robin lake director, center on reinventing public education - arizona state university travis pillow travis pillow innovation fellow, center on reinventing public education - arizona state university.

November 1, 2022

The pandemic was a wrecking ball for U.S. public education, bringing months of school closures, frantic moves to remote instruction, and trauma and isolation.

Kids may be back at school after three disrupted years, but a return to classrooms has not brought a return to normal. Recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed historic declines in American students’ knowledge and skills and widening gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students.

But even these sobering results do not tell us the whole story.

After nearly three years of tracking pandemic response by U.S. school systems and synthesizing knowledge about the impacts on students, we sought to establish a baseline understanding of the contours of the crisis: What happened and why, and where do we go from here?

This first annual “ State of the American Student ” report synthesizes nearly three years of research on the academic, mental health, and other impacts of the pandemic and school closures.

It outlines the contours of the crisis American students have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and begins to chart a path to recovery and reinvention for all students—which includes building a new and better approach to public education that ensures an educational crisis of this magnitude cannot happen again.

The state of American students as we emerge from the pandemic is still coming into focus, but here’s what we’ve learned (and haven’t yet learned) about where COVID-19 left us:

1. Students lost critical opportunities to learn and thrive.

• The typical American student lost several months’ worth of learning in language arts and more in mathematics.

• Students suffered crushing increases in anxiety and depression. More than one in 360 U.S. children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19.

• Students poorly served before the pandemic were profoundly left behind during it, including many with disabilities whose parents reported they were cut off from essential school and life services.

This deeply traumatic period threatens to reverberate for decades. The academic, social, and mental-health needs are real, they are measurable, and they must be addressed quickly to avoid long-term consequences to individual students, the future workforce, and society.

2. The average effects from COVID mask dire inequities and widely varied impact.

Some students are catching up, but time is running out for others. Every student experienced the pandemic differently, and there is tremendous variation from student to student, with certain populations—namely, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students, as well as other vulnerable populations—suffering the most severe impacts.

The effects were more severe where campuses stayed closed longer. American students are experiencing a K-shaped recovery, in which gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students, already growing before the pandemic, are widening into chasms. In the latest NAEP results released in September , national average scores fell five times as much in reading, and four times as much in math, for the lowest-scoring 10 percent of nine-year-olds as they had for the highest-scoring 10 percent.

At the pace of recovery we are seeing today, too many students of all races and income levels will graduate in the coming years without the skills and knowledge needed for college and careers.

3. What we know at this point is incomplete. The situation could be significantly worse than the early data suggest.

The data and stories we have to date are enough to warrant immediate action, but there are serious holes in our understanding of how the pandemic has affected various groups of students, especially those who are typically most likely to fall through the cracks in the American education system.

We know little about students with complex needs, such as those with disabilities and English learners. We still know too little about the learning impacts in non-tested subjects, such as science, civics, and foreign languages. And while psychologists , educators , and the federal government are sounding alarms about a youth mental health crisis, systematic measures of student wellbeing remain hard to come by.

We must acknowledge that what we know at this point is incomplete, since the pandemic closures and following recovery have been so unprecedented in recent times. It’s possible that as we continue to dig into the evidence on the pandemic’s impacts, some student groups or subjects may have not been so adversely affected. Alternatively, the situation could be significantly worse than the early data suggest. Some students are already bouncing back quickly. But for others, the impact could grow worse over time.

In subjects like math, where learning is cumulative, pandemic-related gaps in students’ learning that emerged during the pandemic could affect their ability to grasp future material. In some states, test scores fell dramatically for high schoolers nearing graduation. Shifts in these students’ academic trajectories could affect their college plans—and the rest of their lives. And elevated rates of chronic absenteeism suggest some students who disconnected from school during the pandemic have struggled to reconnect since.

4. The harms students experienced can be traced to a rigid and inequitable system that put adults, not students, first.

• Despite often heroic efforts by caring adults, students and families were cut off from essential support, offered radically diminished learning opportunities, and left to their own devices to support learning.

• Too often, partisan politics, not student needs , drove decision-making.

• Students with complexities and differences too often faced systems immobilized by fear and a commitment to sameness rather than prioritization and problem-solving.

So, what can we do to address the situation we’re in?

Diverse needs demand diverse solutions that are informed by pandemic experiences

Freed from the routines of rigid systems, some parents, communities, and educators found new ways to tailor learning experiences around students’ needs. They discovered learning can happen any time and anywhere. They discovered enriching activities outside class and troves of untapped adult talent.

Some of these breakthroughs happened in public schools—like virtual IEP meetings that leveled power dynamics between administrators and parents advocating for their children’s special education services. Others happened in learning pods or other new environments where families and community groups devised new ways to meet students’ needs. These were exceptions to an otherwise miserable rule, and they can inform the work ahead.

We must act quickly but we must also act differently. Important next steps include:

• Districts and states should immediately use their federal dollars to address the emergent needs of the COVID-19 generation of students via proven interventions, such as well-designed tutoring, extended learning time, credit recovery, additional mental health support, college and career guidance, and mentoring. The challenges ahead are too daunting for schools to shoulder alone. Partnerships and funding for families and community-driven solutions will be critical.

• By the end of the 2022–2023 academic year, states and districts must commit to an honest accounting of rebuilding efforts by defining, adopting, and reporting on their progress toward 5- and 10-year goals for long-term student recovery. States should invest in rigorous studies that document, analyze, and improve their approaches.

• Education leaders and researchers must adopt a national research and development agenda for school reinvention over the next five years. This effort must be anchored in the reality that the needs of students are so varied, so profound, and so multifaceted that a one-size-fits-all approach to education can’t possibly meet them all. Across the country, community organizations who previously operated summer or afterschool programs stepped up to support students during the school day. As they focus on recovery, school system leaders should look to these helpers not as peripheral players in education, but as critical contributors who can provide teaching , tutoring, or joyful learning environments for students and often have trusting relationships with their families.

• Recovery and rebuilding should ensure the system is more resilient and prepared for future crises. That means more thoughtful integration of online learning and stronger partnerships with organizations that support learning outside school walls. Every school system in America should have a plan to keep students safe and learning even when they can’t physically come to school, be equipped to deliver high-quality, individualized pathways for students, and build on practices that show promise.

Our “State of the American Student” report is the first in a series of annual reports the Center on Reinventing Public Education intends to produce through fall of 2027. We hope every state and community will produce similar, annual accounts and begin to define ambitious goals for recovery. The implications of these deeply traumatic years will reverberate for decades unless we find a path not only to normalcy but also to restitution for this generation and future generations of American students.

The road to recovery can lead somewhere new. In five years, we hope to report that out of the ashes of the pandemic, American public education emerged transformed: more flexible and resilient, more individualized and equitable, and—most of all— more joyful.

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Top K-12 Education Technology Trends & Tools for 2022-2023

by Becca Patten | May 31, 2022

Technology plays a large role today in how teachers are approaching education. While K-12 education technology had been utilized prior to 2020, the global pandemic really jumpstarted this trend and its popularity skyrocketed after this time – which was largely due to the need to use technology in order to continue education through lockdowns and beyond. In fact, according to Edsembli :

• 93% conducted some form of online teaching from home by the summer of 2020
• 81% of teachers in the United States reported that their experience with educational technology went up as a result of the pandemic
• 58% said they had more confidence in the new tools as a result

https://www.parmetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/top-k-12-education-technology-600×399.jpeg

If you’re finalizing budget planning for the 2022-2023 school year, take a look at a few of the newest trends in K-12 education technology and the tools you should consider adopting into your classrooms in the coming year.

Latest Trends in K-12 Education Technology

Let’s talk about a few of the latest trends in K-12 education technology for the 2022-2023 school year and how they impact the way teachers teach and the way students learn:

Digital Tools Will Encompass All Areas of Education

K-12 education technology has moved away from just showing videos in class. The pandemic having created the sudden need for remote classrooms catapulted the shift from traditional learning in physical classrooms to fully integrated, digital learning environments.

Becca Hughes from Learning A-Z notes, ““Education technology provides teachers with tools to meet students no matter where they are. Whether learning is taking place in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, teachers are integral in ensuring that edtech resources are leveraged to accelerate learning throughout the cycle of instruction.” 1

According to a survey by the Newschools Venture Fund , 65% of teachers report using digital learning every day and 53% report that their students use digital learning tools every day for learning.

Interactivity Is Key

Much of K-12 education technology aims to increase interactivity, promoting active learning in the classroom. According to Divya Gokulnath, Co-Founder of BYJU’s – “In addition to making education more accessible, technology has given us the ability to make learning more interactive, visual, adaptive, and personalized. Education is constantly evolving to best fit the needs of students and it is exciting to see how technology can accelerate this progression.” 2

K-12 Education Technology is a Worthwhile Investment

School districts all over the U.S. are seeing the real-life value of incorporating K-12 education technology tools into their classrooms and curriculum. 85% of teachers and 71% of principals see great value in digital tools in today’s learning environment and in the future, while over 80% of college students attribute their higher grades to digital learning. 3

Additionally, a study published on ScienceDirect showed that gamification in e-learning — the use of video game design and game features (point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to increase engagement in the classroom and motivate students – greatly increased results by almost 90%.

Top K-12 Education Technology Tools for the 2022-2023 School Year

Now, that we’ve looked at a few of the trends, let’s take a look at a list of the top K-12 education technology tools for the coming year:

1. Interactive Whiteboards

Upgrading your classroom with interactive whiteboards is a great way to engage your students in the physical classroom, virtual classrooms, or a combination of both for hybrid learning. Interactive displays like the  ViewSonic Interactive Whiteboards for education are perfect for any learning environment, with features like:

• Easily access legacy files from the cloud and build new interactive lessons
• Simultaneously teach and share lessons with students in class and students learning remotely
• Control and monitor devices from anywhere, as well as broadcast messages to any display panels
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, Chrome, and Linux, with full-touch input functionality for external devices that are connected to the displays

Additionally, the myViewBoard platform – ViewSonic’s digital whiteboard software – offers a suite of apps including myViewBoard Classroom, a hybrid teaching software tool packed with a variety of features to help create a classroom environment in the digital space. Developed for both remote and in-class learning environments, it’s essentially a web based “digital twin” of the real-classroom designed for distance to allow teachers to switch between physical and virtual classrooms seamlessly in a fully controlled environment. myViewBoard Classroom was also recently awarded “Overall e-Learning Solution of the Year” the  EdTech Breakthrough Awards 2021 .

If you’ve been considering incorporating interactive whiteboard technology into your school but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for your education environment, check out our Interactive Whiteboard Eval Program which gives educators the option to test-drive a display in your own classroom for 30 days.

2. Chromebooks

Laptops and tablets have always been a useful education technology tool.  Chromebooks , specifically, are gaining popularity as effective k-12 education technology tools because they are affordable, sturdy, and easy to use. They also provide easy-to-manage computing, allowing educators to spend more time on teaching than managing classroom technology. There are multiple manufacturers to choose from including Dell, HP, and Lenovo as well as touch and non-touch options.

3. Audio Conferencing

Audio conferencing technologies allow teachers to remain connected to their students, no matter the distance between them. For example, with thousands of virtual microphones and precision speakers,  the Nureva HDL Virtual Microphone Systems  provide true full-room coverage and handles all your audio needs for classrooms and more up to 30′ x 50′. This is a great option for remote and hybrid learning classroom set ups. Additionally, when teachers, administrators, and parents need to meet and discuss student progress and general education changes and policies, audio conferencing is a great option for areas that are still practicing social distancing. Audio conferencing software is a great asset to have for educational industries that require meetings between staff and parents on a regular basis. The community can stay on track and on the same page with adequate audio conferencing.

For teachers who are teaching in remote or hybrid learning classrooms, having a state-of-the-art webcam or tracking camera can help bridge the gap that is created by a screen. When your students are able to get a clear picture of you, this can help preserve the personal feel of the classroom. A great example is the  ClearOne UNITE 180 4K Panoramic Tracking Camera . Designed for professional-quality visual collaboration, the UNITE 180 camera provides six viewing modes for room and participant close-ups. Ideal for hybrid learning environments, this ePTZ professional camera provides a full 180-degree panoramic field-of-view with “real-time stitching” to achieve a variety of useful viewing modes for any application and environment.

5. Classroom Microphones

As many schools have transitioned to education styles that support home-learning environments, it’s important to equip teachers with the equipment they need to be heard and understood through the screen. A quality microphone is a solid investment when it comes to ensuring continued educational opportunities through remote learning. One solution that actually combines audio and video is the  Poly Studio Premium USB Video Bar . Delivering the best audio quality in its class and group framing and automatic speaker tracking, this premium all-in-one video conference camera & sound bar system helps connect your hybrid classroom. With an integrated camera, stereo speakers, and a six-microphone array, teachers can simultaneously interact with students who are in class and those who are remote, even when moving about the classroom.

Utilizing ESSER Funds for 2022-2023 K-12 Education Technology Purchases

As you may know, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA) has provided billions of dollars for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). ESSER I and ESSER II funds are able to be used for purchasing educational technology including hardware, major software systems, digital curriculum resources and networks.

ESSER I funds are set to expire in September of 2022, and ESSER II funds will only be available until September of 2023. You can utilize ESSER funds awarded to your school on all of the K-12 classroom technology listed above.

Additionally, for interactive whiteboards, Parmetech is also listed on the PEPPM Purchasing Cooperative, TIPS Purchasing Cooperative, and the New York State OGS Contract, making it easy to utilize CRRSA/ESSER funds to purchase the interactive technology you need.

1,2 – EdTech Digest – 2022 State of EdTech: The Minds Behind What’s Now & What’s Next

3 – https://www.edsembli.com/top-technology-trends-that-will-define-education-in-2022/.

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U.S. Government Accountability Office

K-12 Education: Student Population Has Significantly Diversified, but Many Schools Remain Divided Along Racial, Ethnic, and Economic Lines

Schools remain divided along racial, ethnic, and economic lines throughout the U.S.—even as the K-12 public school student population grows more diverse.

During the 2020-21 school year, more than a third of students (about 18.5 million) attended schools where 75% or more students were of a single race or ethnicity. Because district boundaries often determine which school a student can attend, school district boundaries can contribute to continued division along racial/ethnic lines.

We also found that new school districts that seceded from existing districts usually had higher percentages of white and Asian students than districts they left.

Percent of Schools That Are Predominantly (75% or more) Same-Race/Ethnicity, by Region, in School Year 2020-21

What GAO Found

As the K-12 public school student population grows significantly more diverse, schools remain divided along racial, ethnic, and economic lines throughout the U.S. These divisions span school types, regions, and community types (urban, suburban, and rural). More than a third of students (about 18.5 million) attended a predominantly same-race/ethnicity school—where 75 percent or more of the student population is of a single race/ethnicity—according to GAO's analysis of Department of Education data for school year 2020-21. GAO also found that 14 percent of students attended schools where 90 percent or more of the students were of a single race/ethnicity.

Percent of Public K-12 Students Attending School Where 75 Percent or More of the Students Are of Their Own Race/Ethnicity

Because diversity within a school is generally linked to the racial/ethnic composition of the district, school district boundaries can contribute to continued divisions along racial/ethnic lines. For example, about 13,500 predominately same-race/ethnicity schools (about 14 percent of all public K-12 schools) are located within 10 miles of a predominately same-race/ethnicity school of a different race/ethnicity; of these schools, 90 percent have a different same-race/ethnicity pair in a different school district.

GAO's analysis of 10 years of Education data shows that district secession—a process by which schools sever governance ties from an existing district to form a new district—generally resulted in shifts in racial/ethnic composition and wealth. Compared to remaining districts, new districts had, on average, roughly triple the share of White students, double the share of Asian students, two-thirds the share of Hispanic students, and one-fifth the share of Black students (see figure below). New districts were also generally wealthier than remaining districts. Specifically, the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch—a proxy for poverty—was half that of the remaining districts.

Racial/Ethnic Composition of New and Remaining Districts One Year after District Secession

Why GAO Did This Study

It is widely recognized that a history of discriminatory practices has contributed to inequities in education, intertwined with disparities in wealth, income, and housing. Because district boundaries typically define the schools a student can attend and public education is partially funded by local property tax revenues, lower-income communities generally have fewer resources available for schools. For example, GAO previously reported that students who are poor, Black, and Hispanic generally attend schools with fewer resources and worse outcomes.

GAO was asked to examine the prevalence and growth of segregation in K-12 public schools. This report examined the extent of (1) racial, ethnic, and economic divisions in K-12 public schools, and (2) district secession and any resulting student demographic shifts.

To determine the extent of divisions along racial, ethnic, and economic lines in schools, GAO analyzed demographic data from Education's Common Core of Data by school type, region, and community type, covering school years 2014-15 to 2020-21, the most recent available data since GAO last reported on this topic in 2016.

To identify the number and location of districts that seceded from school year 2009-10 through 2019-20, GAO analyzed and compared school district data from the Common Core of Data for the new and remaining districts in the year after secession to identify and describe any differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

GAO incorporated technical comments from Education, as appropriate.

For more information, contact Jacqueline M. Nowicki at (617) 788-0580 or [email protected] .

Full Report

Gao contacts.

Jacqueline M. Nowicki Director [email protected] (202) 512-7215

Office of Public Affairs

Sarah Kaczmarek Acting Managing Director [email protected] (202) 512-4800

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Want to learn more about how we help clients in education, more insights, connect with our education practice.

National K–12 Teacher & Student Demographic Dashboards

Discover student-teacher racial diversity trends in over 94% of u.s. school districts..

To thrive in an increasingly diverse world and workforce, young people need to learn in multicultural environments led by effective and diverse educators.

Research shows that all students benefit academically, socially, and emotionally from having access to teachers of color . U se the dashboards below to understand the current racial demographics in your area and to inform your priorities and plans for broadening and strengthening our nation’s educator workforce.  

What is the student-teacher representation gap in your area?  

Explore the racial demographic representation of students and teachers, comparing the percentage difference of individuals identifying as people of color.  

of students nationwide identify as a person of color. *

of teachers nationwide identify as a person of color. *

National Student and Teacher Demographics Maps

Navigating the map: Select states or districts on the map for detail. Use navigation menu in the upper left of map to search and reset the map view. Zoom feature is available for district-level maps.

Suggested Citation: TNTP National K–12 Teacher and Student Demographic Dashboards. Retrieved from https://tntp.org/k-12-demo-data/ . Please include link or hyperlink.

These dashboards define a person of color as someone who identifies as one of the following six race categories established by the National Center for Education Statistics: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races.

*See key takeaways for details.

“No Gap” indicates that the percentage of teachers of color is the same or higher than the percentage of students of color.

Idaho and Utah : Only state-level teacher counts are available.

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont : Teacher demographic counts are estimated based on survey data.

Charter school students and teachers are included in home-district counts based on a charter school’s address where data is available. See data documentation for details.

See data documentation for more information on assumptions , methodology , and data sources including the number of years of data available for each area.

What are the student and teacher demographics in your area?

Learn the specific racial demographics of students and teachers in your local district or state.  

of school districts nationwide do not have a single teacher of color. *

of school districts have just one teacher of color. *

Detailed Student and Teacher Demographics

The student-teacher racial diversity gap is the percentage of students identifying as a person of color minus the percentage of teachers identifying as a person of color.

A negative gap means the percentage of teachers who identify as a person of color is higher than the percentage of students who identify as a person of color.

Suggested Citation: TNTP National K–12 Teacher and Student Demographic Dashboards. Retrieved from https://tntp.org/k-12-demo-data/   Please include link or hyperlink.

How have student and teacher demographics changed over time?  

Analyze how student and teacher racial demographics in your local district or state have shifted over the past several years.

the national gap that has persisted between students and teachers who identify as people of color over the past five years. *

Trends in Student and Teacher Demographics

Hover over or select lines for detail.

Suggested Citation: TNTP National K–12 Teacher and Student Racial Demographic Dashboards. Retrieved from https://tntp.org/k-12-demo-data/ . Please include link or hyperlink.

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont: These states are not shown above as actual teacher demographic data is not collected for all teachers in these states.

About These Dashboards

Definitions.

These dashboards define a person of color as someone who identifies as one of the following six race categories established by the National Center for Education Statistics : American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races.

For detailed information on key assumptions, methodology, and data sources, see our data documentation page .

Data Sources and Availability

TNTP gathered teacher and student racial demographic data for as many years as it is available. We have aggregated data in all 47 states (plus the District of Columbia) where teacher demographic data is collected.

Teacher data is sourced from state departments of education and other publicly available information.

Student data is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data date ranges:

• Of the 47 states (plus the District of Columbia), 43 have current student and teacher data for the 2022-23 school year.  
• Hawaii, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee’s most recent data is from the 2021-22 school year, and California has data from 2018-19.  
• Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont rely on survey data from the 2020-21 school year.  

TNTP has not independently verified the accuracy of the data provided by these governmental agencies.

For detailed state-by-state information about data sources, key assumptions, and the number of years of data available by state, visit our data documentation page.

Charter and Specialized Schools

Our goal is to include demographic data on as many public school teachers and students as possible—traditional public schools, charter schools, and specialized schools. Charter school data is integrated into the analysis when available, specifically within the traditional school district in which the charter school is located.

Review our data sources for detailed information on whether charter schools are included based on state data availability.

Data for specialized schools such as adult education, pre-K, regional schools, prison-based schools, schools on military bases, schools serving deaf and blind students, and virtual schools, are rarely available but included if so.

Data Updates

TNTP plans to make periodic updates to the data that drives these dashboards as more current data becomes available. Check out the latest updates on our data documentation page .  

If you notice data that you think may be inaccurate or incomplete, please contact [email protected]

Can't find a school district?

In some states, school district boundaries overlap with others. School districts consisting exclusively of elementary schools often have boundaries that are encompassed by school districts that contain their zoned high school. In these cases, students and teachers from the elementary district are included in the student and teacher counts in the high school district that encompasses the elementary district boundary. This is common in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, and New Jersey. Explore our data to look up districts that have only elementary schools.

Members at The Village Leaders 2023 Conference

Together we can strengthen our nation's educator workforce.

At TNTP, we partner with communities to drive meaningful change in America’s public education system, ensuring it meets the expectations of tomorrow. We understand the vital importance of educator diversity in this mission. From programming like Black Educator Excellence Cohort and The Village , to leadership roles in system-change initiatives such as the One Million Teachers of Color (1MToC) campaign , we’re broadening and strengthening our educator workforce and driving deeper impact for students.

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