A firm that provides college financial aid tools has secured the largest 2020 funding round for any U.S. ed tech, as Microsoft invests in an aspiring competitor of Google.
New Survey of Districts Gives Companies Direction on Addressing Racial Inclusion, Bias
EdWeek Market Brief Asked K-12 Officials About What They Want From Businesses in Instructional Resources, Hiring

An EdWeek Market Brief survey of district officials and teachers asked about steps they believe K-12 companies should take to improve racial inclusion and diversity.
The Baltimore school district wants academic planning services. The Osceola County School Board in Florida wants a books catalog, and a Pennsylvania district is looking for speech therapy.
How Will COVID-19 Reshape the K-12 Market? We Asked 10 Education Executives
Lessons Learned From School Closures Could Create Dramatic Shifts in the Marketplace, New Opportunities

Education company officials say COVID-19 will have a long-term impact on product design and quality, innovation, and approaches to equity.

The presumptive Democratic nominee is pledging to boost funding for numerous federal programs, including those supporting after-school and special-needs communities.
California’s Reopening Plans: What School Districts Will Need From Vendors
Schools Are Likely to Rely on Hybrid Learning, and Companies Will Have to Adjust

As California’s school districts look to reopen, they will need support for students’ social-emotional well-being, and strong professional development, according to the state’s school boards association.
The nation’s sixth largest school district needs cloud hosting, and a Connecticut district wants before- and after-school care,
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded over 20 grants for small businesses to develop ed-tech products that the agency says have commercial promise.
New Education Regulations in China: Roadblocks or Speedbumps for Companies?
A Top Adviser to Companies Working in the Asian Nation Offers Guidance on the Complex Market

A top adviser to the British Chamber of Commerce in China explains how new regulations will affect foreign education companies, and how they can navigate the market.
A Texas border district wants graphic design. Meanwhile, an Illinois district seeks over 400 Chromebooks, and a district just west of Denver is looking for a web-based digital learning tool.