The Joint Powers Authority Is Focused Initially on Buying Large-Scale Platforms, But Could Soon Move Into Other Products
Four California districts, serving 140,000 students, are buying ed-tech cooperatively through the Education Technology Joint Powers Authority, and other K-12 systems are poised to sign up.
A Texas School Leader Talks About How a National Program Changed Her Use of Technology
A Texas school leader explains the lessons she’s learned from a national program that encourages ed-tech innovation and best practices.
Michigan's Director of Assessment Talks About His State's Efforts to Help Educators Use the Instructional Strategy
Michigan’s state director of assessment, Andrew Middlestead, talks about his state’s efforts to help educators use formative assessment, and what they need from those classroom strategies.
Companies Focused on Strong Implementation Impress Leaders From the KIPP Schools
The 7,300-student KIPP LA Schools look for vendors who follow through on promised product improvements, says top administrator Matthew Peskay.
Vendors Should Be Attuned to Educators' Concerns About the Technology and Not Over-promise, Says Author Michelle Zimmerman
AI tools could improve K-12 report cards and districts’ ability to identify students for academic interventions, says author and educator Michelle Zimmerman.
Smaller Systems Are Often Willing to Innovate and Band Together to Buy Products
Rural districts are often more innovative and willing to spend on new products than companies realize, say two experts on rural schools.
Be Ready to Answer Questions About Cyber-Insurance and Data Governance, Says District Tech Leader
Vendors should be prepared to tell school districts exactly what data they collect, and how it’s protected, says K-12 cybersecurity leader Melissa Tebbenkamp.
Demanding Curriculum and Teacher Training Are Major Needs in the Emerging Tech Field, an Arkansas Official Says
Arkansas has one of the most ambitious computer science programs in the country, but it needs more from curriculum providers, says state director Anthony Owen.
Word of Mouth Referrals, and Products That Reflect Real-World Experience Matter in an Alabama School System
The Talladega, Ala., County School District has a big footprint in the national conversation about advancing STEM for its students.
A School System That Usually Writes Its Own Curricula Decides to Purchase SEL Content
After reviewing SEL products from nine vendors, the Howard County, Md. school district chose one for teachers in its 42 elementary schools. We look at the decision-making process.
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