“Personalization” has become the norm in districts trying to customize digital tools, instruction, and schedules to meet individual students’ needs. But K-12 leaders are also demanding customization in another area: professional development.

K-12 systems are telling publishers and other content producers to give them materials for English-language learners that are more challenging, and tailored to specific grade spans and academic subjects.
The push for “interoperability” is forcing content providers to make important decisions—about which standards to adopt or ignore, how much time and money to devote to that work, and how to anticipate and adjust to shifting district demands.