5 Edtech Challenges K-12 Are Grappling with Right Now
A new school year means different things to different people. The experience of an administrator is different from that of a teacher, and a teacher’s experience is different from a student’s. For K-12 edtech leaders, the start of the 2024-25 school year brought some familiar pressures, like systems to deploy and staff to train. But they’re also navigating new priorities and edtech challenges, including AI integration, student mental health, and digital equity, all while ESSER funding begins to sunset.
The CoSN 2024 State of EdTech District Leadership report sheds additional light on these issues and the unique challenges they present. If you haven’t had a chance to review the entire 55-page report, here are some of the key findings.
1. Concerns about AI in Education
Nearly all edtech leaders (97%) see benefits in artificial intelligence (AI) for education. Yet they also worry about the challenges AI presents. These include ensuring its ethical and responsible use, concerns about cheating, threats to student data privacy, and defending against new cyber risks and new forms of cyberbullying.
2. Defending Against K-12 Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity remains the top concern among edtech leaders, with 99% of districts focused on improving protections. However, districts must still overcome the realities of limited budgets, lack of qualified IT security personnel, and the challenge of balancing open learning environments with robust security.
3. Supporting & Improving Student Wellbeing
Nearly all school districts report using some form of technology to support or improve student wellbeing (93%). A closer look at the data, though, suggests technology could be better utilized. For example, only 63% are taking advantage of student wellness monitoring to identify signs of bullying, violence, suicide, self-harm, and depression. Even fewer (28%) are using data analytics to assess school climate.
4. Increasing Digital Equity & Parent Engagement
Districts seem to be struggling with a growing digital divide. Just under one quarter (24%) of districts say their students have access to devices at home. At the same time, districts see a need to improve engagement with families, with 73% reporting that they’re making changes to their engagement techniques and rethinking how technology can help.
5. Using & Analyzing Data Effectively
Every day, students generate thousands of data points through their online activities, device usage, and digital interactions. This data holds the insights districts need to better serve their students. While edtech leaders recognize the opportunity, few report that their district is prioritizing initiatives to improve data visualization (23%) and implement analytics (22%), leaving them struggling to overcome this hurdle.
Today’s & Tomorrow’s EdTech Challenges by Evaluating Technology Providers Carefully
The CoSN report provides valuable insights into the issues edtech leaders are navigating. However, understanding these challenges is just the first step. You also need to understand how to mitigate these challenges.
Evaluating the technology tools you’re currently using is a great place to start. With the right technology partners by your side, your challenges won’t magically disappear, but they will be much easier to manage.
When evaluating your edtech partners and solutions, carefully consider the following:
Integrated Suite of Tools
When you’re able to consolidate several edtech needs with a single provider, you can reduce complexity, streamline edtech management, and alleviate the demands on your internal IT resources.
Designed for K-12
Prioritize partners who are singularly focused on solving your specific challenges. When you choose edtech solutions that are designed specifically for K-12 education, you’ll already be a step ahead of any challenge that comes your way.
AI-Powered Capabilities
As you navigate how to incorporate AI into your district, seek vendors that have a long track record of using AI effectively and ethically. Their expertise and guidance can help you also move forward confidently and responsibly.
Robust Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Protection
Given the critical nature of maintaining data security and privacy in schools, be sure to choose partners who have attained SOC 2 Type 2 certification, comply with all relevant data privacy regulations, and provide advanced threat protections, like 256-bit encryption and proactive identification of potential security vulnerabilities.
Proven Expertise in Student Safety & Wellness
Technology can be an invaluable resource to help districts support and improve their students’ safety and overall wellbeing. A student wellness monitoring solution like Securly Aware relies on AI analysis to protect students’ privacy, supports earlier identification of students who demonstrate risk signals, offers 24/7 expert risk analysis, and provides immediate notification of critical situations.
Tools to Support Digital Equity & Parent Engagement
Sharing the responsibility for students’ online safety with your families is a meaningful way to build school-family connections. A cloud-based school web filter like Securly Filter lets you confidently send student devices home to bridge equity gaps. The Securly Home parent app lets you give parents and caregivers control of those devices at home and gain visibility into their students’ learning and online behaviors.
Best-in-Class Customer Support
Implementation is just the beginning. Look for a technology partner that openly shares their CSAT ratings and provides dedicated customer support resources to help you quickly troubleshoot and remedy technical issues. Customer support is ultimately just as key as the products provided.
Evidence of Efficacy
Seek solutions that can demonstrate real-world impact. Case studies, testimonials from similar school districts, and data on improved outcomes are critical indicators of a technology provider’s ability to deliver value and support your needs effectively.
Minimize Your EdTech Headaches by Choosing the Right EdTech Partners
As a school district edtech leader, you’ll always have more than your fair share of challenges to manage. But by carefully choosing technology partners and solutions, you can minimize the stress of the problems you’re dealing with today—and more confidently navigate the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Since 2013, Securly has been developing technology solutions to address the needs of K-12 edtech leaders. Today, our integrated suite of solutions is relied on by more than 20,000 districts and schools to keep their students safe, secure, and ready to learn.
Explore more by visiting www.securly.com.
FAQs
Q: What are the top edtech challenges K-12 districts are facing?
A: The top edtech challenges K-12 districts are facing include AI integration, student mental health, digital equity, cybersecurity, and data analysis.
Q: How can edtech leaders mitigate these challenges?
A: Edtech leaders can mitigate these challenges by evaluating technology providers carefully, considering integrated suites of tools, AI-powered capabilities, robust cybersecurity, and proven expertise in student safety and wellbeing.
Q: What is the importance of data privacy in schools?
A: Data privacy is critical in schools, and edtech leaders should prioritize partners who have attained SOC 2 Type 2 certification, comply with all relevant data privacy regulations, and provide advanced threat protections.
Q: How can edtech leaders support digital equity and parent engagement?
A: Edtech leaders can support digital equity and parent engagement by sharing the responsibility for students’ online safety with families, using cloud-based school web filters, and providing parents with control of devices at home.
