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| March 17, 2026 |
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School districts are exploring outcomes-based contracting to evaluate the return on investment in educational technology amid budget constraints and concerns about screen time. A report by Digital Promise and the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting highlights that this approach, which ties payments to student achievement, empowers districts to lead contract terms and improves implementation rates.
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SmartTake: Outcomes-based contracts aren't new -- we talked about them here in December -- but the concept continues to gain steam, and the Digital Promise report mentioned above points to a different kind of OBC: a partnership possibility that "reimagines procurement" with clear standards and mutual accountability. As it stands, in a less-defined outcomes-based contract, a developer is likely to lose its contract even if teachers aren't using the recommended dosage. But the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting -- which teamed up with Digital Promise to try out a more equitable OBC contract -- recommends that at least 40% of the payment to the vendor is based on pre-defined student outcome, but puts some onus on the school side for use as intended use. The result? Edtech tools used with this contract had implementation rates 10 times higher than the national average. What are you willing to agree to?
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15 edtech executives recently gathered to solve one common growth blocker: fragmented integration. Discover how standardized integration is the secret to accelerating innovation without doubling engineering headcount. Ensure your tool is classroom-ready on Day 1. See the expert's vision. |
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Edtech developers and vendors will be faced with district officials with better guidance for choosing edtech, as a free K-12 EdTech Quality Action Toolkit from the State Educational Technology Directors Association, or SETDA, is now available. It offers educators a comprehensive framework for assessment; guidance on regulatory compliance; and practical resources for communicating with vendors and training staff. It advises educators to choose edtech based on the Five EdTech Quality Indicators established by the EdTech Quality Collaborative in 2024: safe, evidence-based, inclusive, usable and interoperable.
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Allowing students to design their own games, collaborate on digital storybooks and create teaching materials such as videos and podcasts can empower them to take an active role in their education, writes edtech consultant Rachelle Dené Poth. These approaches not only build confidence but also lead to deeper engagement, as students take pride in creating resources for their peers and future learners, Poth notes.
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Technology is increasingly being used by school districts to address issues beyond the classroom, such as absenteeism, data analysis and parental engagement, according to a PowerSchool report. The report notes that while technology can aid in these areas, districts still face significant challenges including teacher workload, recruitment and financial constraints.
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New Jersey will use AI to score most of the writing on new statewide standardized tests starting this spring. The AI system, trained on human-scored essays, will grade English language arts responses and flag unusual or borderline answers for human review. The New Jersey Education Association has expressed concerns about the reliance on AI, citing potential grading errors. The tests, developed by Cambium Assessment under a $58.7 million contract, will be adaptive, offering questions based on previous answers.
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California school districts are taking varied approaches to AI in classrooms, balancing potential benefits with risks to student privacy and critical thinking. ABC Unified School District has implemented a "transparency badge" system to indicate AI usage in documents and holds quarterly community roundtables to discuss AI tools.
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The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, which aims to protect minors online by requiring platforms to implement safeguards such as parental tools and limits on addictive features. The bill, which includes provisions from the Kids Online Safety Act and introduces guidelines for artificial intelligence chatbots interacting with minors, faces criticism from some Democrats, who argue that it would preempt stronger state regulations and create loopholes for big technology companies.
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Upgrad and Unacademy are shaking up Indian edtech as Upgrad signs a term sheet to acquire Unacademy. The companies, founded in 2015, have followed different growth paths, albeit both with acquisition-focused expansion. Unacademy specializes in test preparation, and Upgrad focuses on professional skills and higher education. The proposed acquisition could create in a stronger learning platform for K-20 and beyond. Ungrad and Unacademy have discussed an acquisition before but couldn't agree on terms.
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Arkansas' Rogers School District partnered with New Classrooms to pilot Teach to One Roadmaps as a solution for students in sixth grade on up to Algebra 1 students, and educators have seen improvements in the first year. The program creates a learning plan for each student in conjunction with the school's curriculum and students' level of mastery, with a goal of students learning two new math skills each week.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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| About ISTE Solutions Network |
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| The Solutions Network a member-based community that aims to 1) connect innovative solution providers to one another to learn, explore, and share best practices, 2) engage with the ISTE/ASCD member community to gather feedback and increase the impact of high-quality learning solutions, 3) engage in thought leadership conversations and 4) provide benefits for the annual ASCD + ISTE conference, where approximately 16,000 educators, decision-makers, and vendors convene. This community is made up of edtech companies of various sizes that are interested in engaging with each other and with ISTE to discuss Edtech’s role in teaching and learning, industry trends, and solve common challenges. Members of this network can benefit from connecting with industry experts and thought leaders, as well as from gaining key buyer information and insights.
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| Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual ASCD + ISTE endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of ASCD + ISTE.
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