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| April 14, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of edtech
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| Maria Nicholas is the president of the Associated Administrators of LA/Teamsters, one of three unions that had threatened to strike against the Los Angeles Unified School District. (MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News Via Getty Images/Getty Images) |
The Los Angeles Unified School District narrowly avoided a historic multi-union strike by reaching last-minute tentative agreements Monday and today with all three major employee groups after two years of bargaining. The agreements, which are still subject to ratification, include substantial increases in pay and staffing, no layoffs of IT workers, protections against subcontracting and improved working conditions. The district, facing a projected deficit but holding a significant reserve, conceded to the unions' demands to prevent disruption for 400,000 students.
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SmartTake on the conflict's edtech aspect: Salaries and working conditions are vital, but edtech was also an important bargaining chip in the LAUSD negotiations -- and from the details we've seen so far, it looks like the unions won in that area too. The demands and negotiations triggered intense scrutiny of edtech spending, as unions want funds prioritized for educator salaries over third-party technology contracts. To protect job security and privacy, one union sought to prohibit AI from replacing union positions or being used for surveillance without explicit consent. The tentative agreements include the creation of a joint task force to monitor expenditures and AI decisions, and they mark an important turning point in efficacy and ethics for edtech developers, who must prove their tools support, rather than displace, the teaching workforce.
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If you add up recommended instructional minutes, the elementary school day is 2.5 hours short. An HQIM that integrates ELA and social studies helps solve this time crunch, building deeper knowledge and stronger comprehension in one coherent block. Explore the integration brief. |
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In a class-action lawsuit against Curriculum Associates filed in December, some California students allege that the company's i-Ready platform collects and shares student names, academic responses and other sensitive information with third parties like Clever and Google without getting specific parental consent. The lawsuit, which now has reached the court, cites violations of a range of state and federal privacy laws. Curriculum Associates asserts that the data exchanges aren't unlawful interception and that they comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act as well as state regulations.
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Peninsula School District in Washington is using "vibe coding" to develop in-house software, potentially saving up to $250,000 by the 2026-27 school year. The technique, which leverages generative AI through text prompts, has already led to the creation of LessonLens, an app that provides instructional feedback to teachers. Chief Information Officer Kris Hagel and Director of Research and Assessment James Cantonwine advise other districts to experiment with vibe coding cautiously, ensuring data privacy and safety.
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Recent disruptions have left students behind. Join our April 30 webinar at 2PM EST to learn expert strategies for identifying gaps, using data to guide instruction, and applying targeted interventions that meet students where they are. Register now! |
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Eighth-grade students at Percy Julian Middle School in Illinois recently led a staff meeting on AI, sharing their experiences and insights after a year of experimenting with the technology under the guidance of social studies teacher Ashley Kannan. The students, who initially were skeptical of AI, now use it frequently and emphasize the importance of human judgment, especially from teachers.
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Students at Clinton Valley Elementary School in Michigan are improving reading fluency by recording themselves reading aloud using Microsoft Stream, then reflecting on their performance. The method, implemented by fifth-grade teacher Samantha DiCicco, combines reflection, goal-setting and technology to build literacy skills. Students set personal goals, listen to their recordings and share them with the teacher and others for feedback.
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State lawmakers are rapidly introducing legislation to regulate artificial intelligence in K-12 education, with three major trends emerging: AI literacy as a graduation requirement, concerns about data privacy and the formation of task forces. So far this legislative session, Idaho and Utah have enacted laws, according to independent think tank FutureEd, with Idaho focusing on a comprehensive AI framework and Utah on AI literacy and digital skills.
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| (Sankai/Getty Images) |
Cybersecurity readiness for K-12 schools is a long-term journey, not than a one-time achievement, and viewing it this way can help districts proactively address vulnerabilities and build resilience against emerging threats, Tom Ashley, an education strategist for CDW Education, asserts. Ashley explains what is involved in a cybersecurity maturity assessment, an important first step that examines or helps put in place a district's ongoing evaluation of current security measures, goals and strategies as resources and risks evolve.
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The Education Department is offering grants to school districts for teacher incentives and to improve literacy in high-need districts. The grants will be distributed through the Labor Department as part of its new partnership with the Education Department.
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To enhance school safety solutions, Centegix has acquired Pikmykid, an educational technology company based in Tampa, Fla. Pikmykid's software manages school dismissals, reunification and emergency alerts, complementing Centegix's hardware products such as wearable panic buttons. The acquisition aims to enhance safety tools for K-12 institutions.
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Flashpass, a digital skills platform based in Columbus, Ohio, has raised $4.25 million in seed funding. Flashpass offers "micro-certifications" in areas such as cybersecurity and natural energy, supporting more than 1,000 students at local training centers and community colleges.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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Congratulations to Edmentum EdOptions Academy, AVID Professional Learning, and Teaching Channel's Graduate-Level Continuing Education Courses, who have officially renewed their ISTE Seal, proving their ongoing commitment to high-quality, research-backed edtech. To learn more about the Seal and how these tools support student learning and educator development, visit the ISTE Seal page. |
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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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| If I were to replay my life, I would do it all over again. |
Asha Bhosle,
singer, actor
1933-2026 |
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