| |
| September 15, 2026 |
| CONNECT WITH ISTE |
| CONNECT WITH ISTE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| |
| Edtech news for those building the future of edtech
| SIGN UP ⋅ SHARE |
|
|
| |
 |
| (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images) |
IT leaders looking to make sense of the wide selection of educational technology can turn to the EdTech Quality Indicators Guide, which lists five quality indicators: safety, evidence, inclusivity, usability and interoperability. The guide was developed by organizations steering the EdTech Quality Collaborative and shows how to use evidence-based decision-making to streamline procurement and select the right tools.
|
|
|
SmartTake: Safety and security are the top-of-mind issues circulating among school leaders and school tech teams. They know that they're being called to account for the digital tools their students use. Do they adhere to industry standards? Do they practice data minimization? Do they protect user privacy? Be ready to address issues around cybersecurity and data governance and to help school leaders convey this information to key stakeholders.
|
|
|
|
|
Guidance is built into every step of USD's 100% online MS in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership. Gain the skills to lead in cyber in a program backed by dedicated student support services. App waiver is available when you apply by 11/2. |
|
|
|
| ADVERTISEMENT |  |
|
 
| |
 |
| Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive officer of Anthropic. (Bloomberg/Getty Images) |
Top executives from major AI companies are calling for slower development of advanced AI systems to allow safety measures to catch up. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has highlighted risks such as recursive self-improvement and a recent incident involving OpenAI agents, prompting support from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.
|
|
|
|
|
Dive deep into how 2,277 K-12 leaders research, select, and acquire products. The comprehensive report highlights pivotal trends influencing 2026 decisions, revealing trusted channels and year-long purchasing patterns. Get the report » |
|
|
|
| ADVERTISEMENT |  |
|
| |
 |
| (Bancha Singchai/Getty Images) |
Barrington Community Unit School District 220 in Illinois has introduced an online Back-to-School Hub to streamline communications for parents, who previously navigated multiple apps for grades, schedules, transportation and general communications. The hub consolidates essential information such as bus routes, lunch details, class assignments and supply lists in one place.
|
|
|
| |
 |
| (Bloomberg/Getty Images) |
Education advocates are voicing concerns about the Federal Communications Commission's review of the E-rate program, which has provided $3 billion annually to help schools and libraries access broadband. The review, which includes issues such as screen time and online safety, could lead to the program's reduction or termination, potentially harming economically disadvantaged districts
|
|
|
|
Top stories from last week's newsletter
|
|
|
Explore EdReports research on AI in K-12 instructional materials, including a market baseline, evidence gaps, and key questions about curriculum quality.
|
|
Congratulations to the newest ISTE Seal holder, Raven LMS from Aerospace Career Pathways! The ISTE Seal provides third-party validation of an edtech product's alignment with digital pedagogy, technological usability, and the ISTE Standards. To learn more about the Seal and how these tools support student learning and educator development, visit the ISTE Seal webpage. |
|
|
The Call for Participation for ISTELive 27, June 27-30 in Boston, is now open online! Submit your session idea by September 30, 2026.
|
|
|
| About ISTE Solutions Network |
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
|
| Got this from a friend? Subscribe now and stay in the loop! |
|
 |
|
| |
| The beautiful word begets the beautiful deed. |
Thomas Mann,
writer, critic, essayist, Nobel Prize in Literature recipient |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Copyright © 2026 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. A division of Future US LLC. |
| Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. |
|
|
|
