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| December 2, 2025 |
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The edtech market has entered a period of stagnation, with funding for startups plateauing at $2.77 billion this year compared with $19.4 billion in 2021. This year's mergers and acquisitions have centered on stabilizing rather than scaling, as innovation primarily is occurring outside the traditional edtech category, where edtech-specific companies have become the little fish in an ocean of AI.
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SmartTake: The boundaries of edtech are blurring. Most transformative learning tools are now developed by AI labs and productivity companies with the goals of specialized workforce training or AI-powered tools for teachers. At CrunchBase, technology columnist Joanna Glasner says investors also are eyeing startups that use AI to customize lessons for individual students.
"The larger vision that once surrounded edtech, an overhaul of how learning works at scale, has faded from the investor narrative. Capital is clustering around specific use-cases where the value proposition is clear and the downside risk is limited," writes Techloy contributor Kelechi Edeh, who nevertheless offers a few optimistic signs. Glasner also points to some recent successful investments.
The smart move for edtech developers is positioning companies for change, each homing in on a narrow, results-backed niche, or risking being replaced by general AI platforms.
"If funding returns in the next cycle, it will likely flow to companies that treat education as one use-case within a broader AI platform rather than as the core business itself," Edeh says. "The standalone edtech category may not be dying, but it is clearly being absorbed by something bigger and faster moving."
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The 50-year-old Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has prompted education innovations in individualized supports, technologies and inclusive practices that have benefited students with disabilities as well as their non-disabled peers. For example, Universal Design for Learning, assistive devices and accessible digital content have made classrooms more flexible and effective for all learners.
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The Umatilla School District in Oregon has consolidated data from several digital platforms -- such as attendance, disciplinary incidents, grades and literacy development -- into a single system to streamline its data management for all staff. Superintendent Heidi Sipe says this better helps identify students who need interventions and keeps teachers from feeling overwhelmed, empowering them to make more informed decisions.
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Littleton Public Schools in Colorado has seen a decrease in student suicides since implementing digital mental health monitoring tools. The district receives more than 2,000 alerts weekly, which are reviewed by a full-time cyber safety technician, and the system has enabled earlier intervention and support for students facing mental health challenges.
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Dan Fisher, an elementary-school principal in Toronto, outlines a four-step process for integrating new technology in schools, emphasizing the importance of self-assessment, goal setting, testing and iterative implementation. Fisher advises administrators to evaluate their school's readiness for technology, set measurable student-centered goals, pilot the technology with enthusiastic teachers and review progress annually.
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The US Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public input on regulations that make AI adoption more difficult, drawing criticism from groups such as the American Council on Education, which highlight the need for stronger privacy and oversight measures rather than AI deregulation. Since its creation in 1976, the agency has advised presidents on science and technology policy, and all previous administrations have focused on responsible innovation and safeguards for emerging technologies, including AI.
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Sixty percent of schools or districts lack guidance on generative AI, leaving decisions about AI integration largely to individual teachers or administrators, contributing to inconsistency and uncertainty across districts and the nation, according to a new Milken Institute report. The report advocates for clear, developmentally appropriate, ethical standards created through collective action by educators, policymakers and philanthropists.
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Riley Walker, inspired by his sister's struggles in an inflexible school system, has worked to make learning more personal, starting with writing textbooks, then developing gamified learning tools and now founding Ryco. With input from current and former educators, the company uses AI to customize lessons, gamified modules and videos for each school's needs and gives schools ownership of the materials.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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| (ISTE) |
Every edtech product claims to be "research-backed," but what evidence actually matters? New research from LXD Research reveals educators trust studies from contexts similar to their own classrooms--not generic research claims. Learn how to decode certification badges, validation labels, and research evidence to quickly identify tools with genuine impact in settings like yours, saving time and improving student outcomes.
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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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| There is light at the end of the tunnel, which hopefully is not a freight train. |
Mariah Carey,
singer, songwriter, record producer |
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