Insights on Everything EdTech
Welcome to The EdTech Pulse, your ultimate guide to staying ahead of the curve with the latest trends and innovations in education technology, K-12, higher education, and workforce development. With each edition, we provide fresh industry news, insightful analysis, and valuable resources to empower you to make proactive, informed decisions.
This month, we’re exploring the trends shaping EdTech as we enter a new year. In 2026, educators are pairing smart strategy with thoughtful design to create learning experiences that truly strengthen critical thinking and open doors. We’ll also look at how the most effective tools are helping more learners pursue their interests and build confidence in what comes next.
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Industry News
Funding
- Rural school districts are increasingly turning to AI to expand access to resources despite limited staff and budgets. Districts of all sizes are finding practical ways to use emerging technology. Read more here.
- Congress is moving to block major proposed cuts to federal science funding, keeping support for agencies like NSF and NASA largely intact for 2026. Read more here.
- Public school enrollment dipped slightly in the 2024-25 school year, according to new federal data, continuing a gradual decline seen in many districts nationwide. The trend raises ongoing questions about enrollment shifts, funding, and long-term planning for schools. Read more here.
Innovation, Trends, & Tools
- This week, K-12 IT leaders gather at FETC 2026 to explore the future of educational technology and strategies for making tech work better for schools and students. Read more here.
- New 2026 education trends point to more intentional use of AI and instructional technology to support student engagement and teacher effectiveness. Read more here from Discovery Education.
- EdTech leaders are heading into 2026 with a focus on using technology with purpose, including AI becoming a more integrated part of learning and tools that better support student readiness. Read more here.
The Inside Scoop
Technology can move fast, but strong brands are built thoughtfully.
Copywriting is about shaping a message that lasts. From content libraries to campaigns, the words behind a brand carry its story forward again and again. As we look at the trends shaping 2026, this is a reminder that while tools like AI can support the work, clarity, context, and deep understanding still come from people who take the time to truly know a brand and the audience it’s trying to reach.
Featuring @Maddy Stutz, copywriting lead at Partner in Publishing.
Office Hours
A recurring look at what we’re hearing from educators, EdTech leaders, and decision-makers, and how those conversations are shaping what comes next.
What Student-Centered Access Really Looks Like
As the calendar flips to 2026, the conversation around technology is changing.
Across classrooms and campuses, technology is being asked to do something very specific: make learning clearer, more relevant, and more connected to what comes next for students as they prepare for their futures. Whether it’s career-oriented, hands-on STEM instruction or educational tools or platforms designed to support critical thinking and real-world readiness, the common thread is purpose.
That shift has also brought new attention to access, especially in moments that can shape a student’s future.
Admissions tests and test prep have long been points of friction, often favoring students with more resources or time. As institutions rethink how they support learners, the question has become less about whether technology can scale and more about whether it can scale fairly.
In the latest episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March explores this with Kim Canning of Kaplan, who points out that access often breaks down before students even realize what they need. As Kim shares, “We need to give students the ability to take advantage of resources they may not even realize they need.” Socioeconomic experiences shape awareness as much as opportunity, and when universities invest in tools that close that gap, they send a clear signal: “We’re as invested as you are in getting to medical school, in getting your license, in getting a job.”
When meaningful solutions come together, technology stops feeling like a gatekeeper and starts becoming what it should be: a pathway students can actually see themselves on.
Until next time, thanks for reading The EdTech Pulse.
For the Educators
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PIP Announcements
PIP is at FETC!
This week, our team is on the ground at FETC, connecting with K-12 leaders and engaging in conversations about where educational technology is headed in 2026. We’re excited to learn, listen, and share insights that help districts use technology more intentionally. See you there!
Don’t miss the latest episode of EdTech Elevated! 🎧
In our newest episode, Lisa March sits down with Kim Canning, Vice President of University Partnerships at Kaplan, to explore what access and affordability really look like in admissions preparation. The conversation covers student-centered test prep, meaningful university partnerships, and how institutions can support learners beyond enrollment, helping them build confidence, critical thinking skills, and clearer pathways forward.
Listen here: