As federal support wanes and technology accelerates, states are stepping up to define the future of edtech — balancing innovation with equity, sustainability, and the human side of learning.
GUEST COLUMN | by Julia Fallon
The back-to-school season often feels like a return to the familiar. But this year, the landscape facing state education leaders is anything but routine—defined by accelerating technology shifts, evolving policy debates, and urgent demands to reimagine how schools serve every learner.
‘…this year, the landscape facing state education leaders is anything but routine—defined by accelerating technology shifts, evolving policy debates, and urgent demands to reimagine how schools serve every learner.’
For the past four years, my organization — a professional membership association representing state education agency edtech leaders, along with state- and regional-focused edtech organizations — has published an annual report on state edtech priorities and trends. Each edition captures how state education systems juggle multiple priorities in an environment shaped by emerging technologies, scarce resources, and shifting political realities that bring both possibilities and challenges.
A Critical Inflection Point for K–12
This year’s report lands at a critical inflection point for K–12 education in the United States. It surfaces a new set of urgent questions for state and district leaders:
– How will we sustain the systems, infrastructure, and staffing that learning—and not just digital learning—now depends on?
– How can we leverage new flexibilities in federal formula and discretionary funding to support the strategic use of emerging technologies like AI?
– What processes and frameworks help us determine which edtech tools are essential, which ones are effective, which can be consolidated, and which are becoming obsolete?
– How do we pursue the modernization of our education system while ensuring that equity, security, privacy, and student well-being remain at the center?
– And how do we foster safe, healthy, and responsible relationships with technology while preparing learners to thrive in the interconnected world we already live in?
With pandemic-era relief funds gone, a new presidential administration in place, and the closing of USED’s Office of Educational Technology, the mantle of edtech leadership now rests with the states. This is not simply a burden but an opportunity—one where state leaders, working together and with trusted partners, are making tough choices amid shrinking budgets and shifting policy priorities, while also charting the course for how technology can strengthen teaching and learning.
AI Surges to the Top of State Priorities
From crafting sustainability strategies and responsible AI guidance, to supporting high-quality professional learning and addressing practical but essential issues like device refresh cycles and cybersecurity, edtech directors are proving to be indispensable architects of the modern learning environment. They lead with creativity, pragmatism, and a deep commitment to students and educators—often behind the scenes, but always at the center of the work.
‘…edtech directors are proving to be indispensable architects of the modern learning environment. They lead with creativity, pragmatism, and a deep commitment to students and educators—often behind the scenes, but always at the center of the work.’
This year, Artificial Intelligence emerged as the top state edtech priority and initiative—surpassing broadband and cybersecurity, which led for the past two years. AI is no longer speculative. It is influencing instruction, assessment, and school operations in real time. While vendors tout “AI-powered” features, teachers are experimenting with these tools to plan lessons and create resources. Meanwhile, a majority of states moved quickly to establish guardrails that protect privacy, advance equity, and uphold the humanity of teaching and learning.
In preparing this year’s report, SETDA and Whiteboard Advisors convened a roundtable of 15 state leaders to share how they are supporting safe, effective AI use–often in collaboration with leaders in other states. Utah and North Carolina, for example, hired full-time AI specialists and emerging technology consultants, secured statewide contract pricing for leading tools, partnered on grants to fund teacher training, and developed statewide professional development plans. These examples highlight how state agencies are adapting rapidly to meet emerging needs.
Modernization with Purpose
At the same time, education leaders are grappling with declining public trust in technology, rising concerns about student mental health, and new statewide bans on personal devices in classrooms. The question isn’t whether technology belongs in education but rather how we ensure its use is purposeful, equitable, safe and grounded in sound pedagogy.
That requires rethinking our systems. With federal funding subject to shifting political winds and legacy structures straining to keep pace, the survey findings show it’s time for bold conversations.
‘With federal funding subject to shifting political winds and legacy structures straining to keep pace, the survey findings show it’s time for bold conversations.’
How do we ensure every student has reliable, sustainable access to engaging, well-resourced learning environments with educators who have the preparation and ongoing support to meet their students’ needs? And how do we redesign procurement, infrastructure, and professional development so they serve both the realities of today and the needs of tomorrow? The trends report helps us forecast and predict where the pressure points will be, giving state leaders the insight they need to act before challenges become crises.
Consider the E-Rate program: built for a different era, it hasn’t kept pace with how schools operate today. Connectivity is now the lifeline of learning, extending beyond classrooms to campuses and into the communities where students live. Updating E-Rate isn’t optional. It’s imperative.
But modernization does not mean adding more technology for technology’s sake. True modernization requires a shift in mindset: investing in durable infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, and equity in meaningful ways, and designing for scale without sacrificing local context.
The road ahead won’t be easy. This year’s survey reflects the progress made and the pressing work still to be done. What’s clear is that state edtech directors are rising to meet the complexity of this moment with courage and capacity. States are leading.
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Julia Fallon is Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), where she leads national efforts to support state leaders in shaping the future of learning through technology. With decades of experience in policy, practice, and partnership, she is a recognized voice for equity, access, and innovation in education. Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.
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