K-12 Education is going through unprecedented disruptions and challenges, such as:

• Increased public scrutiny.
• Growing competition from non-public education.
• Increased safety concerns.
• Changing priorities in curricula and assessment.
• Elevated parental expectations.
• Global supply chain interruptions.
• Increased use of technology in the classroom and workplace.

In K-12 schools and districts, technology has traditionally been seen as secondary to the primary focus of education. This is a challenge for IT departments because they must compete with better-funded industries for skilled staff while still protecting their schools against the same cyberthreats. Moreover, technology is becoming increasingly important to the delivery of education and changing the way IT works with its stakeholders.

Info-Tech’s trends report on the future of K-12 education investigates strategic foresights and highlights the relevant trends for school and IT leaders in education.

Mark Maby
Research Director for Education,
Industry Practice
Info-Tech Research Group

• Schools and districts are overwhelmed by the number of unprecedented changes and disruptions.
• Leadership teams often lack insights to identify relevant and critical trends.
• There are uncertainties about transforming the digital business to adopt rapidly changing technologies.

• School and district leaders often think IT does not have an important role in defining and achieving digital business goals.
• Risk-averse school districts do not see the value of trends and how they link to the digital business plan.
• IT leaders might not think that industry trends have a significant impact on the IT organization.

• Perform a broader scan to highlight the demonstrated and relevant trends to education.
• Help schools and districts identify the trends to follow depending on their maturity.
• Highlight the impact of the trends on school and IT leaders.

Home access connectivity

A major challenge during the pandemic was the access students had to connectivity at home. This will continue to be a priority as education shifts to digital and online channels.

Interoperability

With the increased reliance on digital tools and content, there is a need for technology standards that facilitate interoperability.

Advanced wireless

Having strong Wi-Fi is a top technology priority for teachers and administrators. As devices continue to proliferate and as Internet of Things (IoT) devices increase in their capabilities, the K-12 education technology will require a strong technology infrastructure.

Hybrid integration

A hybrid integration framework to support various integration patterns such as on-premises to on-premises, on-premises to cloud, and cloud to cloud is key to enable IT capabilities.

Cybersecurity

A robust cybersecurity program covering the IT landscape is critical to ensure organizational information and assets are protected against the onslaught of various forms of attack.

Advanced data analytics

Enabling an advanced data analytics platform to support data-driven analysis is the foundational step necessary to support any core business transformation initiatives.

Comprehensive Security

Build a resilient physical and cyber security environment.

There has been an increase in both cyberattacks at districts and physical violence, especially within US schools. Districts are increasingly looking to technology to enhance the security of not only the data but also the students themselves.

Shifting Technology Priorities

The increase of digital and cloud-based technologies requires strategic changes.

Districts are adopting more cloud and mobile technologies. This requires both teachers and IT to change their work behaviors. Workload increases and funding shortages are adding additional pressures on technology priorities.

Maintaining the Digital Leap Forward

Sustain continued adoption of technology and practices post-pandemic.

The pandemic ushered in new technologies and new educational practices. Even with the return to physical classes, there is a persistent change in how education is now compared to just a few years ago.

The future of K-12 education

Trends report

Business context & IT Strategy

IT Strategy

Digital Strategy

Leverage this trends report for priorities that drive measurable, top-line organizational outcomes and to unlock direct value.

The future will bring more trends and technologies, making it pivotal that your schools or district continues to establish itself as the disrupter, not the disrupted. You must establish a structured approach to innovation management that considers external trends as well as internal processes. Info-Tech’s Define Your Digital Business Strategy blueprint and Build a Business-Aligned IT Strategy blueprint give you the tools you need to effectively process signals in your environment, build an understanding of relevant trends, and turn this understanding into action.