EdGate Powers Podcast #29- with Ji Soo Song
As responsibility for education technology policy and strategy continues shifting toward the states, education leaders and technology providers are navigating a more complex and increasingly decentralized K-12 landscape. Differences in state priorities, funding, staffing, procurement processes, and approaches to emerging technologies can make it difficult for organizations to develop effective strategies across multiple markets. The challenge is understanding these differences while ensuring that technology investments remain focused on meaningful classroom needs, student outcomes, and long-term educational goals.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance speaks with Ji Soo Song, Director of Projects & Initiatives at the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), about the growing role of state education agencies in shaping educational technology policy, procurement, and digital learning strategies. The discussion explores how education publishers and edtech providers can navigate an increasingly state-driven marketplace, build meaningful relationships with education leaders, understand state-specific priorities, and demonstrate how their products address authentic needs in schools and classrooms.
Song explains why a one-size-fits-all approach is becoming increasingly difficult for education technology companies and how differences in state leadership structures, edtech offices, funding, and policy priorities are creating new challenges for vendors. He also discusses what makes an edtech product high quality, why collaboration across the education ecosystem is essential, and how states are preparing students and educators for an AI-enabled future through AI literacy, digital citizenship, and critical thinking. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of understanding local context, building strong partnerships, and ensuring technology serves a genuine educational purpose rather than becoming a solution in search of a problem.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How the shift toward state-led education technology is changing the K-12 marketplace.
- Why education publishers and edtech companies need to understand each state's unique priorities and procurement processes.
- How state-by-state differences in staffing, funding, and technology strategy affect vendors.
- Why relationship-building and professional networks are increasingly important for winning state contracts.
- What makes an edtech product high quality, including being safe, interoperable, evidence-based, inclusive, and usable.
- How education companies can demonstrate that their products address authentic classroom needs.
- How states are approaching AI literacy and preparing students for an AI-enabled future.
Why This Conversation Matters
As federal involvement in education technology evolves, state education agencies are taking on a larger role in shaping digital learning policy, procurement, and implementation. That transition creates opportunities for innovation, but it also means publishers and edtech providers must navigate a landscape where expectations, resources, leadership structures, and long-term strategies can differ significantly from one state to another.
Organizations that invest in understanding state priorities, building relationships with education leaders, and demonstrating meaningful classroom value will be better positioned to navigate procurement, expand into new markets, and develop partnerships that support long-term success. At the same time, collaboration across states, districts, nonprofits, and industry will be increasingly important as education leaders work to establish effective approaches to emerging technologies such as AI.
Join Rich and Ji Soo as they explore how education publishers and edtech companies can navigate an increasingly state-driven marketplace not by taking a one-size-fits-all approach, but by understanding local priorities, building stronger relationships, and delivering solutions that make a meaningful difference for educators and students.
Please note: At the time of this podcast recording, Ji Soo Song was serving as Director of Projects & Initiatives at the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). He is no longer affiliated with SETDA. References to his role and affiliation reflect his position at the time of recording.
Learn how to navigate an evolving, decentralized K-12 education technology market.
Ji Soo Song serves as the Director of Projects & Initiatives at the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), where he leads initiatives focused on digital equity, edtech procurement, and professional learning, including advising on the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan. His role involves partnering with philanthropic groups and corporate sponsors, as well as supporting state education agencies in adopting promising technology practices.
Rich is passionate about eEdTech and helping people discover pathways to successful careers. He leverages his many years of business experience in strategy, product development, brand creation, and sales & marketing as a frequent industry speaker and sought-after consultant.
Beginning his career in digital marketing and web development, Rich was recruited into the private, independent school market to help usher in digital technologies and social media. During this time, Richard served as a student advisor and was nominated to serve on the CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools) Technology Commission. In 2012, Rich joined York & Chapel, a brand and digital transformation agency where he began working with secondary and higher ed clients, developing strategies for student engagement and pathway creation. In 2014, Richard founded CareerPath, a SaaS engagement platform. Over the past ten years, Rich has given back to the industry as an advisor to numerous EdTech startups, and generally has had a blast doing what he loves to do — help others succeed.
Questions Answered
During the podcast, we tackle plenty of critical questions about managing increasingly complex curriculum adoptions and expanding into new education markets.
- How has responsibility for K-12 education technology shifted from the federal government to the states?
- How is the education technology landscape becoming more fragmented across states?
- How can smaller edtech companies compete for state education contracts as education policy becomes more state-driven?
- Which states are leading education technology innovation, and how should vendors choose where to focus?
- Who should edtech companies connect with in state education agencies?
- How can edtech companies build stronger relationships with states and educators?
- Why should edtech companies study a state's long-term education technology strategy before entering the market?
- How can edtech companies demonstrate alignment with state education priorities during procurement?
- How is SETDA helping states navigate changing education technology priorities and policies?
- How is AI literacy shaping the future of K-12 education and student readiness?
- Which education organizations should edtech companies work with beyond SETDA?
- What resources is SETDA developing to help states and education technology providers prepare for the future?