EdTech

Texas Leads the Way: Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

sschuller — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:56:21 +0000

Texas Leads the Way: Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

EdTech

Hot Topic

State Highlight

sschuller Tue, 11/11/2025 - 09:56

Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

November 11 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

In the latest episode of EdGate Powers Education, host Rich Portelance welcomed Keven Ellis, Member and former Chair of the Texas State Board of Education, to explore how Texas is reimagining student success through aligned policy, innovation, and accountability.

A Statewide Vision: Talent Strong Texas

Texas has set an ambitious goal — to ensure every learner, from kindergarten through adulthood, is prepared for college, career, or military service. The Talent Strong Texas initiative expands on the state’s original “60x30” goal, now aiming for Texans aged 25–64 to hold credentials of value by 2030.

This work is powered by the Tri-Agency Coalition, uniting the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Texas Workforce Commission to create coherent pathways from education to employment.

Evolving Standards and Skills

Ellis discussed how the State Board of Education shapes curriculum standards through the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which now emphasize critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. Texas has also introduced K–12 character traits such as citizenship, perseverance, and responsibility — reinforcing the importance of developing both intellect and integrity.

Transforming Assessment and Accountability

Texas is replacing the STAAR test with the Student Success Tool (SST) — adaptive, shorter, and more frequent assessments that provide real-time feedback to educators. This shift, Ellis explained, reflects Texas’s ongoing effort to make assessments more meaningful and actionable.

Additionally, updates to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) metrics ensure that industry certifications and dual credit opportunities align with high-value, high-wage careers.

Empowering Teachers and Local Control

Teacher quality remains central to the state’s strategy. With the Teacher Incentive Allotment and expanded certification pathways, Texas is creating opportunities for educators to advance into six-figure roles while improving retention. The Districts of Innovation model gives local ISDs flexibility over calendars, contracts, and instructional design, fostering creativity within a framework of accountability.

Connecting Education to Industry

Through the Texas Regional Pathway Network, schools and regional partners align programs with workforce demand, ensuring students gain credentials that matter in the local economy.

Technology, Math, and the Future of Learning

While embracing AI and digital learning tools, Ellis emphasized the importance of balancing fluency with conceptual understanding. A recent law also directs districts to place the top 40% of fifth-grade math students on a path to complete Algebra I by eighth grade — advancing academic rigor and readiness.

A Shared Commitment to Students

For Ellis, the key to Texas’s success lies in the collaboration among educators, policymakers, and communities — all dedicated to preparing 5.5 million students for the opportunities ahead. “Vision statements don’t teach children,” he said. “Teachers do — and the students are worth it.”

Listen to the full conversation on the EdGate Powers Education podcast, and join us for the upcoming December 17 webinar featuring Keven Ellis, Hillary Knudson, and Lisa O'Masta.

Building the Future-Ready Learner: Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

sschuller — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:06:10 +0000

Building the Future-Ready Learner: Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

EdTech

Hot Topic

Top Stories

sschuller Mon, 11/03/2025 - 17:06

Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

November 03 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

In the latest episode of EdGate Powers Education, host Rich Portelance spoke with Hillary Knudson, Vice President at Whiteboard Advisors, about how states are redefining what it means to be “ready” for the future.

Knudson explained that the Portrait of a Graduate movement emerged from clear feedback from employers: academic skills alone don’t ensure success. Students also need durable skills — communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability — that carry them through college, career, and life.

States Leading the Way

Knudson highlighted examples from Kentucky, which integrated its Portrait of a Graduate through the United We Learn initiative, and Indiana, which connects its Graduates Prepared to Succeed framework to real employment data through a statewide dashboard. These states, she said, are demonstrating how frameworks become meaningful when they are embedded in existing systems — not standalone policies.

The Role of AI and Emerging Competencies

As technology transforms the workforce, several states are now including digital literacy and AI competency in their portraits. Knudson emphasized that the goal is to make AI an additive part of learning — supporting creativity and problem-solving rather than replacing them.

Balancing Standards and Implementation

Aligning academic and CTE standards with durable skills is key to keeping high school learning relevant. However, Knudson cautioned that implementation must not add to teachers’ workloads. Instead, these skills should be integrated naturally through high-quality curriculum and instruction that already promote collaboration and critical thinking.

Assessing Future-Ready Skills

One of the biggest challenges is assessing these competencies meaningfully. Knudson pointed to initiatives like the Skills for the Future pilot — a multi-state effort involving ETS, Carnegie, and the XQ Institute — as promising models for evaluating non-academic learning outcomes.

Equity and Lifelong Readiness

Equity remains central to the Portrait of a Graduate framework. Knudson emphasized that durable skills should be developed from early grades through high school, ensuring every learner has access to meaningful, future-ready opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Rich Portelance closed the episode with an invitation to the upcoming December 17 webinar, where Knudson will join Keven Ellis, Member of the Texas State Board of Education, and Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com, to explore how these frameworks are evolving — and how states, educators, and EdTech partners can align to support them.

Listen to the full episode on the EdGate Powers Education podcast.

Read more and register for the December 17 webinar.

Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

bford — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:10:51 +0000

Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

EdTech

EdGate Services

bford Tue, 08/19/2025 - 09:10

How Schools Evaluate New EdTech: Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

August 19 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

The most recent EdGate Powers podcast features a highly engaging episode featuring Jill Pierce, Executive Director of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association. With more than 30 years of expertise on how schools evaluate and adopt new education technology (EdTech) in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Her key message: EdTech adoption is more rigorous than ever before. Schools are taking a strategic, data-driven approach, carefully weighing interoperability, cybersecurity, legislative compliance, and the role of AI in education before making purchasing decisions.

The Evolving Process of EdTech Adoption in Schools

School districts are no longer rushing into buying the “latest tool.” Instead, they are using a structured school technology evaluation checklist to ensure every product directly supports district priorities and integrates with existing infrastructure.

Jill highlighted an important distinction:

Instructional technology - Products that directly impact student learning and outcomes.

Operational technology - Tools that streamline administrative or support services.

For both categories, the first step is identifying a clear need. Vendors who approach districts without aligning to strategic goals risk losing valuable opportunities.

The School Technology Evaluation Checklist Every Vendor Should Know

Jill outlined the criteria that districts use to assess new products. For EdTech vendors, these represent must-have answers when presenting solutions:

Alignment to Strategic Plans – Does the product support the district’s goals for student success and operational efficiency?

Interoperability in Education Technology – Can the tool integrate smoothly with student information systems and existing platforms?

Cybersecurity in Schools – How does the product protect sensitive student data, respond to breaches, and ensure compliance with privacy laws?

Data Privacy in EdTech – What information is collected, and how is it stored and secured?

User Experience – Is the platform intuitive, easy to train on, and supportive of teacher adoption?

Legislative Compliance – Does the product meet current and upcoming state and federal requirements, including those related to AI in education?

Districts aren’t looking for the cheapest tool. As Jill explained, schools aim for the “lowest and best” value—prioritizing effective integration, training, and vendor support over cost alone.

Why Cybersecurity and Interoperability Are Top Priorities

With most school users under 18, cybersecurity in education is not optional—it’s essential. Districts require vendors to clearly explain how they secure student and staff data, prevent intrusions, and remain compliant with strict data privacy regulations.

Equally important is interoperability in education technology. Teachers and staff need a seamless ecosystem, not a cluttered set of disconnected apps. Districts value solutions that unify access and simplify workflows, reducing frustration while improving efficiency.

The Role of Legislation and AI in Education

Jill cautioned vendors that ignoring state-specific EdTech legislation can derail even the strongest product. From wireless device rules to evolving AI in education laws, compliance is now a cornerstone of school technology adoption.

On AI, Jill explained that while artificial intelligence has long existed in basic educational tools, new frameworks are emerging to regulate its instructional use. Vendors must be transparent about:

What data AI systems collect and process

How AI integrates with existing school platforms

How student and employee privacy is protected

Without clear answers, districts may hesitate to adopt even innovative AI-powered tools.

Building Successful EdTech Partnerships with Schools

Jill’s closing message centered on fidelity– ensuring that technology implementations are not only purchased but also planned, resourced, and executed in alignment with strategic district goals.

For EdTech vendors, this means:

Taking the time to understand district needs.

Demonstrating strong commitments to privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance.

Delivering solutions that are easy to integrate and simple to use.

Acting as long-term partners in student success, not just product providers

Listen to the full episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast to hear Jill Pierce’s complete insights on EdTech adoption, AI in education, and how schools are shaping the future of instructional technology.

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

bford — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:03:14 +0000

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

bford Fri, 08/08/2025 - 12:03

Statewide Smartphone Bans & High-Quality Instruction: Why Alignment Matters

August 08 2025

Author

Bryan Ford

Upcoming Statewide Classroom Cell Phone Bans

Since the arrival of smartphones in classrooms, schools worldwide have grappled with how to reduce their impact on student learning and academic benchmarks. This past year, many states have begun taking decisive action against student-owned smart devices, with certain states, such as New York, soon requiring bell-to-bell restrictions statewide. Several states’ smart device bans, including those in Texas, Utah, and North Dakota, are poised to take effect by the beginning of the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. States such as California and Colorado will begin enforcing their bans by the 2026-2027 school year.

Some stakeholders view these actions as too strong a step in the wrong direction, noting that many specialized learning tools rely on students using their own devices. Others have claimed this to be a necessary step forward in changing classroom culture for the better. While creating aligned, high-quality educational content is undoubtedly valuable, it is just one part of a bigger equation involving classroom culture and policy – one that EdGate is here and ready to help you navigate.

How High-Quality Instructional Materials and Classroom Culture Intersect

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in K-12 education funding have increased significantly, largely due to billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief aid. With these newly available funds, thousands of districts across the United States have been able to adopt and reform curricula, as well as obtain high-quality instructional materials, tools, and devices aligned to state education standards. This unprecedented funding has been instrumental in enabling schools to meet rising educational needs and has presented new opportunities for education companies. However, getting these high-quality materials to be successfully used in modern classrooms requires additional alignment and forethought.

As classroom culture changes and schools around the United States are becoming more technology-integrated than ever, EdGate helps your product retain effectiveness and relevance. With ExACT’s many innovative tools, ensuring that your educational content is fully aligned and delivered to today’s classrooms is made simpler, regardless of the format. Automatically aligning to new standards and policies in our changing world is no longer an issue, either, as ExACT allows you and your team to fully streamline the process, keeping you ahead of the competition.

Throughout the ever-changing educational landscape, EdGate will always be here to help you adapt to any changes and challenges that arise. Do you have any questions? Our highly experienced, expert team is always happy to discuss how we can support you and your team.

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

sschuller — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:53:06 +0000

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

sschuller Thu, 06/05/2025 - 09:53

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up? A Closer Look at Standards Coverage and Access

June 05 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

How confident are you that your current alignment process is keeping up with today’s fast-changing education standards? If you're still relying on spreadsheets or outdated systems, you might be missing critical gaps, and opportunities.

When it comes to curriculum development and instructional materials, access to comprehensive, exportable, and up-to-date academic standards isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Whether you're a publisher aligning content across multiple states or an educator building lessons that meet local standards, your alignment solution needs to do more than just “check the boxes.”

At EdGate, we’ve been providing standards data and alignment tools to educational publishers, platforms, and institutions for over 25 years. While others may be celebrating the addition of new content to their systems, EdGate has quietly been offering that content, and much more, for decades.

What Others Are Just Launching, EdGate Has Long Delivered

Some platforms recently announced the availability of Health and PE, World Languages, and Computer Science standards across 50 states. That’s great news—for those just getting started.

EdGate has long offered these standards for all 50 states and D.C., along with coverage that goes far beyond the basics. Our repository includes subjects that are critical to a well-rounded curriculum, including:

Arts Education
Career Development
Early Childhood Education
English Language Learners
Financial Literacy
Gifted Education

Health and PE
Language Arts
Library Media
Mathematics
Professional Development
Religious Studies

Science
Social Studies
Social and Emotional Learning
Special Skills
Technology Education
World Languages

If your alignment solution isn’t covering these, it might be time to reassess.

Curious how your current alignment solution compares?

You can try ExACT free for 30 days and explore the difference for yourself.

Start Your Trial Today

Exporting Standards Shouldn’t Come with Errors

Some “open access” tools boast that users can view and export standards freely. But upon closer inspection, publishers often hit a wall when trying to export data, receiving error messages unless they create specific registered accounts or meet eligibility criteria.

At EdGate, exports are seamless. Our standards data is ready for integration into SIS, LMS, assessment systems, and beyond. Whether you’re a publisher looking to align across all 50 states or a district needing local coverage, our systems are built to support scale, speed, and accuracy, without the headaches.

Built for More Than Educators

Some platforms prioritize access for individual educators. While helpful, this approach is often limited. An educator may only need access to a single subject in one state. In contrast, publishers and edtech platforms typically require access to multiple subjects across multiple states and in multiple formats. That’s where EdGate truly excels.

Our platform and premium tools, like the ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, are designed with publishers and content developers in mind. With automated alignment, export-ready data, and expert-backed insights, ExACT gives curriculum teams the tools they need to clearly see how their content aligns, or doesn’t, with state and national standards.

Don’t Settle for Partial Solutions

If your current solution requires workarounds, limited access, or narrow subject coverage, it might be time to upgrade. EdGate delivers the comprehensive standards data, deep alignment support, and dedicated service that today’s educational ecosystem demands.

EdGate’s Correlation Services set the industry standard with an unparalleled, patented alignment methodology that ensures precise crosswalking across all state and international educational standards. Unlike other providers, EdGate offers a comprehensive and scalable approach that guarantees educators, publishers, and EdTech companies seamless alignment to global curriculum frameworks. With a commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and innovation, EdGate delivers exclusive services that empower organizations to meet diverse learning objectives with confidence. This ensures your content remains relevant, compliant, and accessible across every market.

Curious how EdGate stacks up against other solutions?

Check out our side-by-side comparison chart to see how we measure up in coverage, access, and value.

Not sure if your current alignment solution is keeping up? Try ExACT for free and find out

Reach out to learn how your alignment strategy can go further—with less effort.

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

sschuller — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 23:24:26 +0000

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

sschuller Mon, 04/28/2025 - 16:24

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

April 28 2025

Author

Gina Faulk

As always ASU+GSV in San Diego was buzzy and loud, air-conditioned to a state of uncomfortableness inside, but sunny and lovely outside. Education celebrities were circulating: Arne Duncan, Sal Khan, Colin Kaepernick, will.i.am and more. Old friends who have been in EdTech and traditional K-12 educational publishing for years could be found left and right. Newer companies with exciting new AI products were prolific.

U.S. Secretary of Education

Probably the highest profile event at ASU+GSV 2025 was the Tuesday morning interview featuring Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education. As evidence of its prominence, the building was secured with limited entrances/exits, secret service was in attendance, and a small group of protesters stood outside the conference venue. As is widely known, under the direction of the U.S. President, McMahon has been tasked with preparing to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. This executive order would require an act of Congress. As part of McMahon’s mission, she vowed to “return education to the states”, as declared during her February 2025 confirmation hearing and in her speech that can now be found on the U.S. Dept. of Ed. site.

What Does Return to the States Mean?

From our vantage point as the leading educational standards consulting company, EdGate has been pondering what this “return to the states” means for state curriculum standards/frameworks. Sure enough, the questions I received most often while at ASU+GSV were “What does this shift back to the states mean for learning standards?” and “Is Common Core dead?”

It’s widely known that every state already has its own standards (a.k.a. competencies). So in some ways, when our team is aligning K-12 education content to standards, we tend to think of the U.S. as fifty tiny countries. Although all states have adopted learning standards that basically teach the same concepts (adding fractions, verb tenses, photosynthesis, etc.) the emphasis put on individual concepts, the way individual standards are written and published, and at which grade level concepts are introduced differs from state to state. State standards often reflect the unique history, economy, and politics of each state. This is especially evident in subject areas like Social Studies and Career and Technical Education (CTE). For instance, some states emphasize healthcare or agriculture in their CTE standards, while others focus heavily on information technology—clearly aligning with the dominant industries and workforce demands within their regional economies.

A healthy share of companies that engage with EdGate come to us with their content already aligned to the Common Core standards. At that point, they have a good baseline to start with. After all, the Common Core State Standards were created in 2010 to establish consistent educational expectations across the fifty states, ensuring all students receive a comparable education in English language arts and mathematics. EdGate continuously links all of the state learning standards to a core taxonomy of concepts so we can take the existing Common Core alignments and map those Common Core alignments to the other 49 states. So is Common Core dead? No, but the states that have kept the Common Core verbatim are rare and after every state standard update cycle the standards become increasingly further removed from the original Common Core. Treating ELA and Math standards like social studies, where every state is bespoke, is closer to reality.

Helpful Resources

EdGate created a very useful and freely available state-by-state learning standards comparison visual on our website. Click on any state to see the differences between state standards and Common Core, NGSS, C3 and other widely used libraries. Check it out and see you next year at ASU+GSV!

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

sschuller — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:30:07 +0000

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

EdTech

EdGate Services

Hot Topic

sschuller Tue, 04/22/2025 - 10:30

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

April 22 2025

Author

Naomi Morton

First, Let’s Define Curriculum

In basic terms, curriculum is the what, why, and how of student learning. It encompasses the lessons and tools teachers use and the timeframe in which they are implemented. While materials terminology evolves and changes, at its core, HQIM is knowledge-rich, engaging instructional materials that develop critical and creative thinking skills, fostering deeper student learning, while realizing a range of societal demands and government policies. Materials should reflect evidence-based best practices in relevant content areas and support all types of students including English language learners, students with disabilities and students identified as gifted or talented. Texas, as an example, has specific criteria that materials must meet to reach HQIM status.

Collaborative for Student Success

CurriculumHQ is a project of the Collaborative for Student Success whose goal is to “provide leaders with the information and examples they need to enable high-quality materials adoption and curriculum-based training in their communities.” In 2024, CurriculumHQ conducted a comprehensive scan by state and created a map that allows viewers to explore how states and districts are using high-quality learning materials. For example, Pennsylvania utilizes the Standards Aligned System (SAS) and Voluntary Model Curriculum, Indiana creates and revises a High-Quality Curricular Materials (HQCM) advisory list annually. Arkansas supports the Arkansas Initiative for Instructional Materials (AIIM). Virginia follows a curriculum review process under the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA).

Seven Hours Per Week

Sources indicate that teachers spend approximately seven hours per week searching for instructional resources, much of it from online sources and not always vetted, resulting in approximately 30% of teachers nationwide using high-quality materials consistently. Providing teachers with equitable access to HQIM and professional development support is important for the education ecosystem and helps ensure students acquire the necessary skills to be successful.

Standards alignment is one of the most important uniting factors regarding HQIM. Implementing HQIM that is aligned to rigorous state standards leads to improved student outcomes.

Want to learn more about HQIM and how adoption processes vary by state?

Check out our webinar on Texas adoption requirements for a deep dive into one of the most structured review processes in the country. Or explore the latest updates in our blog article on Florida's 2025–2026 instructional materials timeline.

Contact the EdGate team to learn how we can support your organization with accurate standards alignment and crosswalk services across all 50 states.

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

sschuller — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:21:44 +0000

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

EdTech

ExACT

EdGate Services

sschuller Tue, 04/01/2025 - 11:21

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption with Advanced Technology

April 01 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

State-level K-12 curriculum adoption is a high-stakes process for EdTech companies and education publishers. If your content doesn’t align with state standards, you risk costly revisions, lost contracts, and delayed revenue. Misalignment isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a direct threat to growth. EdGate is committed to providing solutions leveraging advanced technology that reduce cost and speed solutions without compromising quality.

The Hidden Costs of Misalignment

Lost Revenue Opportunities

EdTech companies and publishers spend months and years developing curriculum, but when state’s reject content due to misalignment with state requirements, it means lost revenue and additional time spent on revisions.

Increased Operational Costs

Manual curriculum alignment is a labor-intensive process that can drain resources. Subject-matter experts, instructional designers, and compliance teams spend countless hours reviewing standards instead of innovating.

Delayed Market Entry

Education providers that struggle with alignment take longer to enter new markets. In an industry where state adoption cycles are rigid, missing deadlines can mean waiting years for the next opportunity.

How State-Level Curriculum Adoption Works

And Where It Breaks Down

View Our Infographic

The Role of Advanced Technology in Streamlining the Alignment Process

Advanced technology, like EdGate’s ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, can:

Automate alignment checks to ensure content meets state standards before submission. This includes advanced reporting like Gap Analysis that outlines alignment gaps from one state to the next.
Provide real-time insights on where content falls short, reducing revision cycles. ExACT can take that information and accurately migrate the aligned resources and map to any set of standards in our repository.
Streamline approvals by creating easy-to-navigate curriculum maps for state reviewers.
Know content is aligned, while you develop it. ExACT is the only comprehensive platform that lets your team test alignments while they create classroom content. Within ExACT, they gain access to a repository of over 5.5 million enhanced academic and CTE standards, all with added metadata for discovery, and CASE GUIDs where appropriate.

Next Steps: How to Future-Proof Your Curriculum Strategy

The key to avoiding misalignment pitfalls is leveraging the right technology. On June 12, 2025, we’re hosting a live webinar on how advanced technologies, like AI, machine learning, natural language processing, advanced text analysis and data analytics and automation can streamline curriculum adoption, boost revenue, and reduce costs.

Pre-Register Now to gain insights from industry experts and see real-world examples of alignment success.

A Client’s View on how to Access the U.S. Education Market Successfully

sschuller — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:51 +0000

A Client’s View on how to Access the U.S. Education Market Successfully

sschuller Thu, 02/20/2025 - 11:11

A Client’s View on how to Access the U.S. Education Market Successfully

February 20 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

This month the EdGate Powers Webinar Series takes on an international flair, as we welcome BOOKR Kids Will Gordon. BOOKR Kids is an EdTech concern out of Budapest, Hungary. They grew into the European market before hiring Will and building a plan to enter the U.S. marketplace. Early success overseas helped catalyze their U.S. entry, but they quickly realized they needed more than just a great product to reach their goals.

Along with Will, we also welcome Mike Campbell, President of Advancing Global EDU. Advancing Global is an educational consulting firm that prioritizes helping companies understand market trends, state and federal funding, and helping strategize innovative ways to build market share. Along with his advisory work, Mike is also in the process of launching a virtual, dual-country degree school, a project he is passionate about and will be happy to share some of the challenges he and his team have faced in getting their accreditation.

The goal of the webinar is to uncover some of the more subtle methods and efforts needed to unlock new markets, especially those overseas. As the landscape in the U.S, continues to decentralize to state-level autonomy, businesses entering from overseas need to dig deep into each State’s legislative requirements and unique standards to meet the baseline requirements. Mike and Will are excited to draw upon their experiences to provide hard won insights and how they assimilated them into their (and clients) processes. Some of the topics we will be covering include:

Identifying challenges unique to the U.S. market and how to address them
How to streamline adoption processes
The most common hurdles faced by international companies and how overcome them
Where can you turn to streamline adoption processes and how can your team get started?
And much more!

Join us February 27, 2025 at 11 AM PST, 2PM EST

There will be a Q&A; portion, so please bring your questions!

State AI Guidance Documents & Frameworks

sschuller — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:04:43 +0000

State AI Guidance Documents & Frameworks

EdTech

EdGate Services

Standard Updates

sschuller Wed, 11/20/2024 - 09:04

State AI Guidance Documents & Frameworks

November 20 2024

Author

Gina Faulk

EdGate has been watching states as they continue to publish AI Guidance and Frameworks to help school district leaders navigate AI in the K-12 classroom. The guidance encourages teachers to support AI and use it to enhance learning and their own productivity in the classroom. Several states frame their guidance with forethought as to how AI will shape future workforces.

Back in October 2023 just two states—California and Oregon—offered official guidance to school districts on using AI in schools. Fast forward one year and as of now, close to 50% of the U.S states offer AI guidance. Here’s a link to a helpful map from the AI for Education group detailing out all states that have published official AI guidance on the use of AI in K-12 schools. Note that the map is interactive and links out to summaries and full guidance for each state who has authored AI guidance.

Per the Center on Reinventing Education (CRPE), a non-partisan research and policy analysis center at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, “Guidances that have been published or that are currently in development focus on the ethical and equity implications of AI’s use, recommendations for teachers’ and students’ appropriate use of AI, and emerging best practices to enhance instruction…The guidance also explores the potential for AI to improve systemic inequities.”

The U.S. Department of Education released AI guidance for EdTech vendors in July 2024. A full PDF called Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers “seeks to inform product leads and their teams of innovators, designers, developers, customer-facing staff, and legal teams as they work toward safety, security, and trust while creating AI products and services for use in education.”

Coming at this from the standards angle, the team at EdGate has evaluated the guidance documents to determine if they are set up like standards. That is, can content be aligned to the guidance documents, like standards? Are there learning outcomes that content could align to? The distinction we’ve found is that the guidance documents are set up as “frameworks”, as opposed to “standards.” The frameworks are aimed at educators for guidance in how to approach AI in the classroom.

That said, we expect that AI will be referenced within a wide array of subject area standards in the years to come. When looking at the Washington State AI classroom guidance documents it’s indicated that AI will play a starring role in the subjects of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and computer science. Additionally, AI will also be integrated into ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies, Climate and Environmental Science, Physics and Engineering, Special Education, ELL, and World Languages.

The California AI guidance documents support this hypothesis. Within the California guidance documents, it is noted that “Incorporating AI skills and computer science standards into K-12 education can equip students with the knowledge and abilities necessary to navigate and contribute to an increasingly AI-powered world.”

Watch EdGate’s standards update page for more info on standards added to our library: https://www.edgate.com/resources/updated-standards