The Urgent Need to Redefine K-12 Curriculum

sschuller — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:26:16 +0000

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sschuller Tue, 03/10/2026 - 13:26

Executive Director of Data Science for Everyone, Zarek Drozda, on the Urgent Need to Redefine K-12 Curriculum

March 10 2026

Author

Rich Portelance

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and massive data flows, the skills students need are evolving faster than most school systems can adapt.

In a recent EdGate Powers podcast conversation, Zarek Drozda, Executive Director of Data Science for Everyone (DS4E)—a national initiative at the University of Chicago—spoke with host Rich Portelance and outlined a growing gap between what students learn in school and the capabilities they will need in a data-driven economy.

Closing that gap will require more than incremental change. It will require rethinking how curriculum is structured, how standards evolve, and how data literacy is embedded across the K-12 experience.

The Emerging Skills Gap: Data, Technical, and Critical Thinking

Drozda highlighted two major areas where K-12 instruction is falling behind.

Data Technical Skills

Many students graduate without basic proficiency in working with data. Essential capabilities—such as manipulating data tables, creating visualizations, transforming datasets, and analyzing digital information—are rarely taught systematically.

Yet these skills are becoming foundational across nearly every profession as AI tools and data systems become embedded in daily work.

A More Precise Definition of Critical Thinking

Drozda argues that critical thinking must move beyond vague definitions to include data literacy and statistical reasoning.

Students should be able to:

Distinguish correlation from causation
Identify bias within datasets
Recognize misleading anecdotes versus broader statistical trends

In an era when AI tools can generate convincing outputs instantly, these analytical habits become an essential safeguard.

The Historical Barrier: The “Race to Calculus”

Why has data science remained peripheral in the curriculum?

Drozda points to a structural legacy often called the “race to calculus.”

During the Cold War and the space race, U.S. math education prioritized a pipeline of students progressing through Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and ultimately Calculus. The goal was to cultivate elite scientists and engineers.

While successful in that mission, the model unintentionally pushed aside other forms of quantitative literacy—particularly statistics and data analysis.

The result is a curriculum that often overlooks how data actually functions in modern life—from recommendation algorithms and economic forecasting to autonomous vehicles and AI systems.

Data as the “Glue” for Interdisciplinary Learning

Rather than treating data science as a standalone elective, Drozda suggests something more transformative: using data as the connective tissue across disciplines.

This creates opportunities for interdisciplinary learning:

Math students applying statistical models to environmental questions in biology
History students analyzing economic datasets to explore historical trends
Social science classes examining demographic or civic data

Using tools like spreadsheets or Python, students can engage in project-based learning grounded in real-world data.

Educators often find this approach sparks engagement—even among students who previously felt disconnected from traditional math instruction.

The Structural Challenge: Pace of Change

Even when educators recognize the need for change, the system itself moves slowly.

State academic standards typically update every five to twelve years, while new technologies—particularly AI tools—evolve every few months.

This mismatch creates real challenges for:

curriculum publishers
education leaders
state review boards
district curriculum teams

Drozda also notes that many instructional review processes remain fragmented and manual, making it difficult to evaluate modern digital curricula that integrate live data, connectivity, and evolving technologies.

A Window for Transformation

Despite these challenges, Drozda sees a rare opportunity.

The disruption caused by the pandemic, combined with the rapid emergence of AI, has opened what he calls a “profound window of change.”

With thoughtful policy, modern curriculum design, and stronger alignment between standards and emerging skills, education systems can build a more equitable pathway for students to become confident users—and critical evaluators—of data and AI.

That transformation will require collaboration across educators, policymakers, publishers, and technology providers.

But the payoff is clear: a generation of students better prepared for the realities of a data-driven world.

To learn more about the initiative, visit Data Science for Everyone and explore their resources for integrating data science into K-12 education.

What the Science of Reading Means for State Standards Today

sschuller — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:00:22 +0000

What the Science of Reading Means for State Standards Today

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sschuller Wed, 02/18/2026 - 14:00

Understanding the Science of Reading and What It Means for State Standards Today

February 18 2026

Author

Sharla Schuller

Reading instruction is changing across the United States. For decades, educators have debated the best way to teach kids how to read. Now, this research is coming together under what’s called the Science of Reading (SoR) — a research-based understanding of how students learn to read and what instruction actually works.

At its core, the Science of Reading isn’t a curriculum or a single teaching method. It’s a body of observed research that explains how the brain learns to read and what skills are essential for reading success. It pulls together evidence from fields like neuroscience, psychology, and education to identify what really makes a difference when teaching reading.

To help educators and publishers understand these ideas in practical terms, the research often breaks reading into a set of core components that instructional materials should address:

Phonemic Awareness — the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words.
Phonics — how letters and letter patterns relate to spoken sounds, and how this helps students decode written text.
Fluency — the ability to read accurately, at speed, and with expression.
Vocabulary — knowing the meaning of words and understanding them in context.
Comprehension — the ability to make meaning from text by connecting decoding, vocabulary, and background knowledge.

Experts also use models like the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope to show how these skills work together to develop proficient readers.

Why This Matters for States and Instructional Materials

Because the Science of Reading is backed by decades of research, many states are now updating their literacy standards and instructional expectations to match what the evidence says works best in classrooms. More than 40 states have adopted full or partial Science of Reading mandates in K–12 literacy standards, while a few are still pending action or have no formal mandates yet.

These mandates aren’t policy language, instead they shape how districts purchase, adopt, and approve instructional materials. Some states are also banning practices that run counter to research-backed instruction, like three-cueing methods, meaning materials that lean on balanced literacy approaches may face rejection in procurement reviews.

Below is a table that shows states by mandate status on Science of Reading:

Mandate Status	States
Full Mandate	AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, LA, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI
Partial Mandate	AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, UT, VI, VT, WA
Pending	ID, KY, MO
No Action	AK, WY

This snapshot gives a quick look at where state policies currently stand, but it’s worth remembering that these policies continue to evolve.

How EdGate Helps You Stay Ahead

With standards and expectations shifting quickly, publishers and curriculum developers need a reliable way to ensure their content meets state requirements. EdGate is here to ensure your alignments meet the needs of each state you are working with.

State‑Specific Alignment
EdGate maps your instructional content to the specific standards and mandates in each state. This makes it easier to see at a glance where your materials meet expectations and where updates might be needed.
Science of Reading Considerations
Because many states now reference Science of Reading principles in their standards, EdGate helps you align to those skills, like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to avoid practices that no longer align with state guidance.
Future‑Proofing Content
When states update mandates or add new requirements, EdGate’s tools make it easier to track changes and adjust your metadata or instructional design accordingly.

For publishers navigating the shift toward research‑backed reading standards, EdGate takes the guesswork out of alignment. You get visibility into standards requirements across states, so you can feel confident your content will stand up in market reviews and adoption processes.

New Microsoft EDU Innovations Highlight Standards Integration with EdGate

sschuller — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:15:48 +0000

New Microsoft EDU Innovations Highlight Standards Integration with EdGate

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sschuller Wed, 02/18/2026 - 13:15

New Microsoft EDU Innovations Highlight Standards Integration with EdGate

June 30 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

Microsoft’s June 2025 EDU update brought a lot of exciting announcements around AI and education tools, and there’s a piece of news that directly connects to the work we’re doing here at EdGate. This month’s update, shared ahead of ISTELive 25, covered advances in Microsoft 365 Copilot for educators and students, new learning experiences like interactive activities, and deeper integration in learning management systems.

One of the biggest developments was the expansion of standards-aligned content support. Microsoft announced they’re partnering with EdGate to bring learning standards from more than 36 countries into core Microsoft education tools, including Teams and Microsoft 365. This means teachers can choose standards by location, subject, and language right inside AI-powered workflows when creating lesson plans and rubrics.

From our perspective, this is a strong example of how standards matter beyond traditional curriculum management. When tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot can intelligently reference and align to globally recognized standards, educators get more relevant and pedagogically sound content faster. That’s exactly the kind of use case EdGate’s standards set was built for.

Alongside standards work, Microsoft also shared updates in a few other areas worth noting:

Copilot Chat for students ages thirteen and up will be available later this summer, offering secure AI support.
New educator features are coming to the Copilot app and Teams Classwork, including lesson plan generation and AI-assisted feedback tools.
Learner tools like study guides and flashcards are rolling out that can help personalize the student experience.
Learning Accelerator improvements such as side-by-side reading questions and expanded language support.

Taken together, these updates show how AI is being stitched into everyday classroom workflows and why robust standards data will be central to making it meaningful.

We are excited to see how this integration lets educators focus on teaching and learning while leaning on reliable, standards-aligned content behind the scenes. Stay tuned here for more insights on standards in edtech and how EdGate continues to help power meaningful educational outcomes.

Webinar Recap: Paradigm Shift

sschuller — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:48:21 +0000

Webinar Recap: Paradigm Shift

sschuller Wed, 02/04/2026 - 15:48

Webinar Recap: Paradigm Shift — States Redefining Standards & the Skills of the Future

February 04 2026

Author

Rich Portelance

EdGate closed out Q4 with a record‑breaking webinar that brought together state leaders, policy experts, and education innovators to explore a critical question facing the industry:

How are states redefining standards—and what does that mean for the skills students need for the future?

Moderated by Richard Portelance, the session highlighted the growing shift from static standards and surface‑level alignment toward future‑ready, skills‑driven frameworks that better reflect workforce, postsecondary, and real‑world demands.

A Clear Paradigm Shift in Standards and Skills

Across states, standards are no longer viewed as fixed documents updated once every decade. Panelists emphasized that today’s standards are:

Evolving more frequently to reflect workforce and economic realities
Increasingly focused on transferable skills, not just academic content
Expected to connect instruction to real‑world application

This shift is creating new pressures for states, publishers, and EdTech providers alike—particularly when instructional materials, data systems, and alignment processes were built for a slower pace of change.

Panel Insights: Perspectives from Policy, Practice, and Technology

State‑Level Realities

From a state perspective, Keven Ellis (Texas State Board of Education) shared how standards, accountability, and instructional expectations must balance rigor with flexibility. As standards expand to include skills such as problem solving, data literacy, and digital readiness, states need clearer visibility into how instructional materials truly support those outcomes.

Policy and Market Alignment

Hillary Rinaldi (Whiteboard Advisors) highlighted how shifts in standards ripple through adoption cycles, procurement decisions, and product strategy. She emphasized that alignment is no longer just a compliance exercise—it has become a strategic differentiator for publishers and solution providers navigating competitive and rapidly changing markets.

Instructional Practice and Student Readiness

Lisa O'Masta (Learning.com) underscored how skills such as digital literacy, AI awareness, and career readiness increasingly intersect with academic standards. Her perspective reinforced that future‑ready alignment must account for how skills are taught, practiced, and assessed in real classrooms—not just how they appear on paper.

The Role of Data and Metadata in Future‑Ready Alignment

A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the importance of structured data and clean metadata. As standards grow more complex, organizations can no longer rely on manual or static alignment processes.

Panelists discussed the need for:

Machine‑readable standards data
Alignment systems that can adapt as standards change
Greater transparency into how content supports specific skills and outcomes

Without these foundations, even high‑quality instructional materials risk becoming misaligned as expectations evolve.

What This Means for Education Providers

The webinar made one point clear: future‑ready alignment is no longer optional.

Publishers, EdTech providers, and curriculum teams must be prepared to:

Move beyond simple correlations to capture intent and skill development
Support state and district decision‑making with clear, trustworthy alignment data
Future‑proof their content and platforms against ongoing standards change

If you’d like to revisit the full discussion, you can watch the complete webinar recording.

Watch Now

Looking Ahead

Building on the momentum of this discussion, EdGate announced its next webinar focused on future‑proofing curriculum through future‑ready alignments, including the role of automation, structured data, and scalable alignment systems.

As states continue redefining what students need to know and be able to do, one thing is certain: alignment must evolve just as quickly as standards themselves.

Please join us on March 25th as we evolve the conversation further.

Thank you to our panelists and attendees for making this our most well‑attended webinar yet. Stay tuned for upcoming conversations on how education organizations can stay aligned, agile, and future‑ready.

EdGate’s BETT 2025 Recap

sschuller — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:24:48 +0000

EdGate’s BETT 2025 Recap

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sschuller Wed, 02/04/2026 - 10:24

EdGate’s BETT 2025 Recap

February 04 2026

Author

Gina Faulk

No, this is not a rock concert

Walking into the BETT arena, you had to pause and wonder whether you were about to witness the grand entrance of a storied musician—or maybe a Hollywood superstar. But no. It was something even better. Hundreds of educators, EdTech companies, publishers, and just as many parents (like me) still trying to wrap their heads around “new math” were buzzing with excitement for Sal Khan—speaking in person.

That’s the magic of BETT.

The everyday work of educators and EdTech professionals is elevated into something genuinely exciting, inspiring, and forward-looking. Sal Khan was one of many standout speakers at the BETT 2026 conference in London, held January 21–23. During his session, attendees learned about Khan Academy’s new AI writing coach, powered by Google’s Gemini, which provides real-time feedback to help improve literacy skills.

Over at the Microsoft booth, crowds of educators and EdTech leaders gathered as Mike Tholfsen unveiled a wide range of Microsoft EDU updates. One announcement was particularly close to EdGate’s heart: the ability for Microsoft EDU users to align instructional materials to standards. EdGate is thrilled to be supplying Microsoft with thousands of education standards from 50 countries—with even more on the way. Using EdGate-supplied standards, Microsoft EDU users can leverage the Align to Standards tool to rewrite lesson instructions so they reflect the intent of a selected standard, focusing on what learners should understand or be able to do, without copying the standard’s wording.

At the Kahoot! stand, it quickly became clear that it’s not just the adorable capes driving teacher and student enthusiasm. Kahoot! announced the addition of U.S. curriculum standards—also powered by EdGate. These include standards for all 50 states, Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and ISTE standards across Math, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. Educators with a Kahoot EDU! school or district license can now assign relevant standards directly to their kahoots.

Seesaw Learning’s booth was equally buzzy, with educators from around the world sharing how they support inclusive education through adaptive teaching and multimodal tools. And of course, educators can align learning using Seesaw’s standards and curriculum alignment tools, supported by EdGate.

Finally, one of the most valuable aspects of BETT is the strong presence of Ministries of Education from around the globe. This year, we met with standards experts from Qatar, the UAE, Italy, France, India, Hungary, Korea, Spain, Ukraine, and Lebanon. Access to up-to-date international learning standards is critical for our clients, and BETT offers something no web search can replicate: direct conversations with the experts shaping those standards.

Until next year, BETT!

Digital Literacy, AI Readiness, and the New Portrait of a Graduate

sschuller — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:05:34 +0000

Digital Literacy, AI Readiness, and the New Portrait of a Graduate

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Digital Literacy, AI Readiness, and the New Portrait of a Graduate: A Conversation with Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com

November 18 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

In the latest episode of the EdGate Powers Education podcast, host Rich Portelance sat down with Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com, to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of digital and AI literacy—and how states, districts, and edtech companies are working to prepare students for a world that changes faster than policies can keep up.

A 25-Year Mission Aligned With Today’s Urgency

Learning.com has been focused on digital literacy for more than two decades, long before it became a national priority. Today, AI literacy falls naturally within that mission. As O’Masta noted, the company must think about AI holistically—its impact on internal operations, product development, teaching practices, and student learning.

This integrated view has placed Learning.com at the center of a broader national conversation about what it means to be “future ready.”

Connecting Digital Literacy to the Portrait of a Graduate

Across the country, states are redefining the skills students need to thrive after graduation. The “portrait of a graduate” movement emphasizes durable, human-centered skills: critical thinking, ethical decision-making, adaptability, and digital citizenship.

According to O’Masta, these outcomes map directly to the work Learning.com has championed for 25+ years. Digital literacy is no longer a siloed course—it’s the “connected tissue” bridging core academics and CTE, enabling students to see real-world career applications from kindergarten onward.

Redefining Future-Ready Skills

Being “future ready” is no longer about mastering tools. It’s about mindset:

digital discernment
adaptability
safe and ethical online behavior
continuous learning

Students must understand how technology influences the world around them—and how their own actions online shape their personal and professional futures.

Supporting Durable Skills Through EdTech

O’Masta emphasized that edtech companies have a responsibility to lead with integrity and research-based design. Learning.com focuses on solutions that reduce complexity for teachers, connect digital competencies to workforce needs, and expand career awareness starting in early grades.

Standards alignment remains a challenge, especially in CTE pathways where state requirements differ widely. O’Masta highlighted EdGate’s role in helping Learning.com rapidly map to evolving state frameworks, including Texas’s TEA initiatives and new digital/AI literacy competencies.

Compliance as the Floor—Not the Ceiling

Innovation and compliance often clash. O’Masta described Learning.com’s philosophy:
meet standards fully, but innovate far beyond them.
Interactive and scenario-based lessons allow students to practice digital discernment, troubleshoot real-life problems, and understand the implications of their choices online.

Integrating AI Literacy into Everyday Learning

AI can’t be something students learn about—it must be something they learn through.
One example: a sixth-grade lesson where students analyze a TikTok license agreement using AI tools. By seeing how their data is used, students gain a new level of awareness and responsibility.

“If students know better, they do better,” O’Masta explained.

Measuring Growth in Future-Ready Skills

Traditional assessments can’t capture changes in judgment, online behavior, or digital citizenship. Learning.com is exploring:

sentiment scoring
scenario-based assessments
tracking cyberbullying trends
reductions in technology monitoring
improvements in campus culture

These signals can reflect growth in ways test scores cannot.

Collaboration and Public-Private Partnerships

No state can achieve AI readiness alone. O’Masta highlighted North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas as examples of states building strong partnerships to operationalize big goals like career-connected learning and digital citizenship.

The next wave of innovation, she believes, will come from companies and states working together toward common definitions and frameworks—not competing in silos.

Equity and the Digital Divide

O’Masta underscored that digital literacy is a foundational right, especially for rural, high-need, and remote districts. Ensuring all students have access to high-quality digital instruction is essential for reducing inequities.

Human-Centered Skills in an AI-Driven World

Despite rapid AI evolution, O’Masta believes that education must remain deeply human. Students need to know not only how to use technology, but when to put it away. Future curriculum must be adaptive, experiential, ethical, and grounded in empathy.

Advice for Leaders: Don’t Wait

O’Masta’s closing message to education leaders was simple:
Don’t wait for perfect policies or complete plans. Start building foundational AI awareness and digital literacy now.

Her vision: a future where students graduate confident, compassionate, digitally fluent, and thoughtful about how they engage with the world—online and offline

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

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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.

Teaching AI Literacy Starts With Clear Standards

sschuller — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:22:10 +0000

Teaching AI Literacy Starts With Clear Standards

sschuller Thu, 10/16/2025 - 15:22

Teaching AI Literacy Starts With Clear Standards

October 16 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

Artificial intelligence is showing up more often in classrooms, not just as a learning tool but as something students are expected to understand. The U.S. Department of Education recently released guidance encouraging schools to teach AI literacy and the ethical use of technology. That’s an exciting direction for education, but it also raises a challenge. How do schools know what to teach, and how can they measure whether students are truly learning it?

AI literacy isn’t a single subject. It blends computer science, digital citizenship, ethics, and media literacy. It’s about understanding how technology works and how to use it responsibly. For educators, that means connecting these new ideas to existing standards and lessons in a way that makes sense across grade levels and subjects.

Where EdGate Plays an Important Role

Our team focuses on the academic standards that define what students learn and how learning is measured. As new standards emerge around computer science, digital ethics, and responsible technology use, EdGate helps education companies and curriculum developers understand how those expectations fit within the broader learning framework. By maintaining and mapping standards across states, we make it easier to see where AI literacy connects naturally to what’s already being taught.

For example:

A media literacy lesson can be crosswalked to emerging AI ethics standards that focus on bias and misinformation.
Career and technical education pathways can include AI competencies that align with workforce-readiness expectations.
Computer science frameworks can be connected to broader digital citizenship standards to help students understand responsible AI use.

This kind of structure is what ensures that AI education isn’t fragmented or inconsistent. It gives teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers a shared foundation to build on, one that keeps learning objectives clear and connected.

The Department of Education’s guidance highlights a national priority for helping students think critically about technology, question bias, and understand their role in an increasingly digital world. EdGate’s mission supports that goal by keeping standards organized, accessible, and connected, so schools and content providers can focus on what matters most: preparing students for the future responsibly.

AI literacy isn’t just about coding or machine learning. It’s about understanding how technology shapes society and how humans remain accountable for its use. That’s why clear standards and the ability to align to them matter more than ever.

EdGate helps make that clarity possible.

For more details on how EdGate supports AI and emerging technology standards, contact your EdGate sales representative or reach out to our team.

Navigating Perkins V Changes

sschuller — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:39:26 +0000

Navigating Perkins V Changes

Standard Updates

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sschuller Tue, 10/14/2025 - 15:39

Navigating Perkins V Changes: What Content Providers and Educators Should Know

October 14 2025

Author

Naomi Morton

Each year under the Perkins statute, Congress appropriates $1.4 billion in state formula grant funds under Title I to help students strengthen their academic knowledge, technical skills, and employability through career and technical education (CTE) programs. To receive this funding, each state agency must prepare and submit a Perkins State Plan and, in subsequent years, revisions to that plan for approval by the Secretary of Education.

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released two new information collections requiring state and local CTE providers to revise their Perkins V State Plans outside of the traditional five-year process and meet additional reporting requirements as part of their Consolidated Annual Reports. The CTE community raised concerns about the short turnaround and added administrative burden, and by February 2025, the Department reversed the additional regulatory reporting guidelines.

Even with that reversal, the pressure to demonstrate measurable results under Perkins V remains high. Perkins recipients must show that their Career Connections programs produce strong outcomes, including:

Deep knowledge in a particular career field
Opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized and safety credentials
Work-based learning experiences tied to real-world career paths

Programs must also ensure equal access to enrollment and meet 11 required criteria such as providing technical skill proficiency, creating secondary-to-postsecondary linkages, meeting performance targets for core indicators, and aligning to current labor market demand.

How States Are Allocating Perkins Funds

Funding allocations continue to vary widely across the country.

New York: In 2025, New York schools allocated $2,855,506 to 674 schools.
California: California allocated $51,802,686 to unified and union high school districts, $2,818,330 for adult schools and Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs), $1,229,931 to six ROCP consortia, and $475,000 to three state institutions, including Corrections and State Special Schools.
Iowa: Iowa voted to approve its 2025-2029 Perkins V plan which reduces the ratio of allocations to community colleges and K-12 school districts from 53.5% to 46.5%. Allocations are a 60-40 split with K-12 receiving the larger portion.

However, change is on the horizon. The FY26 federal budget proposes a reduction in CTE and Adult Education funding from $2.18 billion to $1.45 billion and emphasizes greater state and local control while consolidating or eliminating over 50 federal education programs.

According to David Taylor, Ed.D. from Framework Consulting, this shift signals that district leaders will need to prepare for increased autonomy and rely on data-driven planning to prioritize interventions. For education technology firms, he adds, this means “pivoting from compliance-driven sales to value-based partnerships.”

What This Means for EdGate Clients

As states begin revising Perkins V plans ahead of the next funding cycle, new or adjusted CTE standards are likely to emerge sooner than expected. Publishers and content developers will need to realign materials quickly to ensure their programs remain relevant and compliant with state goals.

EdGate supports this work by helping content creators and CTE providers:

Map curriculum to updated CTE and workforce standards
Crosswalk existing alignments to meet new state plan requirements
Tag content to industry-recognized credentials and labor market data
Provide clear evidence of alignment for reporting and performance monitoring

With funding and reporting expectations changing, maintaining accurate and adaptable standards alignment is key.

Contact EdGate learn more about how we can help you stay ahead of CTE and Perkins V updates.

Insights on Managing Adoptions and Winning Contracts

sschuller — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:23:36 +0000

Insights on Managing Adoptions and Winning Contracts

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sschuller Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:23

Insights from Education Leaders on Managing Adoptions and Winning Contracts

October 14 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

Over the past quarter, EdGate brought together a powerful group of education leaders to unpack one of the most pressing challenges facing both states and vendors today: how to manage curriculum adoptions and secure contracts amid uncertainty and change.

Our Thriving Amid Uncertainty series featured voices from across the K–12 ecosystem — state technology leaders, district administrators, and EdTech advocates — all sharing how shifts in funding, standards, and innovation are reshaping the education landscape.

Ji Soo Song
SETDA

1. The State Perspective: Ji Soo Song on Leadership and Fracturing

In our first podcast, Ji Soo Song of SETDA offered a national view on how leadership is shifting from federal to state levels. He described the growing “fracturing” among states — some building robust edtech leadership programs, others scaling back — and what this means for vendors.

“We’re seeing a new kind of leadership at the state level,” Ji Soo noted. “It’s no longer about one-size-fits-all policy. States are experimenting — and that means vendors must adapt to 50 different ecosystems.”

Ji Soo also underscored the importance of return on relationships: that successful vendors are investing in long-term partnerships through networks like CoSN, CCSSO, and the EdTech Quality Collaborative.

Jill Pierce
Tennessee Educational Technology Association (TETA)

2. The District View: Jill Pierce on Needs, Fidelity, and Strategic Alignment

Jill Pierce, Technology Director for Putnam County Schools, reminded vendors that success begins with understanding district needs — not just showcasing products.

“Don’t show up with a solution looking for a problem,” she said. “Districts need partners who align with their strategic plans and can demonstrate long-term fidelity.”

Jill also discussed the growing importance of data privacy, interoperability, and cybersecurity — noting that these are now non-negotiable elements of every district’s procurement checklist.

Mindy Fiscus
Learning Technology Center of Illinois

3. The Statewide Lens: Mindy Fiscus on Free Choice, AI, and Cybersecurity

From Illinois’ perspective, Mindy Fiscus emphasized how decentralized procurement in “free choice” states creates both opportunities and challenges for vendors.

“In Illinois, districts have autonomy — which means vendors need to build relationships district by district,” Mindy said. “That’s not a barrier; it’s an opportunity for deeper engagement.”

She also drew parallels between AI today and calculators in the 1990s — tools that can’t be banned but must be used responsibly. Her call to action: for vendors to “use their words” and participate in advocacy to shape policy around AI, cybersecurity, and digital equity.

4. The Capstone: Webinar Takeaways

Our live webinar brought these threads together under one unifying message: to thrive in uncertainty, vendors must deeply understand how states and districts are redefining what success looks like.

Panelists agreed that:

Funding flexibility at the state level is creating a new wave of innovation — but also new complexity.
Strategic alignment and interoperability will determine which solutions endure.
AI and digital safety policies will heavily influence future procurement decisions.

As Jill Pierce summarized during the webinar:

“It’s not enough to be innovative; you have to be aligned. The winners will be those who fit into the district’s ecosystem and prove they can grow with it.”

Looking Ahead: The Paradigm Shift Continues

The insights from Thriving Amid Uncertainty set the stage for EdGate’s upcoming Q4 campaign, “Paradigm Shift: States Redefining Standards and Funding.”
This next phase will explore how states are taking the lead in defining standards, funding programs, and setting priorities for innovation in K–12 learning.

Stay tuned for new podcasts, a December 17th webinar, and a deep dive into how these evolving strategies are shaping the future of education.