DRIVING K-12 INNOVATION 2025 HURDLES • ACCELERATORS • TECH ENABLERS

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ABOUT CoSN -

THE CONSORTIUM FOR SCHOOL NETWORKING

CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 2050 school districts reaching over 11 million students. Our state presence is expanding with 33 CoSN Chapters in 34 states who function at the grassroots level to further effect change and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education.

FOREWORD

The Driving K-12 Innovation Report represents the culmination of months of collaboration, discussion, and critical thinking by our global Advisory Board of educators, technologists, changemakers, and industry partners. It serves as a powerful tool to guide K-12 education leaders as they navigate an ever-changing landscape, providing a framework grounded in real-world challenges, transformative trends, and innovative solutions.

What makes this report invaluable is its approach. Instead of focusing solely on technology as a starting point, it emphasizes the “why” — the Hurdles — before exploring the Accelerators that can drive progress and the Tech Enablers that help make innovation a reality. This structure encourages leaders to think holistically about the obstacles their schools face and to envision solutions that align with their unique needs and contexts.

The Driving K-12 Innovation Report isn’t a blueprint for one-size-fits-all answers; it’s a catalyst for meaningful dialogue. Whether you agree with the findings or see opportunities for further exploration, the report invites K-12 leaders to engage in conversations about their vision for the future of learning. Our hope is that this report will inspire you to reflect, collaborate, and take bold steps toward creating an environment where every student and educator can thrive.

Keith Krueger

Chief Executive Officer CoSN - The Consortium for School Networking Washington DC, United States

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CONTENTS

2025 TOP 3 HURDLES ...................................................................................................................... 6
2025 TOP ACCELERATORS .............................................................................................................7
2025 TOP TECH ENABLERS ........................................................................................................... 8
BRIDGES (THEMES) ......................................................................................................................... 9
Ethical Innovation ...........................................................................................................................................9
Personalization ................................................................................................................................................9
The Future of Work .........................................................................................................................................9
Critical Media Literacy ...................................................................................................................................9
In Context ...........................................................................................................................................10
Exploring the 2025 Hurdles ............................................................................................................................. ..........................................................................................................................................................................13
Exploring the 2025 Accelerators .................................................................................................................14
Exploring the 2025 Tech Enablers...............................................................................................................15
HURDLES
Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals ...........................................................................16
Evolution of Teaching & Learning ............................................................................................................... 18
Digital Equity ..................................................................................................................................................21
ACCELERATORS
Learner Agency ............................................................................................................................................23
Building the Human Capacity of Leaders .................................................................................................25
Changing Attitudes Toward Demonstrating Learning ............................................................................27
TECH ENABLERS
Generative Artificial Intelligence ................................................................................................................29
Analytics & Adaptive Technologies ............................................................................................................32
Untethered Broadband & Connectivity .................................................................................................... 34
Actionable Insights: Advice to Do More with Less .................................................................36
TAKING A HOLISTIC VIEW ...........................................................................................................38
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................38

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INTRODUCTION

CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation initiative proudly convenes an international Advisory Board of approximately 130+ education and technology experts to select the most important Hurdles (challenges), Accelerators (mega-trends), and Tech Enablers (tools) Driving K-12 Innovation for the year ahead.

The Advisory Board engages in discussion via CoSN’s online forum, synchronous virtual calls via Zoom, and also participates in two surveys to select the top themes in each category that are transforming teaching and learning. This year, the Advisory Board’s work took place over approximately 10 weeks.

METHODOLOGY

STEP 1: INITIAL SURVEY

The Advisory Board completed an initial survey to select the most relevant topics for subsequent discussion. This survey narrowed down the original list of Hurdles from 40 to 12, Accelerators from 27 to 14, and Tech Enablers from 28 to 14.

STEP 2: DISCUSSION

Six weeks of fruitful virtual conversation followed the initial survey. Each week, the Advisory Board responded to prompts and engaged in conversation focused on one of the lenses of the initiative (Hurdles, Accelerators, and Tech Enablers). Discussion opportunities were offered via an online forum and a synchronous Zoom call for each lens.

STEP 3: FINAL SURVEY

Finally, the Advisory Board completed a final survey to vote on the top Hurdles, Accelerators, and Tech Enablers that are impacting their work right now. Of the many important topics considered, nine rose to the top as key considerations for driving innovation in K-12 education in 2025. The final survey also helped describe the nature of each topic — the surmountability of Hurdles, the intensity of Accelerators, and the timeliness of Tech Enablers.

STATE OF THE WORLD (Context)
HURDLES ACCELERATORS TECH ENABLERS
(Barriers) (Mega-trends) (Tools)
Attracting & Retaining Generative Artificial
1 Educators and IT Professionals 1 Learner Agency 1 Intelligence (Gen AI)
Building the Human Capacity of Analytics & Adaptive
2 Evolution of Teaching & Learning 2 2
Leaders Technologies
Changing Attitudes Toward Untethered Broadband &
3 Digital Equity 3 3
Demonstrating Learning Connectivity
BRIDGES (Themes)
Ethical Innovation; Personalization; The Future of Work; Critical Media Literacy

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2025 TOP 3 HURDLES

Roadblocks that force schools to slow down, prepare themselves, and make a leap.

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ATTRACTING & RETAINING EDUCATORS AND IT PROFESSIONALS

Hiring and keeping school staff is a significant problem for school systems; many educators are experiencing low financial compensation and social and emotional burnout, causing them to set aside their passion for teaching and leave the field. Educators also face a lack of trust and respect by society and systems — trust that teachers are capable and care about students’ social, emotional, and academic outcomes.

For IT Professionals, there are the added stressors of low financial compensation compared with private companies that are able to offer higher salaries, flexible work schedules, remote work options, and more time off.

EVOLUTION OF TEACHING & LEARNING

The Evolution of Teaching and Learning is driven by the need to prepare students for a dynamic and interconnected world. As society and technology continue to evolve, education must also adapt to ensure relevance and effectiveness. This shift is not just about integrating new tools but about fundamentally rethinking how education serves today’s learners. Schools must embrace flexibility, nurture collaboration, and integrate meaningful innovations rooted in the learning sciences to create environments where students are active participants and teachers are facilitators.

Professional development is essential to this transformation, equipping educators with the skills to adopt new pedagogies and leverage advances in technology effectively. The moment to embrace these changes is now, as they present an unparalleled opportunity to revolutionize education and prepare students for the future.

DIGITAL EQUITY

Digital Equity includes three, interrelated components: digital foundations (including digital literacy), conditions for learning, and meaningful learning opportunities. This nuanced Hurdle encompasses more than just equitable access to quality digital technologies, such as high-speed internet and powerful computing devices, both inside and outside of school. It also includes ensuring that:

• students have the knowledge and skills to use technology in the service of learning,

• they interact with robust and accessible content and programs,

• students and their identities are represented with and by the technologies themselves, and

• they experience meaningful opportunities that empower them as learners.

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2025 TOP 3 ACCELERATORS

Real-world megatrends or catalysts that help motivate and increase the speed of innovation.

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LEARNER AGENCY

Learner Agency is all about students as active choice-makers in their education; it’s about reconceptualizing their role from that of “student” to that of “learner.” Combined with a strong learning environment, students with agency could transform from order-takers to innovators, experience a state of "flow,” in their learning experiences, and learn far more authentically.

In order for schools to facilitate Learner Agency, they must also encourage educator agency. Learner Agency is essential for lifelong learning and requires a different approach to school structure and practices. Truly embracing Learner Agency requires transforming education systems. This Accelerator is deeply intertwined with Personalization.

BUILDING THE HUMAN CAPACITY OF LEADERS

Strengthening the professional community of schools and providing opportunities for educators and all K-12 professionals to learn and master new skills

can open the door to innovative practices that can enhance student experiences. When schools invest in their staff by providing opportunities to gain and improve upon skills, by facilitating agency in their work, and by supporting freedom to make mistakes without fear, they create an environment that innovative people will want to be a part of.

CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD DEMONSTRATING LEARNING

There is a rising groundswell of discussion around assessing, documenting, communicating, and assigning value to student learning. Memorization, cultural biases, limited real-world applications – these are just some of the reasons why traditional testing may not be an effective means of assessment and may not accurately reflect a student's true understanding of a subject.

This complex issue also involves discussion about relating student learning to higher education, vocational training, and career pathways. On one hand, there's movement toward greater emphasis on learner agency, personalization, and lifelong learning; on the other hand, there are ongoing debates about the role of traditional educational institutions, the value of their experiences, and the challenges of aligning education with evolving career pathways. As a result, student trajectories through and beyond K-12 systems are shaped by both innovation and the pull of long standing educational norms.

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2025 TOP 3 TECH ENABLERS

The tools that grease the wheels for schools to surmount Hurdles and leverage Accelerators.

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GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GEN AI)

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) has emerged as a transformative force in education. As school systems worldwide explore the benefits and challenges of this technology, they are working hard to meet the urgent need for safe, effective, and responsible use of Gen AI. As with seismic technological shifts before it, like the Internet, educators have a responsibility to model and communicate how Gen AI is an enormous opportunity that comes with potential risks.

ANALYTICS & ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

These are digital technologies – often powered by AI – that collect and use data related to teaching and learning. Analytics refers to the process of analyzing data collected about student learning and the opportunity to leverage data to inform instructional decision making. Adaptive technologies are tools that adapt to the student based on their interactions with the technology. These adaptations could be in the form of suggesting next steps, providing remediation, controlling pacing, or providing feedback based on analysis of the student's performance.

UNTETHERED BROADBAND & CONNECTIVITY

Ubiquitous broadband Internet and the underlying technologies that enable robust connected learning — without requiring devices to be physically connected (via cables, for example). These technologies enable mobility and learning anytime, anywhere..

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BRIDGES (THEMES)

The 2025 key bridges — themes connecting today’s education challenges with tomorrow’s opportunity – include Ethical Innovation, Personalization, the Future of Work, and Critical Media Literacy.

• Ethical Innovation centers on the “why” of change, aligning efforts with educational goals like fostering growth, equity, and responsible digital citizenship. It emphasizes the importance of responsible design and implementation of new technologies, safeguarding student privacy and promoting equitable access and benefit. When it comes to emerging technologies, ethical innovation ensures that advancements prioritize equity and the well-being and success of students, educators, and communities. Innovation and change are neither inherently “good” nor “bad”; the value lies in the purpose and impact. Ethical innovation requires an inclusive design approach including educators, students, and parents in key decision-making processes. This ensures transparency and responsiveness to real needs. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of teacher training to navigate the ethical implications of technology and integrate it responsibly into the classroom. This approach not only prepares students for academic success but also equips them to navigate and contribute ethically to a rapidly evolving world.

• Personalization emphasizes the need to tailor learning experiences to meet the diverse needs, strengths, and aspirations of every student, fostering engagement, learner agency, and equity.

• The Future of Work highlights the rapid and accelerating pace of change (in technology, society, communications, environment, and other aspects of life) is transforming the future of work and placing students in an emerging world with social-technical dynamics both congruent and dis-contiguous from ours. Schools and educators have a responsibility to understand and prepare students with the foundational skills and mindsets they need to succeed in life, learning, and work — and the complex ideation and problem solving capabilities to envision, adapt, and create the future.

• Meanwhile, Critical Media Literacy stresses that students must develop the ability to critically analyze, evaluate, and discern the authenticity and credibility of information across various media platforms, giving them the skills needed to distinguish between primary sources, manipulated media, and fabricated information. By honing these abilities, individuals become more adept at evaluating information and understanding their responsibilities as informed consumers and creators of media. This literacy is essential for navigating the complexities of the digital world, promoting responsible use of information, and fostering ethical engagement with technology in the age of AI.

Together, these interconnected themes illuminate a pathway for K-12 education leaders to reimagine and innovate for the future. Keep an eye on these bridges while reading the 2025 report.

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IN CONTEXT

While the initiative’s Top Topics last year (2024) shifted more in a single year than any of the previous five cycles, the 2025 Top Topics share many similarities with recent years. This powerful message means that there is still work to be done in these areas.

This report will serve as your guide to drive K-12 innovation in 2025 and beyond.

HURDLES: TOP TOPICS EACH YEAR (2019-2025)

2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
	Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals	Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals	Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals	Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals
			Ensuring Cybersecurity & SafetyOnline
		Designing Effective Digital Ecosystems
Digital Equity	Digital Equity	Digital Equity		Digital Equity
Evolution of Teaching & Learning				Evolution of Teaching & Learning
Scaling & Sustaining Innovation	Scaling Innovation & Inertia of Education Systems		Scaling Innovation & Inertia of Education Systems

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