2026基础教育创新驱动力报告-挑战、趋势、技术工具（英文）-

DRIVINGK-12INNOVATION

2026HURDLES•ACCELERATORS•TECHENABLERS

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2•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

ABOUTCoSN-

THECONSORTIUMFORSCHOOLNETWORKING

CoSN,theworld-classprofessionalassociationforK-12EdTechleaders,standsattheforefrontofeducation

innovation.WearedrivenbyamissiontoequipcurrentandaspiringK-12educationtechnologyleaders,theirteams,andschooldistrictswiththecommunity,knowledge,andprofessionaldevelopmenttheyneedtocultivateengaginglearningenvironments.Ourvisionisrootedinafuturewhereeverylearnerreachestheiruniquepotential,guidedbyourcommunity.CoSNrepresentsover14millionstudentsandcontinuestogrowasapowerfulandinfluentialvoiceinK-12education.CoSNalsoprovidesopportunitiesforcompaniesthatsupporttheK-12EdTechcommunityto

participateascorporatemembers.

FOREWORD

K-12educationisfacingapivotalmoment.Aroundtheworld,educatorsandeducationtechnologyprofessionalsarenavigatingrapidadvancementsinartificialintelligence(AI),intensifyingcybersecuritythreats,shifting

workforceexpectations,andevolvingunderstandingsofhowstudentslearnanddemonstrateknowledge.Thisyear’sDrivingK-12Innovationinitiative’sTopTopicsreflecttheserealitieswithclarityandurgency.

Whileour2026Acceleratorsremainunchangedfromthoseof2025,thelandscapearoundthemhasmeaningfullyshifted.CriticalMediaLiteracyenterstheHurdleslistforthefirsttime,highlightingtheglobalimperativefor

studentstonavigateAI-generatedcontent,misinformation,andtheblurredlinesbetweenfactandfabrication.

Data&InformationVisualizationjoinstheTechEnablers,signalingagrowingrecognitionthatmakingdata

usableandactionableisessentialforequityandinstructionaldecision-making.And,forthefirsttimesince2020,ToolsforPrivacy&SafetyOnlinereturnsasaTechEnabler,underscoringhowdramaticallycyberrisksand

datagovernanceneedshaveintensified.

Designedtohelpschoolsaroundtheworldinnovatewithconfidenceinto2026andbeyond,thisreportoffersgroundedinsightsfromdistrictsofvaryingsizes,instructionalcontexts,andglobalperspectives,showinghowtheseTopTopicsworkinconcerttoimpactthefutureofK-12learning.

Mostimportantly,thereportaffirmsasharedtruth:Technologywillkeepaccelerating,butintentional

innovationinK-12educationdependsonthestrength,creativity,andhumanityofeducatorsandITleaders.Thisreportinvitesyoutoleadthatfutureboldlyandresponsibly,andtogether.

KeithKruegerCEO

CoSN-TheConsortiumforSchoolNetworkingWashingtonDC,UnitedStates

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•3

CONTENTS

AboutCoSN-TheConsortiumforSchoolNetworking 3

Foreword 3

Introduction 5

Methodology 5

TopTopicsforDrivingK-12Innovationin2026 6

InContext 7

Bridges(themes) 10

Attracting&RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals 12

EnsuringCybersecurity&SafetyOnline 15

CriticalMediaLiteracy 18

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders 20

ChangingAttitudesTowardDemonstratingLearning 22

LearnerAgency 24

GenerativeArtificialIntelligence 26

Data&InformationVisualization 29

ToolsforPrivacy&SafetyOnline 31

TakingaHolisticView 33

2026ReportSummary 35

Acknowledgements 37

2026DrivingK-12InnovationAdvisoryBoardMembers 38

4•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•5

INTRODUCTION

CoSN’sDrivingK-12InnovationinitiativeproudlyconvenesaninternationalAdvisoryBoardofapproximately130+educationandtechnologyexpertstoselectthemostimportantHurdles(challenges),Accelerators(mega-trends),andTechEnablers(tools)DrivingK-12Innovationfortheyearahead.

TheAdvisoryBoardengagesindiscussionviaCoSN’sonlineforum,synchronousvirtualcallsviaZoom,andalso

participatesintwosurveystoselectthetopthemesineachcategorythataretransformingteachingandlearning.Thisyear,theAdvisoryBoard’sworktookplaceoverapproximately11weeks.

Jumpto36foraconvenient,printablesummaryofthe2026TopTopics.

METHODOLOGY

STEP1:INITIALSURVEY

TheAdvisoryBoardcompletedaninitialsurveytoselectthetopicsforsubsequentdiscussion.ThissurveynarroweddowntheoriginallistofHurdlesfrom40to14,Acceleratorsfrom28to12,andTechEnablersfrom29to13.

STEP2:DISCUSSION

Sixweeksoffruitfulvirtualconversationfollowedtheinitialsurvey.Eachweek,theAdvisoryBoardrespondedto

promptsandengagedinconversationfocusedononeoftheinitiative’skeylenses:Hurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablers.DiscussionopportunitieswereofferedviatheonlineforumandsynchronousZoomcalls.

STEP3:FINALSURVEY

IntheFinalSurvey,AdvisoryBoardmembersvoted1ontheHurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablersmost

affectingtheirwork.Ofthemanyimportanttopicsconsidered,nineemergedasthetopkeyconsiderationsfordrivinginnovationinK-12educationin2026.TheFinalSurveyalsohelpeddescribethenatureofeachtopic:thesurmountabilityofHurdles,theintensityofAccelerators,andthetimelinessofTechEnablers.

STEP4:SYNTHESISWEEK

OncetheAdvisoryBoardcompletedtheFinalSurveyandTopTopicswereknown,theywereinvitedtoreturntotheonlineforumfor1.5weeksofasynchronousdiscussiontosharetheirperspectives,andtocommentonanyBridges(orthemes)theynoticedfromthe2026selectedtopics.

1FinalSurveyMethodologyUpdate:InspiredbyfeedbackfrompastAdvisoryBoards,theleadershipteamdecidedtoadjustthevotingmethodthisyear.Inpreviousyears,eachAdvisoryBoardmemberwasaskedtoselectexactlythreetopicsineachcategory:Hurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablers.Inthenewvotingapproach,eachAdvisoryBoardmemberwasgivensix“points”tospendineachcategory(Hurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablers).ThisallowedAdvisoryBoardmemberstoprioritizetheirvotesamongsttopicsbasedonimportance.Forexample,theycouldassignallsix“Hurdles”pointstoasingleHurdle,spreadthepointsamongstsix

Hurdles,orchooseastrategybetweenthesetwoextremes.

6•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

TOPTOPICSFORDRIVINGK-12INNOVATIONIN2026

MostimportantHurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablersforeducationsystemstoaddress/leveragein2026*

HURDLES

Barrierstoinnovationandstudent

successthatrequireconsideredefforttoovercome.

ACCELERATORS

Megatrendsorcatalyststhathelp

motivateandincreasethemomentumofinnovation.

TECHENABLERS

Toolsthatmakenewlearningapproachespossible,enableschoolstosurmount

Hurdles,andempowerthemtoleverageAccelerators.

1.Attracting&RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

2.EnsuringCybersecurity&SafetyOnline

3.CriticalMediaLiteracy

1.BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

2.ChangingAttitudesTowardDemonstratingLearning

3.LearnerAgency

1.GenerativeArtificialIntelligence(GenAI)

2.Data&InformationVisualization

3.ToolsforPrivacy&SafetyOnline

*82AdvisoryBoardrespondents

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•7

INCONTEXT

ThisreportwillserveasyourguidetodriveK-12innovationin2026andbeyond.Takentogether,theseperspectivesreflectsharedglobalprioritiesshapinginnovationin2026.

SURMOUNTABILITYOFHURDLES

Howeasy(orhard)isittoovercomethesebarriers?Here’showtheAdBoardrankedthedifficultytosurmounteachone.(Scoresreflecttheaveragescoreoutof5,with1beingtheeasiesttosurmountand5beingthemostdifficult*):

Fromeasiesttomostdifficulttosurmount:

•CriticalMediaLiteracy(3.32)

•Attracting&RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals(3.34)

•EnsuringCybersecurity&SafetyOnline(3.6)

MOREDIFFICULT

LESSDIFFICULT

3.34

3.32

3.6

Attracting&RetainingEducatorsandIT

Professionals

CriticalMediaLiteracyEnsuringCybersecurity&

*82AdvisoryBoardrespondents

SafetyOnline

HURDLESINCONTEXT:TOPTOPICSFORTHEPASTFIVEYEARS

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Attracting&

RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

Attracting&

RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

Attracting&

RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

Attracting&

RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

Attracting&

RetainingEducatorsandITProfessionals

Ensuring

Cybersecurity&SafetyOnline

Ensuring

Cybersecurity&SafetyOnline

DesigningEffectiveDigitalEcosystems

DigitalEquity

DigitalEquity

DigitalEquity

EvolutionofTeaching&Learning

ScalingInnovation&InertiaofEducationSystems

ScalingInnovation&InertiaofEducationSystems

CriticalMediaLiteracy

8•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

INTENSITYOFACCELERATORS

Howinfluentialareeachofthesemegatrendsorcatalystsmotivatinginnovation?TheAdBoardrankedtheTop3AcceleratorsbyhowintensetheirimpactonK-12.(Scoresreflecttheaveragescoreoutof5,with1beingtheleastintenseand5beingthemostintense*):

Fromleasttomostintense:

•BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders(3.65)

•ChangingAttitudesTowardDemonstratingLearning(3.71)

•LearnerAgency(3.8)

MOREINTENSE

LESSINTENSE

3.65

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

3.71

Changing

AttitudesToward

Demonstrating

3.8

LearnerAgency

*82AdvisoryBoardrespondents

Learning

ACCELERATORSINCONTEXT:TOPTOPICSFORTHEPASTFIVEYEARS

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

BuildingtheHumanCapacityofLeaders

Changing

AttitudesTowardDemonstrating

Learning

Changing

AttitudesTowardDemonstrating

Learning

Changing

AttitudesTowardDemonstrating

Learning

LearnerAgency

LearnerAgency

LearnerAgency

LearnerAgency

Personalization

Social&EmotionalLearning

Social&EmotionalLearning

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•9

IMMEDIACYOFTECHENABLERS

Howquicklyarethesetechtoolsbeingincorporatedbyschools?TheAdBoardrankedhowimmediatelyTechEnablersarebeingadoptedglobally.(Scoresreflecttheaveragescoreoutof5,with1beingthemostimmediateadoption;5beingthefurthestawayfromadoption*):

Frommostimmediatetoleastimmediateadoption•ToolsforPrivacyandSafetyOnline(2.74)

•Data&InformationVisualization(2.89)

•GenerativeArtificialIntelligence(2.96)

2.96

GenerativeArtificialIntelligence

2.89

Data&InformationVisualization

2.74

ToolsforPrivacyandSafetyOnline

MOREIMMEDIATE

LESSIMMEDIATE

*82AdvisoryBoardrespondents

TECHENABLERS:TOPTOPICSFORTHEPASTFIVEYEARS

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Analytics&AdaptiveTechnologies

Analytics&AdaptiveTechnologies

Analytics&AdaptiveTechnologies

ArtificialIntelligence(AI)

GenerativeArtificialIntelligence

GenerativeArtificialIntelligence

GenerativeArtificialIntelligence

Data&InformationVisualization

DigitalCollaborationEnvironments

RichDigitalEcosystem

RichDigitalEcosystem

UntetheredBroadband&Connectivity

UntetheredBroadband&Connectivity

UntetheredBroadband&Connectivity

ToolsforPrivacyandSafetyOnline

10•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

BRIDGES(THEMES)

TheboundariesbetweenHurdles,Accelerators,andTechEnablersareblurring;innovationincreasinglyrequirescross-topicsolutions.DrivingK-12InnovationBridgesareimportantthemesthatspanTopTopicsforeducationinnovation,connectingtoday’seducationchallengeswithtomorrow’sopportunity.The2026Bridgesare:

EthicalFrameworks&TrustasNon-Negotiables

Innovationwithoutethicserodes

trust,andtrustisthecornerstoneofsafedigitallearning.

Equity&AccessAreKey

Innovationwithoutequityleadstowideninggaps;innovationwithequitydrivestransformation.

CulturalChange>TechnicalChange

Thecultureofaschoolsystemdeterminesthesuccessofitstechnology.

NOTABLEINTERSECTIONS

DuringSynthesisWeek,AdvisoryBoardmemberswereaskedtosharetheirinsightsonthe2026TopTopicsandconnectthem.Herearesomehighlights:

“EnsuringCybersecurity&SafetyOnline,Critical

MediaLiteracy,andToolsforPrivacy&SafetyOnline.Ithinktheemphasisonmakingsurestudentsandstaffknowhowtobedigitallywellandaresupportedwith

professionallearningandresourcestoassistinthisisagrowingneed,”(NicoleBond,LincolnIntermediateUnit12,Pennsylvania,UnitedStates).

“IlovetheintersectionofDataandInformation

VisualizationwithChangingAttitudestoward

DemonstratingLearning.Ifeducatorsfocuson

thedataandmakedata-informeddecisionsabout

theirinstruction,reteaching,classactivities,and

individualizedinstruction,theycanstarttothink

beyondagradeonapieceofpaper,especiallywhen

wearetalkingaboutstandards-baseddata.Focusing

onthestandardsinsteadoftheprescribedtextbook

orworksheethasfarmoreimpactonstudentlearning

andgrowth.Ihaveseenithereinmydistrict.When

teachersstarttoassessthestandardsratherthanright/wronganswersonatest/quiz,wehavebeguntosee

betterdecisionsonwhatcomesnext.WeareusingPearAssessmentforcommonassessmentssothatteacherscanlookatthedatatogether,”(KatieHarmon,WesthillCentralSchools,NewYork,UnitedStates).

“ThethreeAccelerators,BuildingtheHuman

CapacityofLeaders,ChangingAttitudesToward

DemonstratingLearning,LearnerAgency,allspeaktoalargertheme/needaroundrecognizingthepowerof

learnersandeducators.Ifyoungpeopleandeducatorswereseenasthecapable,curious,creativeleadersthattheyare,theiropportunitiestoengagetheiragency

anddemonstratetheirskillsandexpertisewouldbe

builtintooureducationsystems.Oursocialandculturalmentalmodelsaboutstudentsandteachersmakeus

thinkthatthesystemwehavenowisnecessaryand

thebestoronlyway.Mindsetsandbeliefsjustifythe

structuresthatwehave,sowerethosemindsetsand

beliefstochange,thecurrentstructureswouldnolongerseemviableordesirable,”(KatieKing,KnowledgeWorks,UnitedStates).

“Simplyput,innovationisbuiltonafoundationandonapurposethatisthesame:people.Weseek,andwe

embraceinnovationbecausewebelieveitwillbetter

ourlives,and/orthelivesofothersaroundus.Iknow

thisisabitobvious,buteverysingleHurdle,Accelerator,andTechEnablerisaboutempoweringand/orcaring

forpeople.BothofthesearefocusedonBuilding

theCapacityofHumans.WebuildcapacitythroughAttracting&RetainingProfessionals,teaching/

spreadingCriticalMediaLiteracy,buildingup

leaders,ChangingAttitudesTowardDemonstratingLearning,elevatingLearnerAgency,andthroughAI,data,andprivacytools.Thismakesperfectsense,

sinceourworkiscompletelyfocusedonthebenefitofhumans,”(CraigChatham,Lincolnshire-PrairieViewD103,Illinois,UnitedStates).

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•11

12•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

HURDLE1

ATTRACTING&RETAININGEDUCATORSAND

ITPROFESSIONALS

DEFINITION

Recruitingandkeepingschoolstaffisasignificantproblemthatisonlygrowingforschoolsystems.Many

educatorsareexperiencinglowfinancialcompensation,heavyworkloads,andsocialandemotionalburnout,causingthemtosetasidetheirpassionforteachingandleavethefield.Inaddition,educatorsoften

experiencealackoftrustandrespectfrombothsocietyandinstitutionalsystems,underminingconfidenceintheirabilityandcommitmenttosupportstudents’academic,social,andemotionalsuccess.

ForITprofessionalsandtechnology-focusededucators,thechallengesarecompounded.Schoolsstruggletocompetewithprivatecompaniesthatcanofferhighersalaries,remoteworkoptions,flexibleschedules,andmoretimeoff.Atthesametime,thereisacriticalshortageofstaffwiththeexpertisetointegratecomplex

legacyandmodernsystems,ortoteachandsupportstudentsinrapidlyevolvingfieldslikecomputer

science.Asexperiencedstaffretire,findingandretainingskilledprofessionals,acrossbothteachingandtechnologyroles,hasbecomeoneofthemostpressingchallengesineducationtoday.

Acrossthecountryandaroundtheworld,school

systemsareexperiencingunprecedentedchallenges

inattractingandretainingbotheducatorsandIT

professionals.“RetainingeducatorsandITprofessionalsrequiresmorethancompetitivesalaries;itdemandsa

climateoftrust,professionalrespect,andcontinuous

learning.Whenschoolsempowerteacherstointegratetechnologycreatively,andITteamstoparticipatein

instructionaldesignandstrategicdecision-making,bothgroupsseetangibleimpactintheirwork.Thissenseof

contributionisakeyretentionfactor,”(DavidDeeds,

FootprintsInternationalSchool,PhnomPenh,Cambodia).

AsDeedsalluded,compoundingthatstrainisagrowingsensethatsocietyandevenschoolsystemsnolongertrusteducatorsascapableprofessionals.Ina

recent

Galluppoll

,50%ofU.S.respondentsratedthe“honestyandethicalstandardsofhigh-schoolteacher”highorveryhigh;however,thatnumberhasbeendeclining

inrecentyears,withthisyearbeingarecordlow.Thiserosionofrespectandbelongingcanbejustasharmfulastheworkloaditself.

ForITprofessionalsandtechnology-focusededucators,thepressuresareevensharper.Districtsrelyonstaff

whocanintegratecomplexlegacysystemswithmoderninfrastructure,safeguardcybersecurity,supportAI-

enabledlearningtools,andteachemergingfieldslikecomputerscience.

Yetschoolsmustcompetewithprivate-sector

employersofferinghighersalaries,remoteworkoptions,flexibleschedules,andsignificantlymoretimeoff.As

veteranstaffretire,districtsfacethedualchallengeofreplacingtechnicalexpertiseandmaintainingcontinuityofoperations.Retainingskilledpeopleacrossboth

instructionalandtechnicalroleshasbecomeoneof

themostpressingandfoundationalissuesineducationtoday.

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•13

Acrossdistricts,however,leadersareprovingthat

intentional,people-centeredstrategiescandramaticallyimproveretention.AdvisoryBoardmemberKellyMay-Vollmar(DesertSandsUnifiedSchoolDistrict,California,UnitedStates)sharedthatherdistrictmaintainsan

impressive96%staffretentionrate,anoutcomerootedinstrategicculturebuilding.“Weworkhardtoensure

thatoursalariesarecompetitive,butwealsobelieve

thatclimateandculturearethemostimportantfocus,”saidMay-Vollmar.

Eachyear,May-Vollmar’sdistrictsetsaclimateandculturethemealongsideacademicgoals,ensuring

thatstaffexperienceaworkplacethatis“welcoming,engaging,fun,respectful,ethicalandconsistently

growingfromstrengthtostrength.”Thiscommitmentiscoupledwithastrongemphasisonprofessional

developmentandinternalgrowth:“Themajorityof

ourpromotionsarefrominhouseduetoourfocusoncapacitybuilding…whichdirectlyimpactsretention,”

saidMay-Vollmar.

ThisconnectionbetweencultureandretentionwasstronglyreinforcedbyAdBoardmemberBeatriz

Arnillas(1EdTechFoundation,Massachusetts,UnitedStates),whoreflectedonlessonslearnedwhileshewasemployedatHoustonISDandtheirschoolwascollaboratingwiththeteamatMooresvilleGradedSchoolDistrict.“Thefirstlessontheytaughtus:

Welcomeallyourstaffeveryday,makethemfeelappreciated,andrespected!”

Thisconceptalsoemergedascriticalindistricts

undergoingleadershiptransitions.James“Seamus”

Cummins(TheSchoolDistrictofJenkintown,

Pennsylvania,UnitedStates)describedhowhisdistricthashadfourdifferentelementaryprincipalssince2017,eachidentifyingthesameissueupondeparture:“theneedforaculturalchangeinthebuilding.”Hisdistricthassincetakenactionandisnowintentionallyfocusedonculturalrestoration.

"Wearefortunatetohaveseveralnewmembersonourdistrictadminteam,includinganewelementaryprincipal,whoseprimarygoalistorepairthecultureandrebuildtrustwithinthebuilding,"saidCummins.

"Hopefully,restoringtheclimatewillhelpusretainnotonlyournewprincipalbutalsothemembersoftheelementaryteachingstaff,strengtheningtheentire

communityforthelongterm."

Additionally,BenBayle(DeKalbCUSD428,Illinois,UnitedStates)highlightedthatretentionisessentialnotonly

forstabilitybutalsoforinnovation.“Investinginthe

humancapacity,strategicallysupportingandretainingeducatorsbyreducinghurdlesandbuildingpositive

culture…ensuresthatnewtechnologieslikeAIare

implementedwithlearneragency,personalization,andstaffwell-beingatthecenter.”Withoutthisfoundation,schoolsstruggletomaketransformativeinitiatives

sustainable.

RetentionisnotastandaloneHRfunctionbutaculturalandstrategicpriority.Whendistrictsinvestinpeople,

throughtrust,appreciation,growthpathways,and

positiveclimate,theycreatethestabilityneededto

innovate,integratenewtechnologies,andsupportlong-termstudentsuccess.

14•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

TIPS&RECOMMENDATIONSFROMTHEADVISORYBOARD

STRENGTHENRECRUITMENTTHROUGHMISSION-ALIGNEDPARTNERSHIPS

“Partnershipswithuniversities,professional

associations,andeducationaltechnologycommunitiescanhelpattractastrongpoolofcandidateswhoarenotonlyqualifiedbutalignedwiththemissionoftheschool.Whenrecruitment,professionalgrowth,andrecognitioncometogether,schoolscanbuildstability,creativity,

andinnovationacrossbothinstructionalandtechnologyteams,”(LisaGustinelli,St.VincentFerrerSchool,Florida,UnitedStates).

INVESTINSTAFFGROWTH

“Ihavefoundsomesuccesswithoffering

reimbursementsforITcertificationsbutthatalsoopensthedoortomoreopportunitiesinthefuture.Ibelievewehavetobeawareoftheopportunitiesoutthereforourstaffandbeveryclearwithexpectationsandcoachingfortheirnextposition,evenifitmeanswritingaletterofrecommendationtotheprivatesector,”(PamBatchelor,WilsonCountySchools,NorthCarolina,UnitedStates).

USETECHNOLOGYTOPROTECTEDUCATORS’TIME&HUMANITY

“Wemustleveragetechnologytoautomate

administrationsoteacherscanhumanizeinstruction.

Theonlywaytomakethejobsustainableistousetechtogivethembacktime.…Thestrategytoretainteachersistoaggressivelydeploytoolsthathandlethe'machine'work,freeingthemforthehumanwork(1-on-1calls,

personalizedfeedback)thatbroughtthemtoteaching.Wemustuseourtechnologytoprotectandenablethathumanconnection,notburyitinadministrativetasks,”(ZainabAdeel,BayaanAcademy,Maryland,United

States).

DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN•15

HURDLE2

ENSURINGCYBERSECURITY&SAFETYONLINE

DEFINITION

Teaching,learning,andconductingbusinessineducationareallincreasinglyhappeningonline.Schoolsmustbeproactiveinbuildingsystemstoprotecteveryuser,ateverylevel,ineverytechnologysystem,athomeorschool,24/7.Theriskisintensifiedastechnologyneedsexpand,newcybersecuritythreatscontinuouslyenterthelandscape,andmaliciousactorsevolvetheirtactics.

Schoolsareexpectedtokeepupwiththeseriskswhileincreasingprotectionmeasures,employingandtrainingqualifiedstaff,andraisingindustrystandardstostrengthenthesafetyandsecurityoftheonlineworld.Toeffectivelymanagethisriskiscostlyandnow,non-negotiable.

Digitaltoolsnowtoucheveryaspectofschool

operations,includinginstructionalmaterials,

communicationsystems,enrollmentplatforms,

transportationsoftware,anddistrictfinancialsystems.Eveninschoolswherelearningisprimarilyinperson,teachers,students,andadministratorsrelyon

technologyforessentialdailytasks.But,confidenceinthesafetyandsecurityofthesedigitalenvironmentsisweakening,asdistrictsfacegrowingconcernsaboutdatabreaches,phishingattempts,identitytheft,andsystemvulnerabilities.

Schoolsmustprotecteveryuseracrosseverydevice,application,andnetwork,andmustdosoinathreat

landscapethatevolvesbythehour.Inresponseto

technologyinfrastructureexpansionandmalicious

actorsbecomingmoresophisticated,cybersecurity

hasshiftedfromabackgroundITfunctiontoacore

operationalresponsibility.Managingthisriskrequires

significantinvestmentinpeople,processes,and

systems,andhasbecomebothexpensiveandessentialforschoolsystemsofallsizes.

Formanydistricts,thechallengebeginswithstaffingandcapacity.AdvisoryBoardmemberElizabeth

Freeman(CedarGrove-BelgiumSchoolDistrict,

Wisconsin,UnitedStates),asuperintendentatasmallruralWisconsindistrict,mentionedthateventhoughhersmallITteamtakesonlinesafetyandsecurity

veryseriously,cybersecuritycannotfallsolelyontheshouldersofasmallITteam.

“Weareallresponsibleforthesafetyofournetwork,”

saidFreeman.“Asthebadactorsgetmoresophisticatedintheirapproaches,Iencouragestafftobevigilantandtoconfirmanythingthatlookssuspicious.”

Otherdistrictsdescribeanequallycomplexbalancingact.AdvisoryBoardmemberMorgenWilsonMerritt

(EanesIndependentSchoolDistrict,Texas,United

States)highlightedthetensionbetweenmaintaining

securityandpreservinginstructionalfluidity.“Abig

stressoristhesheercomplexityofhowtokeepa

constantlyexpandingdigitalecosystemsecure,while

keepinginstructionrunningsmoothlyandnotcreatingabunchofroadblocks,”saidWilson.

16•DrivingK-12Innovation2026•CoSN

Thedistrictinsteadcentersbuy-inandculturechange:“Ourfocushasbeenonreframingcybersecurityas

acultureofcareratherthanjustanITinitiativein

whicheveryonehasarole,”saidWilson.Thisincludesembeddingcybersecurityawarenessintoongoing

professionallearning,using“shortscenariosandreal-worldexamples…sotheyseesecurityaspartoftheirdailyworkflow.”Bynormalizingconversationsabout

incide