EdCircuit Staff 
Washington, D.C. — May 5, 2026 — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking today released its U.S. State of EdTech 2026 report, providing a national snapshot of K-12 education technology priorities, challenges, and trends based on responses from more than 600 education technology leaders across 44 states.
The 2026 report examines how school systems safely, responsibly, and effectively implement and manage technology to support student learning and district operations. Key focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), staffing, connectivity, procurement, and community expectations — highlighting where districts are making progress and where more capacity and investment are needed.
“The 2026 State of EdTech report shows that districts are approaching technology with greater intention and maturity,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “Education technology leaders are focused on using technology in safe and effective ways to support learning and operations while also being candid about where districts need more capacity, staffing, and investment to keep pace with evolving demands.”
The 2026 report was conducted in partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association, CDW Education, Lightspeed Systems, MCH Strategic Data and Sogolytics.
Key Findings
- Cybersecurity and data privacy rank as the top priorities for education technology leaders, reflecting the essential role secure digital systems play in modern education. Most districts report investing in monitoring, detection, identity protection, and firewall technologies, and many have used established incident response practices and partnerships to strengthen resilience.
- Nearly 80% of respondents report having established AI guidelines, a sharp increase from the prior year. Leaders indicate growing confidence in AI’s potential to support productivity, personalize learning, provide student tutoring, and help prepare students for the workforce, and districts are increasingly providing training of instructional staff on the use of instruction-focused Gen AI tools.
- A majority of districts (55%) require vendors to provide information on product safety. Fewer require information on other key education technology quality indicators — such as evidence‑based design, inclusivity, usability, and interoperability — pointing to an opportunity to further strengthen and standardize procurement practices.
- Districts show strong foundational capacity for education technology, with 66% of respondents reporting adequate staffing for core IT functions like network administration, application installation, and maintenance. However, 58% believe their districts are understaffed when it comes to the instructional use of technology, highlighting an opportunity to maximize the value of education technology investments.
- Education technology leaders continue to cite budget constraints and lack of resources as the top challenge to implementing technology‑enabled learning environments, followed by organizational silos and limited availability of relevant professional development.
- Communities are differentiating between educational and personal technology use, with data showing that concerns are more than twice as high for students’ personal device use at school than education technology used for teaching and learning. The findings underscore the importance of clear communication, thoughtful implementation, and ongoing professional support to ensure education technology continues to advance teaching and learning goals.
“Education leaders are navigating a period of profound transformation, where technology is deeply embedded in every aspect of teaching, learning, and operations. Today’s superintendents and technology leaders must work in close partnership to align vision, strategy, and implementation,” said David R. Schuler, Executive Director at AASA, The School Superintendents Association. “This is not simply about managing devices or systems — it’s about building coherent, future-ready organizations that can adapt to change while staying focused on student outcomes. Technology is not an end in itself — it’s a tool to expand opportunity, personalize learning, and ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education.”
“CDW values our partnership with CoSN on the EdTech Leadership report to elevate the voice of K-12 leaders on the topics of greatest concern and emerging trends,” said Janice Mertes, K12 State Level Ambassador at CDW. “The annual EdTech Leader survey advises CDW on how to support our schools to solve problems, to create strategic plans, and to build leadership capacity to ensure there are safe and trusted learning environments.”
“Schools need more than access to technology — they need confidence it’s safe, compliant, and actually working,” said Amy Bennett, Chief of Staff at Lightspeed Systems. “Through our products and services and partners like CoSN, Lightspeed works alongside districts to provide the visibility and guardrails that turn education technology into measurable impact, helping leaders clearly communicate its value to their communities. This has never been more important.”
Education technology continues to play a vital role in supporting teaching, learning, and school system operations when implemented intentionally and responsibly. As the findings in this year’s report demonstrate, effective technology use depends not only on access to tools, but on leadership, local policies, staffing, and sustained investment that help districts meet the evolving needs of students, educators, and communities.
Download the full report: https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/state-of-edtech-leadership/
About CoSN
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 education technology 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 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org
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