Press Category: On the Wire

Washington, D.C. (April 22, 2026) — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking concluded its 2026 Annual Conference, Building What’s Next, Together, on April 15. It’s largest gathering to date, the conference convened K-12 technology leaders, superintendents, and partners from across the country to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing education today.

Across three days of keynotes, workshops, panels, and interactive sessions, the conference highlighted how school system leaders are implementing education technology intentionally to enhance learning while protecting students online. Conversations emphasized evidence-based, locally driven decision-making and responsible governance as essential to ensuring technology serves instructional goals and meets community expectations.

“This year’s conference reflected both the complexity of the moment and the leadership required to meet it,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “As districts navigate efforts to ban screens, implement AI, and enhance cybersecurity, data privacy, and student well-being, the conversations at CoSN2026 reinforced that technology is most effective when it is centered on learning, guided by educators, and implemented locally with trust, transparency, and purpose.”

The conference opened with a keynote conversation featuring Dr. David Schuler, Executive Director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, and Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO of Digital Promise, who explored how local leaders can innovate with technology to strengthen learner agency, collaboration, creativity, and engagement. A second keynote by Dr. Candice Odgers of University of California Irvine examined youth well-being and technology use through long-term research, equipping leaders with evidence-based insights to inform local conversations regarding screen time. The closing keynote was a forward-looking panel on AI leadership in K-12 education, featuring insights from Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer of Women Leading ED, Dr. Michael J. Jabbour of Microsoft, and Pinar Seyhan Demirdag of Cuebric.

Other sessions explored real-world district implementation of education technology, the value of professional development for educators, and ethical frameworks for AI adoption. Hands-on AI Playgrounds provided space for technology leaders to exchange ideas, explore tools, and think through how to apply emerging technology to support teaching and learning. Across sessions, speakers emphasized that effective education technology enhances accessibility, ensuring all students — regardless of background, ability, or location — can fully participate in modern learning environments.

Student data privacy and cybersecurity also remained central to CoSN2026, with district and state leaders sharing strategies to strengthen safeguards through policy development, vendor vetting, and collaborative cohort models. These sessions reinforced the importance of protecting students through strong governance, clear expectations, and nationally recognized frameworks, such as CoSN’s Trusted Learning Environment Seal.

Alongside partners ATLIS, ISTE+ASCD, and the Digital Citizenship Coalition, CoSN announced the release of Setting Conditions for Success: Guidelines for Responsible Use of Technology for Schools, offering updated guidance to help districts clearly communicate technology expectations. The conference also featured several CoSN awards, recognizing districts, leaders, and partners for exemplary leadership, innovation, and service in education technology.

For more information about CoSN and its initiatives, visit www.cosn.org.

About CoSN

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 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.

Santa Barbara, Calif.—April 20, 2026—ParentSquare, the leading family engagement infrastructure for K-12 districts, has released A Guide to Becoming a Cashless District to help school systems reduce reliance on cash and checks while simplifying payment collection for families and staff.

As districts continue to modernize operations and reduce administrative burden, many are looking for practical ways to streamline how payments are collected for everyday school activities, from field trips to extracurricular fees. This new guide provides a step-by-step, engagement-first-based framework to help districts successfully transition to online payments without adding complexity or disrupting existing workflows.

“Collecting payments is a routine but often time-consuming part of school operations,” said Anupama Vaid, President and Founder of ParentSquare. “This guide helps districts rethink payments as part of their broader communication strategy, making it easier for families to pay, staff to manage collections, and leaders to maintain visibility and oversight.”

The guide is organized around four key areas that support a successful shift away from cash and checks:

• How can districts simplify the payment experience for families?
• Are teachers and staff equipped to collect payments effectively?
• How can districts start small and scale online payments over time?
• How can districts track, report, and reconcile payments more efficiently?

In addition to strategic guidance, the resource includes practical recommendations for increasing adoption, reducing friction for families, and aligning payment processes with existing school communication workflows. It also features a month-by-month calendar of common school payment use cases to help districts plan and expand their approach over time.

The guide emphasizes that going cashless is not just about adopting a new payment tool, but about improving how districts communicate and engage with families around payments—ultimately increasing collection rates and timeliness.

To download the guide, click here.

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is the trusted leader in school-home engagement, helping K-12 districts nationwide reach every family with an award-winning, all-in-one communication platform. Reaching over 22 million students across the country, ParentSquare helps districts consolidate disconnected tools and outdated communication systems with personalized messaging, websites, forms, payments, chronic absenteeism outreach, and more—in one easy-to-use platform. With powerful features for achieving 100% contactability, two-way translation into 190+ languages, and purpose-built AI enhancements, ParentSquare empowers districts to invite every family to be involved in their student’s education, no matter their home language or the device they use.

Recognized for growth and innovation by Inc. 5000, GSV 150, and more, ParentSquare was founded in 2011 in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at parentsquare.com.

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.

BOSTON, Mass. — April 15, 2026 — Fewer than one-third of U.S. students are reading proficiently at grade level, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — a stark indicator of the ongoing literacy crisis facing schools. Despite increased investment in literacy programs, this challenge persists. In response, Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, today announced Science of Reading Classroom by Lexia, a comprehensive approach designed to help schools deliver science of reading instruction consistently at scale across K–12.

“For too long, schools have had to piece together multiple tools to support literacy instruction, with inconsistent results,” said Nick Gaehde, President of Lexia. “Science of Reading Classroom changes that. It gives educators a clear, cohesive approach to applying the science of reading in daily instruction with the tools and support they need to teach with confidence and drive stronger student outcomes.”

At its core, Science of Reading Classroom is designed to deliver a unified approach. It enables:

• Aligned literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading, including LETRS-aligned explicit instruction embedded into daily student activities
• Flexible, modular learning paths that enable targeted skill development
• Real-time insights and integrated assessment data that guide next instructional steps
• Job-embedded professional learning, including LETRS Coaching and LETRS Connect, alongside core ELA instruction
• Systemwide visibility that helps monitor progress and inform decisions

This approach eliminates fragmentation and gives educators the clarity and confidence needed to accelerate reading outcomes. By aligning instruction, data, and professional learning within a single system, Science of Reading Classroom helps schools move from disconnected efforts to a more consistent, scalable model for literacy improvement, designed to accelerate reading growth and improve long-term student outcomes.

As science of reading-aligned instruction continues to accelerate across states and districts, the need for solutions that are not only evidence-based, but also cohesive and scalable across entire school systems has grown. Rather than adding another program, Science of Reading Classroom is designed to replace fragmented tools with a more coherent, systemwide model for literacy instruction.

Science of Reading Classroom by Lexia addresses this need through a connected, classroom-centered approach that:

• Integrates curriculum, assessment, and professional learning into a single, cohesive system
• Provides ongoing, practice-based support through LETRS Coaching and LETRS Connect
• Helps educators translate professional learning into daily instruction and improved student outcomes
• Works alongside existing core instruction to support classroom practice

This approach also powers a unified literacy ecosystem, connecting instruction, data, and professional learning to provide real-time guidance, systemwide visibility, and sustained support for educators.

Enabling this approach is an artificial intelligence layer that unifies curriculum, assessment, insights, and professional learning into a connected system. By continuously analyzing student data, it will provide real-time, next-best instructional guidance to inform teaching and educator support, while also delivering visibility across classrooms, schools, and districts. This ensures that science of reading practices are not only aligned, but actionable — supporting teachers in the moment and helping leaders make informed decisions at scale.

This powerful approach starts with our 2026 back-to-school product release. Lexia is bringing this vision to life through new capabilities across instruction, content, and data, including:

• Enhanced instruction with LETRS-aligned explicit teaching embedded at the start of every student activity
• Modularized content that enables flexible learning paths and targeted skill development
• Deeper data integration, connecting district assessment data directly to instruction within myLexia

Together, these innovations represent an important step toward realizing the full vision of the Science of Reading Classroom and reflect Lexia’s continued leadership in advancing evidence-based literacy instruction.

“As a K–12 literacy leader for more than 40 years, Lexia is accelerating classroom-ready, evidence-based solutions — starting this summer with new capabilities that unify instruction, data, and professional learning,” Gaehde added. “With districts undergoing resource pressure, they need solutions that work seamlessly to support educators and drive measurable student outcomes. By bringing these elements into a single system, we’re helping schools move from fragmented efforts to a more coherent, sustainable approach to literacy improvement.”

About Lexia

Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is transforming literacy education, driving change in 1 of every 3 school districts across the United States. For more than 40 years, Lexia has been a thought leader in literacy education, delivering award-winning, research-based solutions grounded in the science of reading. With a full spectrum of offerings, including professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment tools, Lexia provides educators with Structured Literacy solutions that are proven effective and designed to drive meaningful literacy outcomes. By empowering educators with unparalleled ease of use and the knowledge and tools they need, Lexia helps more students unlock their potential to read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit lexialearning.com.          

About Cambium Learning Group

Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now.

To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning.

# # #

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.

Washington, D.C. (April 14, 2026) — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking, the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), ISTE+ASCD, and the Digital Citizenship Coalition today released the third edition of Setting Conditions for Success: Guidelines for Responsible Use of Technology for Schools, an updated resource designed to help K-12 school systems create clear, practical expectations for student technology use that support safe, healthy, and effective learning environments.

First released 15 years ago, Setting Conditions for Success has long served as a foundational resource for K-12 schools developing policies and practices around the safe, effective, and responsible use of technology. This new edition incorporates guidance on generative AI, supports intentional technology use that enhances learning and promotes student well‑being, and reinforces best practices around student data privacy and governance.

“At a time when technology is deeply embedded in instruction, communication, and school operations, districts need clear, accessible guidance that helps everyone — students, educators, families, and leaders — understand what responsible use looks like,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “This update is focused on setting shared expectations that enhance learning outcomes, strengthen trust and transparency, and support student well-being.”

“Responsible technology use is no longer a side conversation for schools. It is central to teaching, learning, communication, and trust. This updated resource helps school leaders respond to today’s realities with clearer guidance that supports students and strengthens school communities,” said Peter Frank, CAE, Interim CEO of ATLIS.

“Generative AI is reshaping how we learn and work, and any technology innovation we introduce into the classroom must put human needs and capabilities at the center,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD. “Students today need to be prepared to harness technology, including AI, effectively and ethically to thrive in learning and life. These updated guidelines offer a roadmap for educators to help students navigate this new AI-enabled world responsibly while developing digital fluency.”

The guidance emphasizes the importance of Responsible Use Agreements (RUAs) as a complement to traditional Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs), which are often school board-approved documents that outline rules for student technology use. While AUPs are typically written in formal or legal language, RUAs are designed to be student- and family-friendly, written in plain language and focused on positive, responsible behaviors. RUAs are also typically presented as guidance rather than formal board policy, making them easier to update to reflect local needs.

The resource includes best practices for developing effective RUAs, along with adaptable templates for elementary and secondary school settings. Above all, the guidance is intended to complement existing federal, state, and local requirements related to student safety and data privacy, and to support district leaders in building a healthy, transparent digital culture, including through proactive communication with parents/guardians about how technology is used safely and responsibly in schools.

The resource is available here: https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/setting-conditions-for-success-guidelines-for-responsible-use-of-technology-for-schools/

About CoSN

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 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org

About Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools

The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) is the leading professional association for independent school technology leaders. Serving a growing network of independent schools, ATLIS supports school technology leaders with trusted resources, peer connection, and practical guidance. Founded in 2014, ATLIS helps members lead with clarity and confidence through leadership development, strategic planning support, peer collaboration, and insight on emerging trends. ATLIS’ vision is empowering schools to thrive through technology leadership. www.theATLIS.org

About ISTE+ASCD

In 2023, ISTE and ASCD merged to create a unified organization dedicated to ensuring every student has an amazing learning experience every day. Today, ISTE+ASCD is the largest innovation-focused education non-profit worldwide, serving over a million educators in every U.S. state and over 100 countries around the world. ISTE+ASCD offers inspiring events, professional certifications, dynamic member communities, and innovative thought leadership to help educators create transformational learning experiences. iste-ascd.org

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.

Washington, D.C. (April 8, 2026) — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking today announced its 2026–27 Board of Directors. The Board includes 15 education technology experts from across the country dedicated to shaping CoSN’s mission and strategic direction.

“As CoSN looks ahead to 2026 and the launch of a new strategic plan, I have tremendous confidence in this Board’s ability to lead with both bold vision and deep commitment to our members,” said CoSN Board Chair Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D., CETL^®. “Together, this group is well-positioned to help CoSN continue delivering meaningful value — strengthening our community and advancing the responsible, safe, and effective use of education technology for learning.”

New Board members were elected or appointed by CoSN members in advance of its annual conference, CoSN2026: “Building What’s Next, Together,” taking place April 13–15 in Chicago, Illinois.

The conference focuses on advancing the knowledge and skills of K-12 education technology leaders — including CIOs/CTOs, superintendents, and solution providers — while addressing key topics such as cybersecurity, student data privacy, and the use of generative AI in schools to support safe and effective practices within the K-12 system.

CoSN 2026–27 Board of Directors

Board members serve a three-year term.

• Stacy Hawthorne (Chair), Ed.D., CETL^®, Executive Director, EdTech Leaders Alliance (OH)
• Kelly May-Vollmar (Chair-Elect), Ed.D., Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA)
• Chantell Manahan (Treasurer), Ed.D., CETL^®, Director of Technology, MSD of Steuben County Schools (IN)
• Sarah Radcliffe (Secretary), CETL^®, Director of Future-Ready Learning, School District of Altoona (WI)
• Nathan Davidson, CETL^®, Vice President of Partnerships, Five Star Technology Solutions (IN)
• Patrick Devanney, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships, ClassLink (NY)
• *Emily Dillard, Ed.D., CETL^®, Chief Information Officer, Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)
• Holly Doe, CETL^®, District Instructional Coach, Maine School Administrative District 11 (ME)
• Kris Hagel, CETL^®, Chief Information Officer, Peninsula School District (WA)
• John Harrington, CEO, Funds For Learning (OK)
• Diana Hawari, CETL^®, Chief Information Officer, Dysart Unified School District (AZ)
• *David Jarboe, CETL^®, CCRE, Director of Instructional Technology/STEAM/CTE, Harrison School District 2 (CO)
• *Dwight R. Levens, Jr., CETL^®, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Oakland Schools (MI)
• Tony Schlorff, CETL^®, Chief Financial and Integrated Services Officer, AASA, The School Superintendents Association (IL)
• Chris Smallen, Ed.D., CETL^®, Chief Technology Officer, Lenoir City Schools (TN)

*New Board members: Dwight R. Levens, Jr., and Emily Dillard were elected to three-year terms; David Jarboe was appointed to a two-year term.

CoSN greatly appreciates the work of retiring Board members: Diane Doersch (Past Board Chair), CETL^®, Independent Consultant; Evangelina Rodriguez, CETL^®, Chief Solutions Officer, K12 Insight (TX); and Lisa Spencer, Ed.D., CETL^®, Technology Training and Multimedia Development Manager, Prince George’s Community College (MD).

Learn more about the CoSN Board of Directors at cosn.org/board.

Learn more about CoSN2026 at cosn.org/cosn-conferences.

Media are invited to attend the conference at no cost. To register, please contact registration@cosn.org.

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

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.

WHAT: A 60-minute webinar hosted by ClassDojo for Districts and Canva for Education introducing a first-of-its-kind, native integration that allows districts to create, manage, and publish on-brand communications across every school.

Built specifically for K–12, this integration connects Canva directly with ClassDojo, enabling educators to design and publish district-approved content in one click — eliminating the need for downloading, re-uploading, or off-brand workarounds.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT / 11:00 AM PT

WHO: The webinar will be led by Victoria Pacchiana, Product Lead, ClassDojo for Districts, Andy Shaw, K–12 Education Sales and Success Lead, Canva and Emily Reynolds, CTO, Pittsylvania County Schools

REGISTER: https://team-classdojo.zoom.us/webinar/register/9617743044508/WN_qfiGiHVFSGGhzGcvKR_Vqg

SAN FRANCISCO, CA | April 2, 2026 — As district leaders face increasing pressure to deliver clear, consistent communication across schools, many are still relying on fragmented tools that make it difficult to maintain a unified district voice.

Teachers, principals, and central office teams often communicate using different platforms, formats, and visual styles — creating inconsistent experiences for families and limiting district oversight.

At the same time, expectations are rising. Districts are being asked to strengthen trust, improve transparency, and ensure communications reflect their identity across every touchpoint.

ClassDojo for Districts and Canva for Education are addressing this challenge with a direct integration built specifically for K–12 systems. By connecting Canva’s design environment with ClassDojo’s communication platform, districts can establish brand standards centrally while enabling educators to create and share polished, on-brand content without adding complexity to their workflow.

The webinar will include a live demo of the integration and perspectives from district and product leaders, including Emily Reynolds, CTO of Pittsylvania County Schools, on how this approach supports communication at scale.

Attendees will learn:

– How districts can centralize brand control while empowering school-level communication

– How the ClassDojo + Canva integration works in practice

– Why this model differs from template libraries or one-off partnerships

– How districts can move from fragmented communication to a consistent, system-wide approach

This session is intended for superintendents, communications leaders, technology leaders, and district operations teams focused on modernizing school-to-home communication systems.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Interested educators can register at:

https://team-classdojo.zoom.us/webinar/register/9617743044508/WN_qfiGiHVFSGGhzGcvKR_Vqg

A recording will be shared with all registrants.

 ClassDojo

ClassDojo is on a mission to give every child an education they love. Used in 95% of U.S. schools, ClassDojo helps teachers and families build stronger school communities through everyday communication. ClassDojo for Districts is a unified communication and engagement platform that brings everyday classroom updates and districtwide messaging into one seamless experience—helping families feel connected, students stay engaged, and school culture grows stronger. It’s built with privacy at its core and available to districts at no additional cost.

# # #

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.