Research

SETDA: Cybersecurity Tops Priority List for State Education Leaders

Cybersecurity remains the top ed tech priority for state education leaders, according to the 2024 State EdTech Trends report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association.

• By Rhea Kelly
• 09/11/24

Cybersecurity remains the top ed tech priority for state education leaders, according to the 2024 State EdTech Trends report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association. That's followed by artificial intelligence in second place (new to the top three) and broadband equity in third (down a step from second place in 2023).

In collaboration with Whiteboard Advisors, the organization surveyed state policy-makers — including state ed tech directors, state superintendents and commissioners of education, and CIOs — across 46 states to discern key ed tech trends and priorities.

While state leaders agreed on the importance of cybersecurity, they also noted a lack of funding to support security efforts. The share of survey respondents who said their state provides "sufficient" funds to support cybersecurity was just 8%, down from 19% last year, the survey found.

"While this result may mean that states are not funding cybersecurity efforts in 2024 at the same levels they were in 2023, it may simply reflect shifting perceptions of how much it costs to keep up with the escalating threats school systems face," the report explained. "In other words, last year's 'ample funding' might be this year’s insufficient funding."

Other key findings include:

• 92% of state leaders are seeing increased demand for guidance or policy around the use of AI in the classroom, compared to 54% in 2023;
• 59% said their state has developed guidance on AI in education;
• 14% said they now have a AI initiatives in place (compared to 2% in 2023);
• 85% of respondents took steps last year to improve home broadband and device access for students, with 71% continuing prior efforts and 14% launching new efforts during the 2023-24 school year; and
• Top unmet technology-related needs were home access connectivity (cited by 29% of respondents), funding (22%), cybersecurity (20%), and professional learning for educators to use instructional technology tools (17%).

The full report, including spotlights on individual states doing exemplary work with technology, is available on the SEDTA site.