Administrative/Business Tools


Airtame Partners with Rise Vision on Digital Signage and Emergency Alerts Collab

Hardware-enabled collaboration provider Airtame has boosted its partnership with unified communications software developer Rise Vision to expand K–12 schools’ ability to display emergency alerts and school messaging across Airtame-connected devices, according to a news release.

text reads State of Ransomware 2023 by Sophos and includes figures for recovery costs from the last three years

K–12 Ransomware Attacks Rose 43% in 2022, Encryption Used More Often, Survey Shows

Eight out of 10 K–12 school districts surveyed for Sophos’ 2023 State of Ransomware Report said they were hit by ransomware last year — a 43% increase from the previous year’s results — making the K–12 education sector the most-popular ransomware target in the world in 2022.

New Network Tool Measures Students' Connectivity Off-Campus

The new Digital Equity module, an extension to Lightspeed's Digital Insight network and ed tech analytics platform, provides real-time connectivity and device health data on students’ school-issued devices, enabling school leaders to know when students experience connectivity outages at home — allowing for interventions or assistance before learning outcomes are impacted, the company said.

Chalkboard image with text "movers and shakers" overlaid with company logos of Pearson, United Educators, Centegix, National Math and Science Initiative, BlazerWorks, Mentor, and D2L

People on the Move: Prentice, Ogden-Reese, Irwin, Cluver, Anderson, Myrie, Wilson, Kozyra, Yates, Kelsey, Sowin

Recent leadership and advisory roles announced by education and ed tech organizations include a new CEO at Pearson, a new CMO at D2L, a new COO at Centegix, a new board member at United Educators, a new CEO at National Math and Science Initiative, a new CEO at Mentor, and new special education advisory leaders at BlazerWorks.

Image shows K12SIX logo, the words

K12 SIX Invites Input for 2023-24 Updates to Essential Cybersecurity Protections Series

Cybersecurity nonprofit K12 Security Information Exchange is inviting K–12 IT and network security practitioners to submit their input and feedback for the upcoming 2023–24 edition of the K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections Series of guides for public schools’ risk management efforts.

image shows sample Safety Blueprint digital map of a school building with precise locations and details of every safety and security asset

New Centegix Software Optimizes Incident Response with Dynamic Digital Mapping

Incident response software provider Centegix has introduced a digital mapping solution called Safety Blueprint that provides a “dynamic, multi-layered map of all campus facilities and spaces, including the precise location of all safety assets,” to help district leaders plan better incident management and emergency response, according to a news release.

image shows a graphic in background from the CoSN 2023 State of Ed Tech Leadership survey

Annual CoSN Survey Shows Widespread Lack of Professional Learning Support, Budget Restraints Persist

CoSN’s 10th annual State of Ed Tech Leadership report released this week shows some things remain the same — K–12 technology leaders need more resources to keep up with technological innovations in schools — while priorities since the survey began have shifted remarkably.

Student Success Demands That We All Work Together

Facilitative leadership can help academic communities support success and promote holistic outcomes. The timing for this type of approach is especially important as schools look to re-energize staff, restore trust, and find new ways to support the changing needs of students in today’s post-pandemic learning environment.

LINQ Launches Parent Payment Portal

LINQ has launched LINQ Connect, a new SaaS offering that provides payment processing and other services to allow parents to pay for services like school lunches and field trips.

CISA Releases Toolkit for Bystander Reporting Programs for K–12 Admins

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center have published a new guide to help K–12 schools strengthen their school safety reporting programs with actionable advice for encouraging students and school stakeholders to report potentially unsafe situations.