K-12 Technology News
Here you'll find the latest news from the education technology world, from the newest hardware and software releases to policy and funding updates to research reports to school and district tech initiatives. Looking for more in-depth coverage of important topics? Be sure to visit our Features page.
McGraw Hill and Verizon Innovative Learning have announced new subject offerings and a collaborative feature update to their free mobile augmented reality app, McGraw Hill AR, launched last year. The updates will work both in and out of the classroom.
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/20/23
Blackboard Learn Ultra is gaining new AI capabilities, as well as a host of other new features. The AI features will be rolled into production in September, with testing for Blackboard Learn Ultra clients in August.
A recent study conducted by University of California Irvine School of Education associate professor Jade Jenkins, along with other researchers, showed marked positive outcomes for Black and Hispanic disadvantaged children in the fifth grade who had attended pre-K programs. The study has implications for states such as California providing funding for free pre-K attendance.
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/17/23
Parent Assist Link Solutions has unveiled its new software to assist parents, educators, and providers with early childhood (0-5 years) intervention information and tracking. The software is driven by AI and machine learning digital bots that can work on devices such as Amazon Echo and Apple Watch.
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/17/23
Microsoft has introduced Visual Studio Code for Education, a new computer science instruction platform that takes students beyond beginner coding and teaches them tools used by professional developers. Microsoft is inviting educators to join the pilot program, try it out in their classrooms in the 2023–24 school year, and provide feedback.
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/17/23
The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) has announced the GM New Teachers Academy, an initiative to train over 1,300 Black, Latinx, and Indigenous first-year STEM teachers of grades 3 through 12.
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/17/23
D2L has partnered with Copyleaks to bring AI-based plagiarism detection integration to its D2L Brightspace platform.
Specialized Education Services, Inc. has acquired Lattice Educational Services, a California Department of Education nonpublic school program in Sonoma County providing individualized learning opportunities and resources to students with developmental disabilities, according to a news release.
- By Kristal Kuykendall
- 07/12/23
Cloud-based K–12 software provider PowerSchool has signed an agreement to acquire SchoolMessenger from its parent company, West Technology Group, for $300 million and plans to integrate SchoolMessenger’s features with the PowerSchool Student Information Cloud platform, according to a news release.
- By Kristal Kuykendall
- 07/12/23
Movers and shakers in education technology include a new director at Annenberg Institute, new CFO and CRO at GoGuardian, a new CEO at Ellipsis Education, a new chair at Council of Great City Schools, a new CPO at BookNook, and an educator tapped for the NAEP steering panel.
- By Kristal Kuykendall
- 07/12/23