K–12 Tech Tactics
Strategies & Insights for Technology Leaders in K-12
10/12/2023
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IT Spotlight

Annual E-rate Survey Shows Majority of Schools, Libraries Want Cybersecurity Services Added

An overwhelming majority of E-rate applicants want the FCC to include cybersecurity services in the program, according to the 14th annual E-rate Trends Report released today by Funds For Learning.

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Ed Tech Research & Trends

NWEA Study: New Intervention Designed to be Easy for All Teachers Helps Secondary Students Struggling the Most

A yearlong study examining the impact of a reading fluency intervention for middle-schoolers shows a "statistically significant" improvement in test scores of the students scoring the lowest at the beginning of the year, according to a report released today by K–12 assessment and research organization NWEA.

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Overall Malware Down Slightly in the Quarter, as Double-Extortion Attacks Increase

Malware in general declined in the second quarter of 2023, according to a new report, even as double-extortion ransomware grew substantially.

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K-12 Technology News

MHEC Agreement Gives Schools, State Agencies Lower-Cost Access to SAS Viya's AI-Powered Analytics Platform

The Midwestern Higher Education Compact has partnered with AI and data analytics provider SAS to allow state education agencies, K–12 districts, and higher ed institutions across 47 states to access SAS' Viya unified analytics platform at a significant discount, the organizations announced today at Educause.

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Registration Open for CISA's 2023 Summit on K–12 School Safety and Security Set for Nov. 1–2

Registration is now open for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's virtual National Summit on K–12 School Safety and Security on Nov. 1–2, 2023, designed for K–12 education leaders and safety stakeholders from local, state, and federal levels, the agency said in a news release.

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New Breakout+ Blends Digital Games with Kit-Based Manipulatives for K–12

Educational games company Breakout EDU has launched Breakout+, an adventure-based, interactive, immersive game resource calling on students to use standards-aligned critical thinking skills and academic concepts.

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ClassLink Updates Learning Analytics, Launches Certifications and Learning Analytics Community

ClassLink is releasing updates to its analytics tools, including a planned merger of Analytics and Analytics+ products by 2024.

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Fast-Charging Station for Schools Supports up to 20 Devices

PowerGistics, which manufactures device charging stations for schools, has announced its new Flex20 Bolt, a fast USB-C to USB-C charging station that can charge 20 Chromebooks, laptops, tablet devices, and more at once.

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Free Digital Lesson Bundle Uses Storytelling to Help Students Pursue Positive Change

The nonprofit organization Creative Visions and Discovery Education have partnered to release a free three-lesson digital bundle to inspire students in grades 6 to 12 to use storytelling and creative arts to help implement positive changes in the world on issues they care about.

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Google Grants $10 Million to Robotics Programs for Middle Schoolers

Google.org, Google's charitable arm, has granted $10 million to two nonprofit organizations to help 300,000 middle school children take part in robotics programs.

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New Caseload Management System Supports K–12 Healthcare Teams

Invo Healthcare has launched a new platform, called Insight, to help K–12 health professionals collaborate with each other to better help students in need.

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Scribbles Integrates with PowerSchool Naviance CCLR eDocs

Scribbles Software and PowerSchool have completed the integration of their products that began in April of this year. The new integration provides users of PowerSchool Naviance CCLR eDocs with an additional 2,000 colleges and universities for sending transcripts and other documentation.

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ViewSonic Completes Android ViewBoard Line with New IFP52-2 Series for Education

ViewSonic has announced a new lineup of ViewBoards for education with its IFP52-2 series of Android-driven devices. The new boards run on the Android operating system and can access the Google Play Store.

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When Does It Make Sense to Move Legacy Technology to the Cloud?

While many districts continue to move to cloud environments due to their collaboration capabilities, scalability, and improved security, sometimes legacy systems can make sense too.

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New & Upcoming K–12 Grants

Ongoing K–12 Grants

  • Inventionland Grants for K–12 Schools

    Sponsor: Inventionland Education
    Award: Funds for Innovation Labs, professional development, and Innovation curriculum (varies by request)
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: Ongoing (rolling)
  • NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants

    Sponsor: National Education Association Foundation
    Award: $2,000 or $5,000
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: Feb. 1, June 1 and Oct. 15 of each year
  • Association of American Educators Foundation Classroom Grant

    Sponsor: Association of American Educators Foundation
    Award: $500
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: March 1 and October 1 of each year
  • Toshiba STEM Project-Based Learning Grants for Teachers Grades 6–12

    Sponsor: Toshiba America Foundation
    Award: Two categories: Up to $5,000 and Over $5,000 
    Number of Awards: Varies
    Application Deadline: For grants up to $5,000, deadline is March 1, 2023, and every three months thereafter; for grants over $5,000, deadline is May 1, 2023, and Nov. 1, 2023
  • Association of American Educators Foundation Teacher Scholarship

    Sponsor: Association of American Educators Foundation
    Award: $500
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: March 1 and October 1 of each year
  • Calm Room Grants for Schools

    Sponsor: Cook Center for Human Connection
    Award: $5,000 matching grant
    Number of Awards: 20 for 2022–23 school year
    Application Deadline: Ongoing
  • CDA Funding for Maryland Early Educators

    Sponsor: The Council for Professional Recognition, Maryland State Department of Education, and Maryland Family Network
    Award: $425 initial online assessment fee; $125 renewal online application fee; $33 for the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program and CDA Competency Standards book
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: Ongoing
  • Edthena Innovation Fund

    Sponsor: Edthena
    Award: Varies based on district size; matching grant
    Number of Awards: Not specified
    Application Deadline: Ongoing (monthly reviews on the 30th of each month)
  • Connect For Success Grants

    Sponsor: Mobile Beacon
    Award: Up to 25 laptops with one year of free 4G LTE high-speed internet each
    Number of Awards: Varies
    Application Deadline: Accepted year-round; awards granted on rolling basis
  • Naiku Innovative Teacher Grant

    Deadline: Ongoing (30 total awards in 2021, with applications accepted until Nov. 1)
  • Sony Grants for Education

    Deadline: Ongoing (grants awarded on a rolling basis)

Upcoming K–12 Events

  • LearningScapes 2023

    October 12–15, 2023
    Chicago
  • Discovery Educator Network's Fall VirtCon 2023

    October 21, 2023
    Virtual
  • Tech Tactics in Education: Data and IT Security in the New Now

    Brought to you by the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal, the 2023 Tech Tactics in Education conference offers hands-on learning, practical tips, and strategic discussions on critical cybersecurity issues and key data infrastructure and practices across K–12 and higher education. Access the latest thinking on current and emerging technology, data, and security trends impacting education institutions, as well as models for implementation, best practices, and strategies for effective technology leadership. If you are a technology leader in K–12 or higher education, data specialist, cybersecurity pro, or other individual charged with technology decision-making on campus, you’ll find valuable information for any experience level, team size, or institution type.
    Nov. 7–9, 2023
    Orlando, Florida

Call for Papers & Proposals

Submit calls for papers/proposals to [email protected].
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Professional Resources

Drones as a Vehicle for Growing STEM? You Bet!

drone icon, podcast icon, THE Journal logo

THE Journal Insider podcast guest Dan Mantz of the REC Foundation – the host of the world’s largest robotics competitions for K–12 schools – shares how their STEM-focused mission is embracing more kinds of computer science and adding curriculum and competitions for “vertical robotics.” Listen to the podcast.

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Testing 1-2-3: See the Nolej AI Interactive Lesson-Builder in Action

THE Journal tested Nolej AI's new software for teachers that automatically turns uploaded documents, audio, video or a website URL into an editable, interactive lesson package with summaries, glossaries, flashcards, and quizzes. Watch on YouTube or read the full report.

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Tech Tactics is packed with the latest information about networking, databases, hardware, developer tools, data security, wireless, virtualization and cloud computing. Targeted toward K-12 IT professionals at the district and school levels, Tech Tactics also offers up project profiles, case studies, interviews and articles focusing on best practices in information technology. It's published twice monthly. Please direct any questions or comments about THE Tech Tactics to [email protected]

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