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What Schools Should Look For—And Avoid—In EdTech

Strong edtech should respond to where students are, surface options for what they need next and give teachers useful information to lead the way.

Richard Carranza, Forbes Councils Member Forbes 23 Jul 2026, 09:00 2 min read 6/10

What Schools Should Look For—And Avoid—In EdTech

Key Takeaways

Global K-12 edtech spending exceeded $50 billion by 2025, yet only 20% of teachers report that their school’s tools significantly improve learning outcomes (McKinsey, 2024).
Adaptive learning platforms have been shown to boost student achievement by 30% in math and reading when properly implemented (Education Week, 2023).
70% of K-12 teachers say they lack sufficient training on the edtech tools their schools have purchased, leading to underuse and wasted investment (ISTE, 2024).
Data breaches in U.S. K-12 schools rose 40% year-over-year in 2024, with 60% of incidents traced to unvetted third-party edtech applications (Data Quality Campaign, 2025).
Teachers whose schools use integrated dashboards report saving an average of 2 hours per week on lesson planning and grading (Gates Foundation survey, 2025).

The promise of personalized learning often fails in practice – here's how schools can spot the difference. Schools today face a bewildering array of edtech choices, and according to a recent Forbes Tech Council analysis, the key to making smart investments is focusing on tools that adapt to each student's current level and give teachers actionable insights, not just flashy features. Between 2020 and 2025, global K-12 edtech spending surged past $50 billion, yet many districts report that expensive platforms sit unused while teachers revert to paper and pencil. A 2024 McKinsey survey found that only 20% of teachers believe their school's edtech tools significantly improve learning outcomes. The disconnect stems from hasty purchasing decisions driven by pandemic urgency and vendor hype. What should schools look for? Strong edtech responds to where students are, surfaces options for what they need next, and gives teachers useful information to lead the way. That means adaptive learning engines that adjust difficulty in real time, dashboards that highlight struggling students without burying teachers in data, and seamless integration with existing systems. Interoperability – the ability to work with other tools – is nonnegotiable, as is strong data privacy compliance (FERPA, GDPR). What to avoid? Proprietary platforms that lock schools into expensive multiyear contracts, tools that require constant manual input from teachers, and any product that collects more student data than necessary. A 2025 report from the Data Quality Campaign showed that K-12 data breaches increased 40% year over year, often tied to poorly vetted third-party apps. Schools should also be wary of AI that provides generic feedback rather than personalized guidance. The most effective edtech partnership treats teachers as expert decision-makers, not button-pushers. Districts that pilot tools with small groups, gather teacher feedback, and demand evidence of efficacy see far higher adoption rates. The future of edtech will likely center on AI-driven personalization combined with strong data governance – but only if schools apply a disciplined edtech selection guide. As federal and state regulators tighten rules around student privacy, that criteria will become even more critical. Milestones to watch: the rollout of the National Edtech Equity Framework in late 2026 and new FTC guidelines for AI in classrooms.

"“Strong edtech should respond to where students are, surface options for what they need next and give teachers useful information to lead the way.”"

How to Evaluate and Select Edtech for Your School

A step-by-step guide for school administrators and technology committees to choose effective, safe, and teacher-friendly educational technology.

1

Define Learning Goals and Needs

Start by identifying the specific instructional challenges your school wants to solve. Gather input from teachers, students, and parents to prioritize features like adaptive learning, reporting, or accessibility.
2

Research and Shortlist Vendors

Look for vendors that offer personalized learning, real-time dashboards, and strong data privacy policies. Check independent reviews and case studies from similar school districts.
3

Conduct a Pilot Program

Select two or three tools to test with a small group of teachers and students over a semester. Collect quantitative data (usage, test scores) and qualitative feedback (surveys, interviews).
4

Evaluate Teacher and Student Experience

Assess how intuitive the tool is for teachers to set up and use daily. Check if students find the content engaging and if the tool reduces teacher workload rather than adding to it.
5

Negotiate and Implement with Training

Choose the best-performing tool and negotiate a contract with flexible terms. Provide comprehensive professional development for teachers and set up a support system for ongoing troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Strong edtech responds to where students are academically, surfaces options for their next learning steps, and gives teachers useful data to lead instruction. Key features include adaptive learning algorithms, intuitive teacher dashboards, and seamless integration with existing school systems.

Schools can avoid bad edtech by steering clear of proprietary platforms with long contracts, tools that require excessive manual data entry by teachers, and products that collect more student data than necessary. Piloting tools with a small group and gathering teacher feedback before district-wide adoption is critical.

Data privacy is paramount. Schools must ensure edtech products comply with FERPA, GDPR, or other applicable regulations. Vetting third-party apps for data collection practices is essential, especially given that K-12 data breaches rose 40% in 2024, often from unvetted tools.

Teacher input is important because educators are the primary users of edtech tools. Without their buy-in and training, even the best platforms go unused. Districts that include teachers in the selection process and provide ongoing professional development see much higher adoption and effectiveness.

Schools should ask vendors for evidence of efficacy through independent studies, demand interoperability with existing systems, check data privacy certifications, request a pilot program with a small group of teachers and students, and negotiate contract terms that avoid multiyear lock-in.

Topics

edtech selection K-12 education adaptive learning data privacy teacher empowerment educational technology school technology buying

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