In SETDA’s fourth annual State EdTech Trends Report, ed tech directors, state chiefs, CIOs and other education agency leaders in 47 states shared their outlook on priorities and challenges facing K–12 districts.
“From crafting long-term sustainability strategies and responsible AI guidance, to supporting high-quality professional learning and addressing practical but essential issues like device refresh cycles and cybersecurity, edtech directors are proving to be indispensable architects of the modern learning environment,” Julia Fallon, executive director of SETDA, said in the report.
Here are some of the takeaways from the report:
Artificial intelligence Tops the Lists of Priorities
For the first time, AI was listed as both the No. 1 state ed tech priority (ahead of cybersecurity) and the No. 1 ed tech initiative (surpassing cybersecurity and broadband, which were tied for No. 2). States are working on guidance, policies and professional development efforts. They are also overwhelmingly prioritizing data privacy and security in their AI initiatives, with 95% of respondents indicating that their state’s guidance includes information on safety.
Click the banner below to read how AI is transforming education.
States Prioritize Digital Citizenship
While device bans continue to be implemented or debated at the state level, others are focused on promoting responsible use. More than half (60%) of respondents said their state supports digital citizenship efforts, and nearly half have issued guidance on responsible use of technology in classrooms.
Funding Is the Biggest Unmet Need
Pandemic-era funds have expired, and districts are tasked with determining whether to continue funding ed tech initiatives put in place during that time. In this year’s survey, 32% of respondents listed funding as the biggest unmet need, up from 25% last year.
60%
The percentage of respondents who cited a lack of skills and expertise as the top challenge for implementing new automation solutions in their districts
Source: CoSN, “Operational AI in Education: Readiness, Realities, and the Road Ahead,” September 2025
Professional Development, Cybersecurity Remain Areas of Concern
While funding tops the list of unmet needs, educator professional learning and cybersecurity continue to be important for districts. The rise of AI has highlighted the need for more teacher training and advanced cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks posed by the technology.
LumiNola/Getty Images
