In a brand new particular report, EdWeek Market Temporary appears at college districts’ greatest shopping for priorities over the approaching yr, and the forces which are shaping these selections.
College District Buying Priorities, 2025-26 makes use of authentic survey information and evaluation by EdWeek Market Temporary’s editorial group to provide our members insights on what’s across the nook out there.
What’s subsequent for colleges and for distributors attempting to gauge Ok-12 appetites for his or her services and products? Many college district leaders have instructed EdWeek Market Temporary‘s editorial group that they’re returning to one thing approaching pre-stimulus-era budgetary norms. However that doesn’t essentially imply that they see the subsequent few years as secure.
College District Buying Priorities 2025-26 is our 4th annual particular report inspecting Ok-12 spending priorities throughout product classes, in addition to ache factors, and components influencing shopping for selections.
Like previous experiences, it’s primarily based on a nationally consultant on-line survey performed by the EdWeek Analysis Middle. We additionally use different survey information collected over the previous yr to discover extra questions that matter to firms, about college districts’ decision-making on services and products, their expectations of distributors, the largest skilled challenges Ok-12 directors and academics face, and what sort of messaging from firms appeals to patrons at school techniques.
Moreover, the report appears at how college district leaders assume distributors may also help them handle significantly vexing issues—equivalent to staffing chaos, and protracted cultural battles taking part in out over curriculum.
Particularly, the report provides EdWeek Market Temporary members intel on the next:
• Whether or not college district leaders anticipate spending extra, much less, or the identical quantities in fiscal 2025-26 as throughout the present yr in numerous product classes – together with core and supplemental curriculum, evaluation, social-emotional studying, gadgets, and extra.
• The extent to which college districts anticipate to see their spending altered by components such because the lack of federal stimulus assist; inflation; adjustments in state funding; and shifts of their scholar enrollment.
• The largest skilled challenges district and college leaders and academics face, from challenges with staffing to holding college students engaged to enhancing their skilled expertise.
• What steps Ok-12 officers consider distributors can take to assist them successfully handle staffing turnover.
• How college districts’ general appetites for particular sorts of ed-tech merchandise are altering.
• The options that directors anticipate to see in merchandise utilizing synthetic intelligence – centered on college students’ studying experiences, help for educators, and extra.
• What sorts of messaging about merchandise – round pricing, using information, adherence to state or native requirements – appeals most to directors and educators?
• How a lot time per week college district leaders spend researching merchandise, and the way lengthy it takes them from figuring out a must committing to buying a product.
It’s value noting that regardless of the prevailing uncertainty they face in navigating the expectations of college districts amid altering market situations, many schooling firms are comparatively optimistic about what lies forward.
Separate EdWeek Market Temporary surveys taken of schooling firms have indicated that whereas companies anticipate powerful situations for gross sales over the subsequent yr, they foresee a rebound in years two and three.
When you’ve had the prospect to undergo our findings, tell us how they align with what your group is listening to from college techniques.
Obtain the Report
