In a brand new particular report, EdWeek Market Transient appears to be like in school districts’ largest shopping for priorities over the approaching 12 months, and the forces which might be shaping these selections.
College District Buying Priorities, 2025-26 makes use of authentic survey knowledge and evaluation by EdWeek Market Transient’s editorial staff to present our members insights on what’s across the nook available in the market.
What’s subsequent for faculties and for distributors making an attempt to gauge Okay-12 appetites for his or her services and products? Many college district leaders have informed EdWeek Market Transient‘s editorial staff 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 Okay-12 spending priorities throughout product classes, in addition to ache factors, and elements influencing shopping for selections.
Like previous studies, it’s based mostly on a nationally consultant on-line survey carried out by the EdWeek Analysis Heart. We additionally use different survey knowledge collected over the previous 12 months 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 Okay-12 directors and academics face, and how much messaging from firms appeals to patrons in class techniques.
Moreover, the report appears to be like at how college district leaders assume distributors can assist them handle notably vexing issues—comparable to staffing chaos, and chronic cultural battles enjoying out over curriculum.
Particularly, the report provides EdWeek Market Transient 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 through the present 12 months in numerous product classes – together with core and supplemental curriculum, evaluation, social-emotional studying, gadgets, and extra.
• The extent to which college districts count on to see their spending altered by elements such because the lack of federal stimulus help; inflation; modifications in state funding; and shifts of their scholar enrollment.
• The most important skilled challenges district and faculty leaders and academics face, from challenges with staffing to retaining college students engaged to enhancing their skilled abilities.
• What steps Okay-12 officers consider distributors can take to assist them successfully handle staffing turnover.
• How college districts’ total appetites for particular sorts of ed-tech merchandise are altering.
• The options that directors count on to see in merchandise utilizing synthetic intelligence – centered on college students’ studying experiences, assist for educators, and extra.
• What sorts of messaging about merchandise – round pricing, the usage of knowledge, 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 have to committing to buying a product.
It’s price noting that regardless of the prevailing uncertainty they face in navigating the expectations of faculty districts amid altering market situations, many schooling firms are comparatively optimistic about what lies forward.
Separate EdWeek Market Transient surveys taken of schooling firms have indicated that whereas companies count on robust situations for gross sales over the subsequent 12 months, they foresee a rebound in years two and three.
When you’ve had the possibility to undergo our findings, tell us how they align with what your group is listening to from college techniques.
Obtain the Report
