The 2024 State Edtech trends survey from SETDA reveals state edtech leaders are increasingly focused on AI but remain concerned about cybersecurity and connectivity issues.
SETDA, a nonprofit organization representing state and territory edtech leaders, recently released its annual state edtech trends report. While there were few surprises in the report, Julia Fallon, executive director of SETDA, says it paints a clearer picture of where edtech is from the perspective of state edtech leaders.
Here are the top 2024 edtech trends that emerged in the report.
1. States Are Issuing AI Policies
AI was the second-biggest priority for state leaders, trailing only cybersecurity. The survey also showed that states are getting more serious about their response to AI.
For last year’s survey, the number of respondents who said their state had developed a guidance for AI in education was a mere 2%. This year that number grew dramatically to 59%. States such as Washington and California led the charge with AI policies, but now more than 20 states have official policies.
Fallon expects even more states to issue guidance by the end of the school year. She notes that these policies need to be flexible. For example, Washington has had several iterations of its policy as AI is evolving.
“It’s not just a static policy. It’s literally going to be an evolving policy as they work through things, or new things come on the scene when it comes to the AI space,” Fallon says.
2. Cybersecurity Remains The Biggest Priority
AI may get more headlines but cybersecurity remains the No. 1 concern among state educator leaders.
“It’s the nerd toast,” Fallon says. “It’s the stuff that the IT folks are really always very concerned about. But unless you’re impacted by a cybersecurity breach or something [similar] you’re probably not thinking about it very much, even though everybody plays a part in mitigation.”
Despite how serious the issue of cybersecurity is, fewer state leaders believe their state is providing sufficient funding to support cybersecurity efforts compared to previous years the survey was conducted.
Fallon says state education leaders should look for areas in which they can support schools and districts in cybersecurity mitigation efforts, particularly rural and underfunded districts. This will look different in different contexts yet may include helping smaller districts contract the work of a cybersecurity specialist or providing support at the state level, she adds.
3. Home Connectivity Remains Top Unmet Need
Home internet connectivity for students and their families was the top unmet need across states. This was followed closely by funding concerns as federal pandemic funds expire this fall.
“People really need to understand why home access is still a thing,” Fallon says. “A lot of people are thinking, ‘Well, the pandemic’s done, or at least mostly over, and we’re all back kind of in the world.’”
As educators well know, internet access for students remains vital as ever for homework, research, communication with teachers and peers, and more. Fallon says educators should continue to reinforce the need to other stakeholders, and state leaders should be reminded of how critical it is to continue providing internet accessibility to students.
4. State Office of Educational Technology Are On The Rise
The percentage of state leaders who reported that their state has an office of educational technology increased by 10 percentage points over the past two years (from 55% to 65%). Fallon says states should continue to add these positions.
“The National Edtech plan, which was launched in January of 2024 by the U.S. Department of Education, recommends that states have an Office of Edtech,” Fallon says. The plan also called for districts to have someone coordinating edtech initiatives.
This head of this office can change because of who is elected governor, so continuity can be a challenge during an election year. Nonetheless, Fallon says the key for these positions to be successful is to provide meaningful individualized guidance to districts rather than any kind of blanket approach, which tends not be applicable in different contexts.