Districts are more selective about edtech tools as they face a budget crisis

Key points:

As districts grapple with mounting financial pressures, a new report notes a noticeable shift in edtech strategy as leaders prioritize impact over volume, demanding stronger alignment with institutional goals.

The eighth EdTech Top 40 report also reveals that K-12 district leaders want evidence of effectiveness and long-term value from every tool they adopt. The report, published by LearnPlatform by Instructure, offers a comprehensive, data-rich snapshot of how K-12 schools across the United States used digital tools, resources and edtech solutions during the 2024-25 school year.

The report analyzed more than 64 billion interactions from 3.7 million students and 546,000 educators across the United States and provides a comprehensive view of how districts are navigating a crowded and complex educational technology landscape.

Since the surge in edtech adoption in 2020, engagement levels have continued to grow at a steady pace. The report found that districts accessed an average of 2,982 distinct edtech tools annually–a nearly 9 percent year-over-year increase–highlighting ongoing challenges related to tool sprawl and duplication.

On average, districts saw students access 1,165 tools and teachers access 1,045 tools each month. Students used 48 tools over the course of the year, up from 45 the prior year. Educators also saw a modest increase, with 50 tools accessed annually, up from 49 the previous year.

“Districts are under increasing pressure to simplify and optimize their tech ecosystems to maximize value and learning impact while avoiding tool sprawl and staff burnout,” said Melissa Loble, chief academic officer at Instructure. “In this environment of budget cuts, it’s critical to ensure every investment drives real learning outcomes. We’re entering a new era where every tool must prove its value by supporting instruction, improving outcomes and aligning to long-term goals. This year’s EdTech Top 40 reflects that evolution.”

As schools face a defining moment in allocating limited budgets, the message is clear: evidence and alignment must guide edtech decision-making. This is reflected in this year’s Edtech Top 40, which found that 45 percent of the tools in the report have published ESSA research, up from 32 percent last year. ESSA-aligned research provides districts with independently reviewed evidence of a tool’s effectiveness in improving student outcomes, helping education leaders make informed, accountable decisions. The rise in evidence-backed tools signals growing demand for solutions that demonstrate a measurable impact.

Analysis, tools, and reports are compliant with all federal and state student data privacy laws, including FERPA, COPPA, CIPA and PPRA. The EdTech Top 40 is based solely on quantitative analysis of engagement and does not reflect user sentiment, effectiveness, or utility.

This press release originally appeared online.

eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.