The Future of Education

Stride at 25: Redefining the Digital Learning Ecosystem for Today’s K–12 Learners

digital learning ecosystem

As virtual learning matures and school choice accelerates across the U.S.,the 25th anniversary of Stride Inc. offers a moment to reflect on how far the digital learning ecosystem has come and where it’s headed.. Once known as K12 Inc., the company helped pioneer online education at scale. But in a landscape shaped by evolving…

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Latest

Education & EdTech
Educational Choice Isn’t Enough—Implementation Will Make or Break It

The U.S. education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as more states adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), signaling a broader push toward personalized, parent-directed learning and broader educational choice. With over a dozen states now offering universal ESA programs, debates around school choice have reached a new level of urgency. Throughout 2024, enthusiasm for…

Read More
Education & EdTech
Florida’s Education Evolution: From School Choice to Education Choice

In Florida, education is undergoing a radical shift—not just in who can choose schools, but in how education itself is being delivered. With over 500,000 students now receiving state scholarships and more than 80,000 families engaging in a la carte learning through education savings accounts (ESAs), the Sunshine State is no longer just a…

Read More
Class Disrupted
Generative AI tools Is Taking On the Tedious Tasks—Freeing Teachers to Inspire, Mentor, and Elevate Student Thinking

Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of engagement in education. As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly integrated into academic environments, they’re reshaping what productivity, personalization, and pedagogy look like. According to McKinsey’s research, teachers typically spend 20 to 40 percent of their time on tasks that could be automated with today’s technology,…

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Class Disrupted
AI in the Classroom: Why AI-Powered Personalized Learning Might Not Deliver on its Promise

AI is everywhere—and it’s evolving rapidly. From predictive algorithms to large language models like ChatGPT, artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, communicate, and learn. As schools explore AI in the classroom, educators and researchers are asking: Does AI really understand us? Or are we projecting human-like thinking onto systems that are fundamentally different? The…

Read More
Education & EdTech
A Skills-First Model Without Student Debt: How MedCerts Is Tackling the Healthcare Staffing Crisis With Tech-Driven Training

A growing healthcare staffing crisis is forcing institutions to rethink how the next generation of clinical talent is trained. A study by Mercer and Lightcast, cited by the American Hospital Association, projects that the U.S. could be short of as many as 100,000 critical healthcare workers by 2028. This urgent gap is pushing innovators to…

Read More
Class Disrupted
AI in Education Can Democratize Expertise—But Only If Systems Evolve

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, AI and education are becoming more tightly intertwined. Many teachers and students are experimenting with AI in education, from personalized tutoring tools to automated lesson planning. While traditional edtech tools struggled to deliver on the promise of personalized learning, today’s generative AI appears poised to…

Read More

Latest

human-centered
How Human-Centered Design Led to a Startup Accelerator for Education: A Conversation with Transcend Network’s Co-founder Michael Narea
June 20, 2025

The convergence of human-centered design and education innovation is reshaping how edtech ventures emerge and scale. As AI enables hyper-efficiency and bootstrapped entrepreneurship becomes more viable, the real differentiator is empathy—founders who listen deeply to users before building solutions. A McKinsey study of 300 public companies found that design-led organizations significantly outperformed their peers, with…

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care navigation
AI-Powered Care Navigation Reduces Healthcare Spend and Improves Patient Access
June 20, 2025

The U.S. healthcare system is strained by rising costs, uneven quality, and fragmented care navigation. Employers are bearing the brunt, spending more without always securing better care for their teams. According to the RAND Corporation, one effective strategy is to “change their network and benefit designs to encourage patients to use lower‑priced, higher‑value providers…

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edge computing
Building the Wireless Future: Low-Power IoT, Edge Computing, and the End of the Gs
June 19, 2025

As the global race to 6G heats up, telecom providers, governments, and tech companies are investing billions to advance the next generation of hyperconnected infrastructure. European operators urge regulators to release more spectrum to stay competitive, while U.S. programs like the USDA’s ReConnect have funneled over $1 billion into rural fiber backhaul. Meanwhile, companies like…

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healthcare operations
Healthcare Operations Improve with AI That Unites Data, Automation, and Ethics
June 18, 2025

Generative AI has captured the public imagination, but its most transformative use cases may lie far from flashy consumer tools. In healthcare operations, where complexity, inefficiency, and fragmentation remain persistent challenges, AI is now driving measurable improvements. Research suggests AI-enabled healthcare systems could cut administrative costs by up to $360 billion in the U.S. alone….

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Latest Class Disrupted

generative AI tools
Class Disrupted
Generative AI tools Is Taking On the Tedious Tasks—Freeing Teachers to Inspire, Mentor, and Elevate Student Thinking
May 21, 2025

Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of engagement in education. As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly integrated into academic environments, they’re reshaping what productivity, personalization, and pedagogy look like. According to McKinsey’s research, teachers typically spend 20 to 40 percent of their time on tasks that could be automated with today’s technology,…

Read More
AI in the Classroom: Why AI-Powered Personalized Learning Might Not Deliver on its Promise

AI is everywhere—and it’s evolving rapidly. From predictive algorithms to large language models like ChatGPT, artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, communicate, and learn. As schools explore AI in the classroom, educators and researchers are asking: Does AI really understand us? Or are we projecting human-like thinking onto systems that are fundamentally different? The…

Read More
AI in Education Can Democratize Expertise—But Only If Systems Evolve

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, AI and education are becoming more tightly intertwined. Many teachers and students are experimenting with AI in education, from personalized tutoring tools to automated lesson planning. While traditional edtech tools struggled to deliver on the promise of personalized learning, today’s generative AI appears poised to…

Read More
Classroom AI: Who Should It Serve First—Teachers or Students?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming nearly every sector, and education is no exception. As AI capabilities evolve, tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta have increasingly showcased education as a core use case in product rollouts. But the tools being created often split along a critical divide: are they meant for teachers, or for…

Read More
Mentorship mindset
Class Disrupted
Mentorship Mindset Proves More Effective Than Tech in Boosting Student Motivation
April 18, 2025

The future of education is increasingly shaped not just by what students learn, but how they are supported in the process. As anxiety, disengagement, and mental health challenges continue to affect youth across the U.S., educators and researchers are asking: What truly motivates students to engage and thrive in school? Research suggests that the…

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Tackling All That K-12 Schools Try to Do: The Solutions

As public confidence in major institutions continues to erode, the American K–12 education system finds itself straining under the weight of legacy expectations and modern demands. From grading and college recommendations to extracurriculars and character development, K-12 schools are tasked with a near-impossible mission: to do it all, for everyone. At the same time,…

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What K-12 Education System Tries to Do And Where It Misses

As America reevaluates what its public schools are truly for, new questions emerge about the purpose, performance, and priorities of K-12 education system. A system once centered around teaching the “three Rs” now juggles responsibilities as diverse as social services, values instruction, and community governance. Yet, despite these ambitions, a growing chorus of education…

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Cut Costs, Not Corners for the Future of Higher Education: Redirect Focus to Student Achievement

The landscape of higher education has been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate in recent years. The rising costs of tuition, the ballooning of administrative overhead, and questions about the real value of a college degree have sparked a vital conversation about the future of higher education.  This has sparked discussions among educators,…

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Stacey Childress, Senior Advisor at McKinsey and Company, discusses higher ed
Articles Education Technology
Bold Measures are Needed to Improve Investment in Higher Education
April 12, 2024

The stakes for higher education have never been higher as the educational landscape sees rapid evolution. As universities and colleges grapple with the dual challenges of technological disruption and increasing demands for accessible, quality education, the question of how best to implement investment in higher education becomes a priority. This debate has been ignited…

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Human First: Redefining Intelligence and Self-Actualization in Education

How can education evolve to prioritize human potential and self-actualization over standardized results? In the latest episode of “The Future of Education: Class Disrupted,” hosts Michael B. Horn and Diane Tavenner, along with their esteemed guest Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a Cognitive Scientist, Podcaster, Author, and Coach, explore the transformative power of viewing education…

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Beyond the Acronym: Exploring the Depth of DEI

The world is increasingly driven by the quest for equality and understanding, and the realms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become more than just buzzwords; they have emerged as pivotal elements in shaping the future of education. Yet, as these concepts gain prominence, they also encounter resistance and misinterpretation, leading to polarized…

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Is Apprenticeship the Key to Bridging the Experience Gap in Education?

Apprenticeship could be the perfect solution to moving the needle and bridging the experience gap in education. As education stands at a crossroads between educational reform and workforce development, how can apprenticeship programs revolutionize the approach to equipping the next generation for the evolving job market? In an insightful episode of The Future of…

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Latest FAQs

Personalized Learning
Education & EdTech
Research Supports Personalized Learning’s Potential. Experts Say Not to Launch it Prematurely in Students’ Education.
May 1, 2023

The debate around personalized learning in education has been gaining traction in recent years. A recent survey from consulting firm Tyton Partners shows parents are increasingly advocating to “direct and tailor” their K-12 students’ education experience. As schools look for ways to engage students and improve learning outcomes, the focus has turned towards understanding the…

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Reinventing Education to Help with Student Behavioral Issues

A recent School Pulse Panel study revealed a concerning trend in U.S. education today, student behavior. The data within the study suggests schools are facing substantial behavioral challenges post-pandemic, and they feel they need more strategies to address them. Educator, Author, and Host of The Future of Education, Michael B Horn, said that when he…

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Latest Podcast Epis.

digital learning ecosystem
Education & EdTech
Stride at 25: Redefining the Digital Learning Ecosystem for Today’s K–12 Learners
May 28, 2025

As virtual learning matures and school choice accelerates across the U.S.,the 25th anniversary of Stride Inc. offers a moment to reflect on how far the digital learning ecosystem has come and where it’s headed.. Once known as K12 Inc., the company helped pioneer online education at scale. But in a landscape shaped by evolving…

Read More
Educational Choice Isn’t Enough—Implementation Will Make or Break It

The U.S. education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as more states adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), signaling a broader push toward personalized, parent-directed learning and broader educational choice. With over a dozen states now offering universal ESA programs, debates around school choice have reached a new level of urgency. Throughout 2024, enthusiasm for…

Read More
Florida’s Education Evolution: From School Choice to Education Choice

In Florida, education is undergoing a radical shift—not just in who can choose schools, but in how education itself is being delivered. With over 500,000 students now receiving state scholarships and more than 80,000 families engaging in a la carte learning through education savings accounts (ESAs), the Sunshine State is no longer just a…

Read More
A Skills-First Model Without Student Debt: How MedCerts Is Tackling the Healthcare Staffing Crisis With Tech-Driven Training

A growing healthcare staffing crisis is forcing institutions to rethink how the next generation of clinical talent is trained. A study by Mercer and Lightcast, cited by the American Hospital Association, projects that the U.S. could be short of as many as 100,000 critical healthcare workers by 2028. This urgent gap is pushing innovators to…

Read More
debt-free
Education & EdTech
Debt-Free and Results-First: ACE Is Rewriting the Rules of Higher Ed
May 9, 2025

As student loan debt surpasses $1.7 trillion nationwide, cracks in the traditional higher education model are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Meanwhile, the American College of Education is quietly operating with an approach that flies in the face of convention, where 85% of its students graduate debt-free. What does it take to build a…

Read More
Nontraditional Education Is Outpacing the System With Real-World Skills, Student-Led Ventures, and Community-Driven Networks

Across the country, a growing number of students and educators are taking education into their own hands—literally. As frustration with traditional education mounts, a new wave of entrepreneurial energy is leading to radically reimagined learning spaces. From food forests to fashion start-ups, the classroom looks more like a collaborative studio than a lecture hall….

Read More
Reboot Business Education: Make Lifelong Learning the Default

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and digital skills rapidly evolve, business schools find themselves at a crossroads. Traditional MBA programs and executive education are no longer endpoints but touchstones in a lifelong learning journey. As digital tools and technologies advance rapidly, educational models must keep pace to remain relevant in a changing workforce. Business schools…

Read More
Career Planning Beyond the College Track: How Work-Based Learning Expands Career Options for Students

As debates around the value of college heat up and the demand for skilled workers rises, a growing number of educators and policymakers are rethinking the “college for all” mindset. A 2024 report from Georgetown’s CEW found that many middle-skill jobs—requiring only a certificate or associate’s degree—pay over $53,000 annually early on in a…

Read More
transcript
Education & EdTech
Rethinking the High School Transcript: ETS and MTC Chart a New Path for Student Success
April 30, 2025

In a moment where the traditional architecture of K-12 education is being reimagined, a quiet revolution is underway. As the conversation around durable skills, competency-based learning, and alternative transcripts gains traction, a powerful partnership between Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) signals a bold step forward. With nearly 400 schools…

Read More
Can a Docuseries Change the Way Communities Think About School Infrastructure Reform?

School infrastructure in the United States is in a critical condition. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an estimated 54% of public school districts report needing upgrades or replacements for multiple building systems, such as HVAC, roofing, and structural elements. In a few states (like Idaho), the situation is compounded by laws…

Read More
Will the New Education R&D Bill Spark the Innovation Schools Desperately Need?

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, aimed at revolutionizing how the U.S. invests in education innovation. The bill proposes a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education—akin to DARPA but for schools—within the Institute for…

Read More
Educators Must Combine 1:1 Tutoring with the Science of Reading to Close the Reading Gap

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system faced a seismic shift. Learning loss, especially in foundational literacy, was a national crisis. In 2024, only 31% of fourth graders in the U.S. were reading proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Meanwhile, tutoring exploded as a top strategy to recover…

Read More
Other The Future of Education
Classroom AI: Who Should It Serve First—Teachers or Students?
May 12, 2025

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming nearly every sector, and education is no exception. As AI capabilities evolve, tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta have increasingly showcased education as a core use case in product rollouts. But the tools being created often split along a critical divide: are they meant for teachers, or for…

Read More
Debt-Free and Results-First: ACE Is Rewriting the Rules of Higher Ed
May 9, 2025

As student loan debt surpasses $1.7 trillion nationwide, cracks in the traditional higher education model are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Meanwhile, the American College of Education is quietly operating with an approach that flies in the face of convention, where 85% of its students graduate debt-free. What does it take to build a…

Read More
Nontraditional Education Is Outpacing the System With Real-World Skills, Student-Led Ventures, and Community-Driven Networks
May 7, 2025

Across the country, a growing number of students and educators are taking education into their own hands—literally. As frustration with traditional education mounts, a new wave of entrepreneurial energy is leading to radically reimagined learning spaces. From food forests to fashion start-ups, the classroom looks more like a collaborative studio than a lecture hall….

Read More
Reboot Business Education: Make Lifelong Learning the Default
May 5, 2025

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and digital skills rapidly evolve, business schools find themselves at a crossroads. Traditional MBA programs and executive education are no longer endpoints but touchstones in a lifelong learning journey. As digital tools and technologies advance rapidly, educational models must keep pace to remain relevant in a changing workforce. Business schools…

Read More
Career Planning Beyond the College Track: How Work-Based Learning Expands Career Options for Students
May 2, 2025

As debates around the value of college heat up and the demand for skilled workers rises, a growing number of educators and policymakers are rethinking the “college for all” mindset. A 2024 report from Georgetown’s CEW found that many middle-skill jobs—requiring only a certificate or associate’s degree—pay over $53,000 annually early on in a…

Read More
Rethinking the High School Transcript: ETS and MTC Chart a New Path for Student Success
April 30, 2025

In a moment where the traditional architecture of K-12 education is being reimagined, a quiet revolution is underway. As the conversation around durable skills, competency-based learning, and alternative transcripts gains traction, a powerful partnership between Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) signals a bold step forward. With nearly 400 schools…

Read More
Can a Docuseries Change the Way Communities Think About School Infrastructure Reform?
April 28, 2025

School infrastructure in the United States is in a critical condition. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an estimated 54% of public school districts report needing upgrades or replacements for multiple building systems, such as HVAC, roofing, and structural elements. In a few states (like Idaho), the situation is compounded by laws…

Read More
Will the New Education R&D Bill Spark the Innovation Schools Desperately Need?
April 25, 2025

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, aimed at revolutionizing how the U.S. invests in education innovation. The bill proposes a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education—akin to DARPA but for schools—within the Institute for…

Read More
Educators Must Combine 1:1 Tutoring with the Science of Reading to Close the Reading Gap
April 23, 2025

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system faced a seismic shift. Learning loss, especially in foundational literacy, was a national crisis. In 2024, only 31% of fourth graders in the U.S. were reading proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Meanwhile, tutoring exploded as a top strategy to recover…

Read More