Ransomware attacks on educational institutions slowed in 2025, with 251 incidents reported globally and almost 4 million records breached, while the sector's average ransom demand dropped 33% to $464,000, according to Comparitech. The US had 130 attacks, 9% fewer than in 2024, and some districts, such as Uvalde, Texas, were able to restore systems without paying a ransom. However, the Trump administration's elimination of key federal cybersecurity resources has raised concerns about the vulnerability of financially strapped schools.

Relentless technology creep in schools -- from email to digital platforms to AI-driven tools -- is adding unsustainable stress to teachers and students, Patrice Wade, an elementary-school teacher, writes in this opinion piece. Teachers are expected to rapidly adapt to new digital tools and platforms, often without sufficient training or support and possibly at the expense of student relationships, while instant feedback and ongoing assessments increase students' emotional strain when they're often not developmentally prepared to handle it, Wade says.

Some schools are placing renewed emphasis on keyboarding skills, often as early as kindergarten, because touch typing allows students to focus on content and improve cognitive performance, whereas thumb typing shifts the focus to each letter, says Carol Parker, an instructional coach at Rockvale Middle School in Tennessee. Keyboarding is now considered an essential job skill, so many teachers are integrating it into the curriculum early, either as a requirement or as extra credit.

Teachers should pressure-test technology-integrated lessons to ensure smooth classroom experiences, Crystal Uhiren writes. Uhiren recommends starting with learning objectives, walking through lessons as students would, testing on student devices and identifying potential friction points.

District leaders at the Future of Education Technology Conference discussed how to navigate challenges such as increasing budget constraints, AI integration and declining enrollment. Strategies suggested include creating dual budgets to manage funding uncertainties, developing signature programs to attract students and maintaining a positive school environment. Leaders emphasize the importance of adaptability, community involvement, and a calm, deliberate approach to decision-making.

K-12 education is at a crucial point in integrating AI, which could either modernize schools or worsen existing issues, a report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education finds. The report highlights an "efficiency paradox," where unguided AI adoption might make outdated programs more efficient without addressing students' needs, and the study urges a human-centered approach, emphasizing innovation, personalized learning and collaborative teaching models.

The Level Up Happiness project at Dartmouth College's play2PREVENT Lab is developing digital health games for students with autism with a $755,000 grant from Proof Positive. The accessible games aim to complement existing interventions by homing in on emotional resilience and social confidence, while prioritizing privacy and following strict academic research protocols.

A survey by the Girl Scouts of the USA reveals that girls as young as 5 feel significant pressure to be online, with 46% fearing missing out on social interactions. The survey, which included 1,000 Black and Hispanic girls, highlights that nearly all respondents spend time online daily, with 43% of those ages 8 to 13 online for three or more hours.