On Wednesday, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released its fourth-annual State EdTech Trends Report, which highlights how state education leaders are navigating the rapid rise of artificial intelligence while contending with post ESSER budget challenges.
The findings underscore how states are emerging as the driving force in setting edtech priorities, from AI guardrails to broadband access. Their decisions will shape how technology supports learning for years to come.
Key Findings
- AI rises to the top: For the first time, AI ranked as both the top state edtech priority and the leading state initiative. States are moving quickly to provide policy guidance, professional development, and even new staffing positions to ensure AI is used responsibly in classrooms.
- Funding pressures intensify: With ESSER funds gone, just 6% of states report having plans to sustain initiatives once supported by federal relief dollars—such as expanding device and internet access—down from 27% last year.
- Device debates take center stage: Three out of four states have adopted or are considering restrictions on student devices during the school day, often citing concerns about mental health and distraction. At the same time, many are pairing restrictions with investments in digital citizenship and media literacy.
- Professional learning is a persistent gap: Educator development continues to be identified as both a major priority and an unmet need. States like Nebraska are testing new statewide models to scale high-quality, low-cost professional learning.
- Cybersecurity remains urgent: Although it slipped to second place, cybersecurity continues to command attention. The share of state leaders reporting minimal funding for cybersecurity risk mitigation more than doubled from 2024 to 2025.
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