Schools rethink technology spending |
With federal ESSER funding exhausted in early 2026, K–12 school districts are reassessing technology spending and looking for sustainable ways to maintain the digital infrastructure, devices, and programs expanded during the pandemic. Experts recommend prioritizing technology directly tied to teaching, learning, security, and essential operations, while evaluating products based on their cost per student and measurable value. Districts can supplement their budgets through programs such as E-rate for broadband and Wi-Fi infrastructure, Title IV funding for technology training, and state-level technology grants. Managed services and device lifecycle programs could also help schools control costs, particularly as pandemic-era devices require replacement and smaller IT teams face resource constraints. The broader challenge is shifting technology from dependence on one-time grants to predictable, recurring budgets. IT leaders are being encouraged to demonstrate technology’s role not only in classroom learning, but also in critical operations such as networks, security systems, transportation, and cafeterias, while showing measurable returns on technology investments.
