Topics to Watch in 2026: Math, Tech vs. Offline and AI, Pathways, and More
With a reminder to ask questions and get specific in the new year
At this time of year, it is tempting to jump ahead to what comes next, to wipe the slate— or Smartboard — clean and prepare for the new year. With a turbulent year like this one, that makes sense. Yet, all that happened this year will give context for the year to come.
As a reminder, the current administration kicked off 2025 with $600M in cancelled grants, followed by more federal shifts in the form of RIFs, the one Big Beautiful Bill Act that created uncertainty for K12 education, significant changes at the U.S. Department of Education and yes, more federal grant cuts to close the year. Cell phone bans in schools swept the country, with some evidence of positive impact, and possibly even “saved high school” (we’ll see.) AI use became more prevalent in American’s lives and thus became a factor in schooling, with some focused on the drawbacks and others on readiness. Scores on the Nation’s Report Card continued to decline, demonstrating ongoing challenges with learning for students across the country.
Top Posts for 2025
The three top posts for Education Dispatch reflected these developments, with two out of three related to the landscape shifts driven primarily by federal changes. Two other posts of note, focused on reading and math, reflect attention to “science of reading” and the continued work needed, and a growing interest in a parallel effort for math.
Next Career Move: Teaching: A PSA on how to pursue teaching as a second career for former federal employees or others impacted by current economic shifts.
Math Reform’s Missing Variable: Engagement. A recommendation that states considering policy changes in math acknowledge student engagement as a core component of math learning and instruction.
An Opportunity or An Outrage: Remembering to “Read the Room”. A reminder to philanthropists, policymakers, and others who would like to make positive change that moments of instability call for empathy and efforts to mitigate the challenges of current circumstances, alongside finding opportunities for innovation.
Additionally, building on many of the topics addressed in this Substack, the Fordham Institute Wonkathon entry Harness Parent Power To Boost Literacy Gains provided concrete recommendations to states, districts, and schools on enlisting parents and caregivers as partners in boosting literacy instruction implementation.
Topics to Watch in 2026
Here are the topics that are likely to be critical in K12 education discussions in 2026.
Science of math: There isn’t a commonly accepted catchphrase for it yet, but there is a growing recognition that math would benefit from a shared body of evidence on effective practices, frameworks and resources for school leaders and educators, and the types of policies that have made “science of reading” efforts effective. Expect to see more focus on this topic in policy in the new year.
Tech vs. offline: The tension continues to grow between new tech tools that could support learning and a growing consensus that over-reliance or overuse of some tech, such as smartphones, is causing major issues for learning and connection with other human beings. The use of AI and AI-enabled tools continues to grow broadly across the country and the role of AI in schools and learning will continue to be debated.
Sinking enrollment and financial woes: Declining enrollment in districts, in some cases expected and in others defying district and localities’ prior projections, will prompt financial reckonings for school systems. Expected economic challenges will further exacerbate the funding landscape. How will districts react? Can creative and innovative solutions be developed, or will we see more of the same?
Postsecondary pathways: As states and localities continue to develop stronger approaches to analyzing postsecondary pathways through stronger data collection, connections, and analysis, governments and partners will be more focused on how to develop talent pools and align with high-growth, high-wage industries.
As 2026 progresses, we will check in on what develops in these areas and anything new that emerges in education from a parent and policymaker perspective.
One Unifying Prediction and a Parting Wish
One prediction I am confident of: there will be a lot of breathy takes on the topics above from all sides in 2026, painting with a broad brush and making big assertions.
My parting wish for the new year for you is that you seek out specific perspectives, examples, specific data points, and nuance. Sit down and read a research paper cover-to-cover. Go into a school, notice what you see, and ask questions. Talk to a local policymaker and find out what has not worked out as intended. Ask a parent what is going on with a child in school. Be curious.
And now I’m curious: What topic, area, or question in K12 education deserves more attention in 2026? Leave a comment or send me a note.
Wishing you all the best for an inquisitive new year.