Technology in Early Education

Being thoughtful about adoption of technology in education can be a difficult task for policymakers across the education spectrum, but for those focused on early education (birth through 3rd grade), it is harder still. A red-hot ed-tech marketplace in education technology has created a feeling of urgency among decisionmakers who are at risk of spending public dollars on products that sit unused, lock districts into specific brands or platforms, or get in the way of promoting the positive, face-to-face interactions with adults that young children need.

How to ensure thoughtful adoption? State leaders will need to encourage collaboration across many sectors that typically sit in silos, including school districts, early learning programs, libraries, museums, afterschool programs, adult education, and health services. Research centers and post-secondary institutions will need to provide insights and expertise to support this collaboration while also preparing a next-generation workforce to execute it.

This policy brief, written for The Progress of Education Reform series published by the Education Commission of the States, argues that technology has an essential role to play as a connector and content disseminator in the service of collaborations in early education—and ultimately in service of the families who are setting the foundation for their children’s success in school and life.

Click here to download a PDF copy of Technology in Early Education.