Charter Data Chat 5: Navigating EdTech

Are charter schools suffering from EdTech overload? Discover why app clutter hurts family retention and how simplifying school workflows saves time and money.

Charter schools, the long-celebrated educational innovators of America, are coming head to head with the EdTech explosion. EdTech, short for educational technology, is changing faster than most organizations can keep pace. Aside from the eye-popping price ($30 billion annual spending in 2024 and expect that figure to double in the next decade), EdTech promises to teach children to read, organize school finances, and streamline compliance. Research on the topic of EdTech’s proliferation suggests that the average student is using 48 different apps, with teachers using about 50. 

There’s a paucity of data on how charter schools are using EdTech. While some data suggest that charter schools and CMOs have comparatively more freedom in their utilization of technology compared to traditional school districts, this has not translated into hard numbers comparing the two. But, it stands to reason that charter schools are grappling with the digital age’s demands as well.

EdTech Overwhelm?

Charter schools in particular have to be mindful of the overabundance of apps. With lower per pupil funding, the app subscriptions can kill a budget quickly. Furthermore, individual schools may have CMO mandates for specific apps. There may be no appetite to pull in yet another app when it must go through a national governance structure, not just making its way through a local superintendent’s office. So while it’s clear that charter schools are utilizing EdTech, it’s not clear what direction that will take in the coming years. 

Charter Schools, Families and Technology

While it's tempting to believe every new app will revolutionize education, I think that the clear signal from families is the sheer tech overwhelm. There are too many logins, too many passwords, and the complexity is alienating families. Charter schools, with their flexible opt-in enrollment, have to think about how to retain families. Too much complexity isn’t helping family retention. 

Because charter schools have considerable flexibility in how they utilize technology, I’d encourage all charter school leadership to be very cautious before bringing in a new EdTech product. Compared to a large school system, the resources aren’t there to make big mistakes. When thinking about adopting a new technology, administrators must weigh tradeoffs, examine evidence, and ask for educator and parent feedback.

The Complexity of EdTech in Charter Schools

Technology can be genuinely transformative AND introduce unnecessary complexity. Some EdTech solutions deserve enthusiastic adoption because they remove barriers that keep educators from doing their best work. Others add buttons on a keyboard to an already inefficient process. Educational organizations need to become better evaluators. 

Before adding another application, another subscription, or another login, just ask, is the juice worth the squeeze? The most egregious example of technology creating more work than it removes was the 2024 FAFSA simplification project (that was intended to make applying for financial aid easier). Instead, delays, technical issues, and implementation challenges left students in a worse condition than leaving the FAFSA as it was. But, to counter that disaster, I also remember when in Louisiana, pre-K attendance reporting went from 160+ manual spreadsheets to a digital process. All the charter schools submitting their attendance were thrilled at the switch to a digital product.

Reducing Complexity for Charter Schools

We have got to understand the process we're trying to improve before we reach for another piece of technology. Charter schools especially have to think critically about this in an era of constrained budgets. Root cause analysis and value stream mapping often reveal the real issue in an inefficient workflow. Well, then, fix that workflow instead of bringing in an app! Digitizing a broken process will never fix it, just help us to complete the wrong work faster. Here at Instructional Data Solutions, we have considerable experience working with schools and educational organizations to examine broken processes and simplify them to save time and money. Email hunter@instructionalds.com if this is something you want to chat more about.

Final Thoughts and How to Take Action

How are you navigating EdTech? Do you have too many digital tools but not enough digital clarity? We would love to chat about some solutions there. And if you’ve conquered your digital clutter, then I invite you to join the conversation on social media and share.

About Instructional Data Solutions: Our mission is to remove barriers to enable education organizations to focus on what matters most. We assist school systems and education organizations of all sizes by collecting, analyzing, and clearly communicating data. We are committed to empowering educators through comprehensive data analytics and tailored support. Additionally, we provide dedicated support for operational needs, process improvement, and special projects, offering customized solutions to enhance effectiveness and success. Our solutions bridge the gap between data collection and instructional improvement in PK-12 settings.