Edtech and Workforce Development News Roundup - 7/4
- Heather Harman
- Jul 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Our weekly roundup of education technology, workforce development, and venture capital news.
The articles in this week's News Roundup collectively highlight the urgent need for a student-centered approach in education, emphasizing relationship-building, inclusivity, and empowerment. From addressing chronic absenteeism through welcoming environments and personalized engagement to leveraging AI tools for tailored instruction, the focus is on creating responsive systems that meet students where they are. Additionally, expanding awareness of diverse postsecondary pathways and emphasizing soft skills development reflect a broader commitment to preparing students not just academically, but for real-world success. Incorporating student voices in edtech development underscores the importance of authentic collaboration in shaping a more equitable and effective education environment.
When Students Don’t Show Up, It’s Not the Kids Failing. What Schools Should Do – Chronic absenteeism, which has surged notably since the pandemic, signals deeper issues of student disengagement rooted in school culture and external challenges. Addressing it requires more than punishments; it demands creating welcoming, student-centered environments where students feel a sense of belonging, ownership, and trust. Strategies include involving students in shaping school activities, fostering genuine connections through informal conversations, and engaging families through meaningful interactions. These approaches emphasize relationship-building, celebrating student efforts, and providing flexible support. Edtech companies can help solve this issue by developing platforms that facilitate personalized communication, enable student voice and leadership opportunities, support social-emotional learning, and streamline family engagement, all aimed at making schools more engaging and responsive to students' needs.
Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators – Microsoft's recent introduction of AI tools tailored for educators marks a significant advancement in personalized and efficient teaching. With over 80% of educators already using AI for school-related tasks, these innovations facilitate the creation of customized lesson plans, interactive activities, and assessment materials. This development is crucial for education as it enhances engagement, streamlines content creation, and supports differentiated learning. Edtech companies can capitalize on this momentum by developing complementary AI-powered tools, integrating existing platforms with these new features, and offering tailored solutions that address educators' evolving needs in personalized education.
Most Gen Z High Schoolers Feel Unprepared for Life After Graduation – A recent Gallup study reveals that many Gen Z high school students lack awareness of alternative pathways beyond four-year college degrees and feel unprepared to pursue their chosen careers, largely due to limited guidance from parents, teachers, and schools. Both students and their families are most familiar with college and paid employment, while awareness of options like certifications, apprenticeships, military service, or entrepreneurship remains low. Trust is primarily placed in parents and teachers, but their knowledge about emerging job markets and diverse pathways is often insufficient. To address these gaps, edtech and workforce development companies can play a vital role by providing tailored, accessible resources, career exploration tools, and hands-on experiences that empower students, families, and educators to navigate a broader array of postsecondary options confidently and effectively.
Student Success Systems Show Dramatic Impact on Course Failure, Chronic Absenteeism Rates – The GRAD Partnership's new impact report highlights significant reductions in chronic absenteeism and course failure rates in schools implementing comprehensive student success systems, which integrate real-time data, student and family insights, and targeted interventions. These systems have proven effective in addressing post-pandemic challenges, with schools seeing absenteeism drop by 8 percentage points and course failure rates by 11 points over two years. Edtech companies can support these efforts by providing advanced data analytics tools, real-time monitoring platforms, and user-friendly interfaces that facilitate collaboration among educators, students, and families. Additionally, developing scalable solutions for personalized interventions and training educators to leverage these technologies can further enhance student engagement and success, helping schools meet critical graduation predictors and recover from pandemic disruptions.
3 in 5 employers say soft skills are more important than ever – Workforce development companies can play a vital role in helping employers and job seekers adapt to the evolving hiring landscape by focusing on soft skills and AI literacy. They can provide targeted training and upskilling programs that enhance critical skills such as problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and collaboration, which are increasingly valued by employers. Additionally, workforce development firms can assist organizations in implementing holistic, skills-based hiring practices that incorporate objective data and cultural fit assessments, including the use of AI tools. By preparing candidates with both technical and soft skills, these companies help bridge talent gaps, improve hiring outcomes, and support career advancement in a labor market where soft skills are becoming essential for success and faster promotions.
Colin Kaepernick’s Message to Ed-Tech Companies: Let Students ‘Drive the Ideas’ – At the ISTE+ASCD Summit, Colin Kaepernick emphasized that edtech companies should prioritize involving students directly in product development, rather than treating them as afterthoughts. By giving students a voice and fostering authentic, diverse storytelling, edtech tools can better meet learners' needs and unlock their creativity. Companies can learn to build trust early through sustained engagement with students and educators, ensuring their insights shape educational resources meaningfully. Kaepernick’s approach highlights the importance of co-design and active participation to create more effective, empowering educational technologies that truly serve students’ potential and societal advancement.
As we navigate post-pandemic recovery and evolving workforce demands, the themes from this week's News Roundup remind us that education must be flexible, inclusive, and driven by genuine relationships. Edtech innovators, educators, and employers all have a role in fostering environments where students feel valued, supported, and equipped for the future. By embracing these strategies, we can build a more engaging, empowering, and equitable educational system for all learners.