Edtech and Workforce Tech News Roundup - 5/23
- Heather Harman
- May 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Our weekly roundup of education technology, workforce technology, and venture capital news.
The articles in this week's News Roundup highlight the critical intersection of education, workforce readiness, and technological innovation. They underscore the urgent need for data-driven, equitable solutions to address challenges such as student absenteeism, preparedness of recent graduates, and workforce digital transformation. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of strategic edtech deployment—streamlining digital ecosystems, fostering inclusivity, and supporting AI integration—to enhance educational outcomes and workforce development. This is a transformative moment in edtech and workforce tech, where targeted, innovative tools and strategies are essential to closing gaps, improving engagement, and preparing diverse learners and workers for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
How much does chronic absenteeism cost communities? – The economic and social costs of chronic absenteeism is significant. While pervasive across the country, this article focuses on data from California schools, emphasizing that each absent student imposes a burden of over $5,600 on the community, with higher costs associated with suspensions and expulsions. To combat this, there should be equitable, data-driven interventions such as the multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), which tailors resources to students' specific needs. Edtech companies can play a crucial role by providing tools that enable real-time attendance monitoring, personalized engagement strategies, and targeted interventions. These technologies can help identify at-risk students early, deliver customized support, and facilitate data-driven decision-making, ultimately reducing absenteeism and its long-term economic impacts.
Trimming the Edtech Fat: How Districts Are Streamlining Their Digital Ecosystems – During the pandemic, school districts rapidly adopted many edtech tools, leading to inefficiencies and redundancies. As funding decreases and accountability increases, districts are now prioritizing the streamlining of their digital ecosystems by evaluating and reducing tools based on effectiveness, privacy, and alignment with instructional goals. This shift emphasizes strategic planning, stakeholder input, and equity considerations, including AI capabilities and accessibility features. For edtech companies, this evolving market presents both challenges and opportunities: districts will seek more targeted, cost-effective solutions with clear impact, emphasizing interoperability, privacy, and user engagement. Companies that can demonstrate value, align with educational priorities, and support district efforts to optimize their edtech stacks will have a competitive advantage in this more deliberate and impact-focused environment.
Over half of hiring managers say recent grads are unprepared for the workforce – There is widespread concern among hiring managers about the preparedness, professionalism, and engagement of recent graduates, particularly from Generation Z. Many feel unprepared for workplace norms, struggle with motivation, professionalism, time management, and excessive phone use, leading to high turnover and difficulty integrating these employees. To address these issues, edtech and workforce development companies can develop targeted training programs focusing on professional skills, workplace etiquette, time management, and digital professionalism. Additionally, creating structured onboarding platforms, mentorship programs, and soft skills development modules can help new hires transition smoothly, improve workplace behavior, and foster a sense of belonging, ultimately enhancing their productivity and retention.
Prepare Workforce for Digital Change – Manufacturers in North America are rapidly adopting AI, robotics, and automation, but workforce readiness remains a major challenge, particularly for frontline workers and managers who need new skills to thrive amid digital transformation. Edtech and workforce development companies can play a vital role by creating accessible, on-the-job learning solutions that focus on soft skills, technical upskilling, and leadership development. Strategies such as mobile-friendly, bite-sized training modules, personalized AI-driven content, and integrating learning into daily workflows can help frontline employees adapt quickly without disrupting operations. Additionally, supporting managers as coaches and fostering a culture of continuous learning and recognition can enhance retention and productivity. By providing scalable, engaging, and real-time learning tools, edtech firms can help bridge the skills gap, empower workers, and accelerate organizational transformation.
Vulnerable Students See College On-Ramps Pull Away – Summer bridge programs are traditionally designed to support underrepresented and first-generation students in transitioning to college, but they are facing significant challenges amid political and regulatory pressures that discourage diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Many institutions are quietly de-emphasizing targeted support, broadening program eligibility, or eliminating these programs altogether to avoid conflicts with anti-DEI legislation and federal funding risks. This shift threatens to reverse progress made in closing achievement gaps and supporting vulnerable students early in their college journey. Edtech companies can help by developing inclusive digital platforms that facilitate targeted outreach, personalized onboarding experiences, and community-building tools for underrepresented students. Additionally, edtech solutions can offer scalable, cost-effective virtual transition programs that maintain a focus on equity, ensuring that vulnerable students continue to receive the support they need to succeed.
Education and Training Are Vital for Campuswide Support of AI – The transformative potential of AI in higher education is clear, but it’s important that there is campus-wide support through education and training to successfully implement AI initiatives. Institutions like Arizona State University and the University of Texas at Austin illustrate how offering faculty training and clear guidelines can foster trust and responsible AI adoption. For edtech companies, this presents opportunities to develop comprehensive AI training platforms, ethical guidelines, and support tools that help faculty, staff, and administrators confidently integrate AI into teaching, research, and campus operations. By providing accessible, responsible, and tailored AI educational resources, edtech firms can play a crucial role in enabling higher education institutions to stay competitive and innovative in the AI era.
The integration of edtech and workforce tech is central to addressing today’s most pressing educational and employment challenges. From reducing absenteeism and supporting vulnerable students to streamlining digital ecosystems and upskilling the workforce, technology offers powerful tools to create more inclusive, efficient, and responsive systems. As stakeholders continue to navigate these evolving landscapes, embracing strategic, data-driven, and equitable approaches will be key to unlocking opportunities for all learners and workers in the digital age.