Lisa Coons Superintendent of Public Instruction | Virginia Department Of Education
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has officially endorsed the EdTech Index during a mainstage session at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, on June 29. This endorsement is seen as a significant move towards aiding educators in selecting educational tools that prioritize student privacy and security.
The EdTech Index, developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), provides access to high-quality digital learning solutions. These solutions are evaluated through research-driven processes by leading education organizations. VDOE stated that this initiative could save educators over 1,000 hours annually, allowing them to focus more on instructional planning and student engagement. ISTE highlighted the importance of school divisions acquiring top-tier educational tools to prepare students effectively for future endeavors.
Calypso Gilstrap, associate director of the Office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation at VDOE, remarked, “The collaboration with ISTE+ASCD reinforces our mission to support educators with solutions that make a difference in the classroom and set students up for future success.” She added that the EdTech Index aids schools in making informed decisions about which educational technology tools to approve for classroom use.
The announcement was well-received by attendees at ISTELive 25, including school leaders, developers, and teachers who appreciated the commitment to adopting student-centered technology.
For further details on the ISTE EdTech Index, visit https://iste.org/edtech-index.