Hi everyone,
This is one of my favorite seasons – the cold air, brisk walks, and the feeling of a blank page just waiting for creativity and inspiration.
As someone who has lived my whole life framed by the rhythm of a school calendar, this part of the year hits differently for our students and teachers, too. Kindergarteners return in January with newfound confidence – skills light years beyond where they were in August. I remember teaching middle school and watching eighth graders come back with a swagger and a grin. Now I’m seeing that same shift in my own son as he starts to think about high school.
Those rhythms are steady and familiar. And at the same time, so much in education is shifting and evolving.
In the last five years, education has lived through the pandemic and its academic aftershocks. We’ve seen AI move from interesting to everywhere, and we’re now in another wave of innovation that’s touching every part of the work, for every one of us – from district leaders and teachers to students and parents. Add a changing federal landscape and it can start to feel like everything is moving at once.
And yet, the task at hand hasn’t changed: we want what’s best for all students, everywhere. One of the most lasting ways to do that is working toward students having access to high-quality instructional materials grounded in research.
This is partly why I love reading everyone’s 2026 predictions. There are so many (I’ve shared my favorites below), and they take time to really take in. This year, I found myself weaving together the common threads across various pieces, and noticing what felt especially relevant to our work at CEMD.
What we’re leaning into this year:
- AI as an accelerating partner: One theme I keep returning to is the idea that AI can supercharge effective humans. While many experts anticipate a continued uptick in AI-powered tools for teachers, we’re also thinking critically at CEMD about the role of AI and the balance between AI and human expertise. This year, I’m excited to share more about how our work is grounded in human-validated data that’s accelerated and enhanced by AI.
- More tools, more need for clarity: Other predictions highlighted the continued influx of new tools, fueled by technology. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing an updated version of the CEMD Curriculum Map (our updated Market Explorer tool). This update will include more districts, wider data, and deeper insights. I can’t wait to reveal more next month.
- Coherent instructional stacks: I also hear trends elevating expanded products and “coherent instructional stacks.” CEMD will continue to track what’s happening on the ground when it comes to instructional materials – and release new insights as they emerge.
On the national front, we have major releases ahead, including updated national ELA and math analyses, that unpack both core and supplemental trends, as well as our first-ever national science report. You should let me know if you want to start talking about assessment.
We’ll also share updated California data later this spring. If you’d like to stay on top of new data, insights, and stories coming out of the Golden State, I encourage you to sign up for our California-specific newsletter.
Lastly, as we head into 2026, I’d love to hear from you: How have CEMD insights been valuable to your work this year? And what do you want more of in 2026? Knowing what resonates helps us get you more of the information you need. Please share feedback with us here!
All the best,
Lora
Prediction pieces to go deeper with:
