2025-26 Digital Learning Survey Narratives

Jump to a narrative question:

• In what ways can your district improve the use of digital tools and resources...
• In what ways can your district improve its approach to personalized...
• What strategies has your district found most effective in ensuring that digital...
• What strategies has your district found most successful in building and...
• What improvements would you like to see in your district's data privacy and...
• What additional measures could your district take to improve the robustness of...
• What additional strategies could your district implement to better utilize time...
• 1:Upload a copy of your district's current cell phone policy
• What strategies has your district found most effective in fostering...

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (44 responses; 40%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We would like to implement policies to ensure that digital tools are used to enhance and not replace face-to-face teaching using physical materials. Like many districts we are struggling to keep ahead of the AI cheating.

We are a small school where every student has an advisor who supports every student's individual learning plan. Because of our size and student-to-teacher ratio, we do not need to lean on digital tools as heavily as other districts.

We need to get better with "intentional" use of the digital tools to support the classroom in areas we struggle, specifically in enrichment or retention. We want to use AI more effectively to enhance our lessons and student experiences.

Staffing, time, and capacity (22 responses; 20%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Utilize AI platforms to provide the content students require efficiently to allow teachers the time to personalize the learning with authentic inquiry more effectively. Give students the opportunity to progress at their own pace.

We can ensure that teachers have very specific understanding of when it is useful to use digital tools, and ensure that all teachers are able to identify times in their schedule that are most effective for the use of digital tools.

We continue to attend SLATE and other opportunities. This allows teacher leaders (K-8) to collaborate. We have limited time allotted to this with other mandates as well.

Other / mixed (19 responses; 17%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Build skills on how to use technology to enhance learning in innovative ways rather than use technology to replace what could be done with paper/pencil.

Continue professional development for teachers on the appropriate use of technology for learning and not using technology as a placeholder.

Continued focus on AI effectively and appropriately. Utilizing prescriptive programs more effectively.

Professional learning and coaching (15 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

PLC's are taken up with new school initiatives or DPI initiatives making collaboration betweeen the LMC and teachers very limited.

We provide more opportunities for individuals to learn about assistive technology, and coaching on how to use them.

Incorporate AI, ADA compliance & Training, Hybridized Education Options, Digital Formative Assessment Exit Tickets.

Leadership, vision, and change management (3 responses; 3%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Our Library Media Specialist can enhance the collaboration with teachers around assessment. We could work on utilizing technology to support individualize learning plans for students who fall below expectations in reading.

I believe with current implementation of interactive displays education and use of technology will improve. With displays in grades 3rd - 8th, the plan is the install displays in other grades year to year.

Continuous improvement is built into our technology and library plans, which are aligned to the district strategic plan.

Infrastructure and devices (2 responses; 2%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Student voice: Students have newer devices, Staff has newer technology. WIFI Network improvement.

Professional learning and coaching (32 responses; 39%)

Anonymized excerpts:

I think we need to look for opportunities within PLC's to add more value in Professional Learning opportunities. With budgets continuing to tighten up, we need to find low-cost opportunities for professional learning opportunities.

As a district, we provide opportunities for some individualized learning opportunities, but this is not a heavy focus when it comes to PD days. We could emphasize this by including it in PLPs.

We can improve personalized professional learning by offering flexible, data-informed, and teacher-driven digital pathways that support choice, collaboration, and ongoing job-embedded growth.

Staffing, time, and capacity (19 responses; 23%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Our district can improve the approach to personalized professional learning opportunities by exploring current resources and providing time to staff for research and practice using new tools and resources.

Again: it comes down to time and money. We would love to offer more personalized learning for our employees. However: many options can be cost prohibitive for how much they actually get used (MobileMind, as a great example for personalized learning...but...

We have a very ad-hoc approach to PD for staff as it relates to technology. There isn't a bigger picture approach or much research shared.

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (12 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Expand our training opportunities by exploring the available resources and programs for our instructional staff. Conduct surveys to gain insights into their individual preferences and areas for improvement in teaching skills.

We can present more information on different tools that can help support their roles and their planning.

We are just starting to explore the possibilities of using AI to assist with curriculum and instruction

Other / mixed (12 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Communicate the ongoing professional development opportunities and continue to support teachers who pilot such activities and create opportunities for peer sharing

I believe high school grades 9-12 need a little more encouragement to adapt to technological advancements in the classroom.

Our district could improve by offering more technology-focused inservice days.

Equity and accessibility (5 responses; 6%)

Anonymized excerpts:

In our next professional learning plan, we will intentionally integrate professional learning and development for staff around assistive technology and accessible educational materials. Specifically, further or deeper P.D. on tools we already have and oversee.

As stated before, the main thing that we lack is the manpower to train others on digital tools, especially those that include Assistive Technology and Accessible Materials.

Adjust our district's Professional Learning Plan to include professional development on Assistive Technology and Accessible Educational Materials.

Leadership, vision, and change management (3 responses; 4%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Provide opportunities for personalized learning PD for teachers. It is challenging to do this with limited PD time during the year, Act 20 requirements and PD priorities directed by the district strategic plan.

Our district tech committee has this as a goal. We are doing a technology edcamp in January to offer more voice and choice.

Funding and sustainability (35 responses; 48%)

Anonymized excerpts:

To be honest, many of the resources we have purchased over the years were funded using grant funds. I'm unsure how we will be able to update systems, equipment, and programs without new funding in the future.

This is done through meetings with all directors and principals annually with our Director of Business Services. The budget is reviewed through forecast models and presented to the school board annually.

Ensure that the person managing the budget for library and technology have a direct relation to the programs- that they understand the vision and mission and working in a role that implements those.

Leadership, vision, and change management (10 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

This has been challenging with our current budget. We align technology purchasing with our strategic plan and evaluate the use of technology. We use an application process to purchase and align tech resources.

Our library and technology plans are directly aligned to our district strategic plan. "The why" is communicated often so people see how the district's investment in technology and library resources directly impact our students and the district's achievement...

Working with finance department we make sure to have a plan in place to obtain technology and replace technology when needed.

Staffing, time, and capacity (7 responses; 10%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We are constantly utilizing analytic data and staff feedback on tools that they need and are not needed so we can leverage funds for what is most necessary. We also utilize beta tools so they are cheaper or find ways to do things for no cost.

This is a constant struggle. As a smaller district, that is more isolated, we have a difficult time with industry partners and advancing technologies.

Looking to our community for support and student needs. We also partner with CESA 7 to enhance the learning of professional staff in our district.

Other / mixed (6 responses; 8%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Connecting with local colleges and conversation with students.

Consistent line item that is not reduced for other needs

This is a component of our core curricular model.

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (5 responses; 7%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Our five year tech plan that is presented to the school board. We have added so many new resources and have piloted many resources first to make sure they are appropriate for our district, before purchasing.

Annual review of district report cards and other school specific reviews of student performance enable us to determine the effectiveness of current programs and resources.

Our district has found frequent collaboration between the Director of Curriculum and Instruction and the Business Manager to evaluate and shift budgets from paper and/or physical materials to digital platforms to be an effective strategy. Along with a focus...

Communication and community partnerships (4 responses; 5%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We have been working to build our collaboration with outside agencies. We have developed a partnership with Gateway Technical College but are working to grow these collaborative opportunities.

Continue to educate the School Board & community about AI benefits to the educational environment.

Communication with department heads to make sure money is coming from the correct sources.

Communication and community partnerships (51 responses; 74%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Communicating with community members and businesses regarding the activities that are happening at school. This has helped in developing relationships with many different organizations and partnerships for student learning.

Our district builds successful community partnerships to support learning through Youth Apprenticeship experiences for students, having community partners speak to students & staff, student visits to community partner locations.

Parents have shared information through surveys, we've implemented classroom as well as school-wide newsletters, grade level assignment pages online, social media, as well as resources via our school's website.

Other / mixed (11 responses; 16%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Working with CESA 6 to provide Youth Apprenticeship options has been valuable for our students and communities.

We have many high school students utilizing school to work every day, all year long.

We connect with local technical colleges and virtual schools.

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (3 responses; 4%)

Anonymized excerpts:

active in various programs, for example chamer of commerce NARI, etc personal invites to our business advisory council which collaborativley works with out CTE teacher to advice on curriculum, insutry needs, plan experience for students personal invites for...

Reminders to use the resources available for communication like the school app and Remind app.

MMSA seeks out Milwaukee-based non-profits specializing in the identified needs of our school, like partnering with local food banks or transportation services to reduce barriers to attendance and engagement. We also partner with organizations that offer...

Funding and sustainability (1 responses; 1%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Invitation and outreach are big themes in this area. From the little things like going out and about during homecoming week to the big things like hosting programs and community events. When budgeting we take a good look at what we can do locally first for...

Staffing, time, and capacity (1 responses; 1%)

Anonymized excerpts:

TB20 dedicated time during school. Club activities such as theater and tutoring assistance in learning centers.

Equity and accessibility (1 responses; 1%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Consistent communication, translation, involvement of different stakeholders.

Data privacy and cybersecurity (25 responses; 40%)

Anonymized excerpts:

A stronger vetting process for new and existing applications that includes a shift to signing Data Privacy Agreements with vendors. Additional implementation of least privilege access for users in applications.

We would like to see more opportunities provided to deliver training & support to staff about cybersecurity and data privacy best practices. Time is the primary constraint due to other district initiatives.

Increased federal funding, support of eligibility using E-Rate for cybersecurity, state data privacy policies for tools and resouces replacing individual efforts of the SDPC.

Staffing, time, and capacity (14 responses; 22%)

Anonymized excerpts:

*Training provided at least annually to staff via inservice *Training as needed as issues come about *Training to each student before they are able to operate a device.

We need to start a digital citizenship class for all students and staff. We need to continue working on restricting non-educational websites.

Our goal is for staff to have more awareness & that online resources need to be vetted prior to usage.

Other / mixed (9 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Make sure we are compliant and include policies and practices related to the use of AI.

Professional learning and coaching (9 responses; 14%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Review and update policies for new and emerging technologies. Update infrastructure. Create a digital procurement policy that requires vetting of digital resources before adoption.

Ensure instructional coaches have this information, so that they can watch for how data privacy and security practices look in real time and coaching accordingly.

We need to revise and update our policies to ensure they reflect a new technological landscape that includes new and rapidly changing tools with AI.

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (2 responses; 3%)

Anonymized excerpts:

The more tight things are constrained, the less access we have for instruction. This is a constant tightrope to walk.

Requiring a digital citizenship course for graduation. Provide community forums to educate on AI and digital tools.

Infrastructure and devices (2 responses; 3%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Move beyond traditional firewalls to a model where no user, device, or application is trusted by default, regardless of location. Require verification for every access attempt.

Added focus on vulnerability scans for endpoints and network connections to maintain a secure environment.

Infrastructure and devices (16 responses; 30%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Ensuring we have a sufficient budget to update student chromebooks every 3-5 years. These devices do not last as long as we would hope, and we need more frequent updates to these devices to ensure they are usable for students.

Continue to leverage e-rate and local funds to improve infrastructure within all buildings including fiber and ethernet cabling to modern standards to handle increased digital needs.

We are actually doing quite well. There is always more to grow - access points, etc... but overall our infrastructure is stronger than our use.

Staffing, time, and capacity (13 responses; 24%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Increase access point distribution and capabilities. Additional measures are limited by cost. One school in our district is severely limited by the availability of cellular network coverage.

An increased budget to afford higher end chromebooks. We are currently at about 1250 for staff/students. So we are in the gray area. Next ISP RFP would like to go to 2 GB.

Continued work on our higher availability plans. Firewall/Instant link failover, and Air Fiber connection. Proactive analysis of wireless coverage for access point needs.

Other / mixed (10 responses; 19%)

Anonymized excerpts:

There are some areas in our school where wi-fi is not very strong, including our music room, which is used for picture day. It often causes issues with connection. So, improving the wi-fi in those areas would be helpful.

The rural nature of our district means that some students have limited options for high-speed connectivity. Finding a way to expand this would be beneficial.

Providing more consistency across classrooms with regards to tech proficiency.

Equity and accessibility (5 responses; 9%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Financial support to meet the needs to our students. Also, accessibility for our students.

Increase accessibility for students with challenges Dead zones within buildings

Our access points are coming to end of life and we need more of them.

Funding and sustainability (3 responses; 6%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Ensure a solid long range plan for all technology. This will help with budget prioritization and safety/security.

None, as we have no funds available as the state has not kept funding tied to inflation.

Better resources on how to maximize ERate funding

Communication and community partnerships (2 responses; 4%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We are looking to work with Wiscnet to increase our Bandwidth to 100 gbps. We could do better about talking with businesses, non-profits, and government about advocating for better affordability of high speed internet for the community.

Other / mixed (12 responses; 35%)

Anonymized excerpts:

It seems necessary to design the opportunities before designing the space, however there is some space that could be better adapted so teachers would be encouraged to use flexible learning opportunities such as libraries, SmartLabs, and MathLabs

Upgrade the furniture and lighting in the building to create a happier and more comfortable learning environment.

Design better student spaces for learning and improve school schedules to provide more opportunities

Staffing, time, and capacity (11 responses; 32%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Dedicated space and staffing for HS students who have flexible schedules such as a dual-enrollment, work release, etc. to work on those courses at their pace when not scheduled in a traditional classroom.

Professional development for staff to allow students to drive their learning, create spaces & activities outside of the classroom, to allow students who have completed academic requirements to go. Our policy was too large to upload. Here the url

Reviewing our furniture plan to provide more flexible seating options and building in more prep time for teachers to help them to begin to create a more personalized learning environment.

Funding and sustainability (4 responses; 12%)

Anonymized excerpts:

This is a budget issue for us. We could look for grants to better support these efforts.

We have several failed referendums, so we could use upgraded facilities.

Have more budget for flexible seating areas in all schools.

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment (3 responses; 9%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We would love to assign specialized technology resources like virtual reality headsets to a grade-level team or a content area team rather than individual classrooms.

This is not only a financial consideration but a teacher preference. We need to expose our teachers to what flexible spaces can do for instruction.

If we had additional funds available, we would create more learning spaces as we currently use every corner of our building to provide opportunities for our students. If we had more funds available, we would provide more flexible learning opportunities...

Professional learning and coaching (1 responses; 3%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Update furniture in all classrooms to support flexible learning experiences. This is a very low priority when it comes to budgeting and as a result, not all classrooms have this type of furniture.

Infrastructure and devices (1 responses; 3%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We would need additional funding to support the purchasing of these types of materials and infrastructure for students.

Leadership, vision, and change management (12 responses; 33%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Identify teachers who are positive leaders and have them assist in advancing the districts future ready vision. Create a leadership collaborative committee to brainstorm and implement the future ready vision.

Having school leaders that are forward thinking and ready and willing to have these conversations. The leadership starts at the top, and needing to incorporate these discussions into PD days, staff meetings, and regular communications with all stakeholders.

We currently have a new superintendent who is building capacity and culture within the organization among all stakeholders through processes and conversations that he has had with all stakeholders. We are also beginning the process of developing and...

Communication and community partnerships (7 responses; 19%)

Anonymized excerpts:

Most effective strategies include good verbal and written communication to all staff and community. Highly active leaders being seen in the school and community. Highly active teachers and staff being seen volunteering in the school and community.

Milwaukee Math and Science Academy has several academic teams that work collaboratively to advance our district's vision. Our teams work toward our goals for academic goals, but also attendance, technology, behavioral, SEL, community connections, and...

Had meetings bringing in community members asking for their input on what they would like to see in this district.

Other / mixed (7 responses; 19%)

Anonymized excerpts:

We have put a lo of effort into implementing ACT 20 to increase our elementary populations success.

We have a small district so we are able to pivot and able to be flexible to meet educational needs.

The liftoffs pilot, and we launched this year with a focus on future ready students.

Staffing, time, and capacity (6 responses; 17%)

Anonymized excerpts:

When we send teachers to experiences like SLATE and other professional development opportunities they are able to progress the future-ready vision for our district. For example, our staff has been studying AI based on information a team brought back from...

PLC model used with our staff, the Community Conversations process that we held with our community, the district data retreat, and admin retreat.

We are working hard on implementing AI usage with staff that will trickle down to students in the near future.

Professional learning and coaching (4 responses; 11%)

Anonymized excerpts:

PLCs, check-ins, rounding conversations, community conversations, surveys, and feedback about our events.

Discussing goals and future plans during frequent Collaborative Teams (CT) and PD meetings.

Our District effectively fosters collaborative leadership by building shared, cross-functional teams and creating structures like PLCs, coaching, and transparent communication that empower educators to co-design and drive the Future Ready vision. They advance...