Salwa Muhammad

“The biggest differentiator between thriving and struggling institutions comes down to data plus processes for rapid decision-making. Time has become a precious commodity that institutions can no longer afford to waste.” Most institutions outside the mega-online players simply don’t have the capacity/expertise to unify data in ways that power AI and real-time decision-making. Enter Build–Operate–Transfer partnership: a model that accelerates capability, ensures transparency, and leaves the institution in control. Human Capital Education x Elsmere Education are closing the gap — enabling partners to move faster, own their future, and compete. Grateful to Tawnya Means for the spotlight, and more importantly, for illuminating the enablement gap that higher ed must solve.

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"Tools built for educators must also be built with educators." Check out this important synthesis from bringing 60 K12 math educators together this summer to understand how they are selecting, adapting, and critiquing AI tools for effective learning. Three big points: ① Teachers valued many different criteria but placed highest importance on accuracy, inclusiveness, and utility.  ② Teachers’ evaluation criteria revealed important tensions in AI edtech tool design. ③ A collaborative approach helped teachers quickly arrive at nuanced criteria. Full report at the link in the comments. Huge kudos to Dorottya (Dora) Demszky, Christopher Mah, Helen Higgins, Olivia Wheeler, and others for what you put together! Stanford University Graduate School of Education, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Stanford Accelerator for Learning, GenAI for Education Hub at Stanford University

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I’m excited to share something I’ve been building: k-12.cloud The cost for schools to build, manage, and deploy the software that runs their operations is about to get much cheaper! Introducing, managed infrastructure for K–12 software, automation, agents, and open-weight AI models. K–12 teams are being asked to support more systems, more integrations, more automation, and now more AI — all while protecting data, maintaining trust, and keeping daily operations moving. k-12.cloud is being built to help districts and partners deploy supported environments for K–12 apps, workflow automation, agent-assisted operations, and secure infrastructure management. The first place this comes to life is through psug.pro, where we’re connecting AI-powered PowerSchool SIS support, vetted Pros, and practical workflow automation for the work districts actually need to get done. This is not about replacing people. It’s about giving K–12 teams safer, more supported ways to run the work that keeps schools moving. AI and automation are coming into every district. My belief is they should arrive with governance, support, auditability, and people who understand schools. That’s what k-12.cloud is here to provide. https://k-12.cloud

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Mastering AI: Ethical Implementation for Long-Term Success We discuss how to best use AI, highlighting potential issues like academic integrity, biases, and privacy. We aim to implement AI ethically and effectively for long-term success. Our focus is on ensuring proper AI integration. #AIethics #AIforsuccess #AIintegration #AcademicIntegrity #DataPrivacy #ArtificialIntelligence #AIinEducation #TechEthics #FutureofAI #AIadvocate

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Big news for math education in California! The High-Quality Instructional Materials Learning Partners Coalition celebrates the approval of 64 new math materials that: ✔ Align with the CA Math Framework and state standards ✔ Center equity and access ✔ Support all students—especially multilingual learners and students of color—for deeper learning. Read the coalition’s full statement: https://hubs.la/Q03Sj7JB0 #Math #HQIM #CaliforniaEducation

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This study is very interesting. I would personally say that AI is very helpful to identify trends in qualitative data, analyze data that informs needs, Perform critical mistakes assessment to evaluate performance or business impacts. In my opinion, AI is definitely an enabler for L&D.

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Our Manager of Content and Innovation Thomas Hawkins addresses the misconception that AI can't be used safely in schools while working with districts nationwide on successful implementation strategies. Full Clip:  https://lnkd.in/e6d8Hmjh

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AI is reshaping K-12 education—and leaders are defining what “responsible” looks like. The Playbook for Responsible Use of AI in Education helps district teams harness AI’s potential in an ethical, secure, and purposeful manner. Inside, you’ll learn how to: ✨ Apply the 6 principles of responsible AI 🤝 Engage staff, students & families in policy design 🔐 Protect data and evaluate vendors 🚀 Build AI literacy across your district Lead the conversation on responsible innovation in K-12. 👉 Download the comprehensive guide and start building your framework for ethical AI integration. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eU5wCvyD 

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🚨NEW: Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)'s 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report is now available! This year's report delivers actionable insights with real-world case studies, practical recommendations, and cross-topic analysis. Key Themes: ● Ethical frameworks & trust as non-negotiables ● Equity & access remain critical ● Cultural change > technical change The Bottom Line: Technology alone doesn't drive transformation—people and culture do. Intentional innovation depends on the strength, creativity, and humanity of educators and IT leaders. Download now: https://lnkd.in/ecjshtvK #EdTech #K12Innovation #EducationLeadership #DrivingK12Report Keith Krueger Laura Geringer Stephanie Mitchell King Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D. Jill R. Brown PhD

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"While low student engagement and dosage in edtech is a long-standing issue, Laurence Holt recently gave it a name: “the 5 percent problem.” The term describes the small fraction of students who use a tutoring system or learning technology with enough consistency to show learning gains. More worrisome, Holt argues, is that these are often the same students who would likely succeed anyway, regardless of the technology. For this motivated group, Holt states ‘good ole’ pencil and paper would likely be effective...Focusing on the other 95% is precisely where hybrid human-AI tutoring systems may hold an advantage. By integrating a human tutor, systems like PLUS can focus on reaching the students who fall outside of that motivated 5%." Read more on the recent blog post by Danielle R. Thomas: https://lnkd.in/ew2NBDsV

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What if a federal program could… ✅ Reach 4 out of 5 K–12 students ✅ Cost just 70¢ per student ✅ Deliver a 9-to-1 return on investment ✅ Fund over 100 edtech startups ✅ Introduce AI into classrooms It might sound too good to be true—but it’s not. It’s the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at ED/IES. A new impact analysis from The Study Group shows how smart, targeted investment can drive real innovation in education—with massive reach and measurable results. 📘 Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/eTcSwSdp #EducationInnovation #EdTech #SBIR #K12 #EducationPolicy

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AI's problem-solving capabilities are increasingly evident. Consider rubric creation. A teacher sought to revamp a lesson, but developing a rubric—defining criteria, performance levels, and language—proved time-consuming. With AI, a clear rubric reflecting intended learning outcomes emerged within minutes. More profoundly, this process prompted the teacher to rethink the lesson entirely. The rubric-building transformed into a reflective tool for lesson redesign. #AIinEducation #RubricDesign #LessonPlanning #EdTech

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One thing that’s become very clear working through both the California Math and California ELA/ELD adoption processes: high-quality content alone is no longer enough. Districts are evaluating the full instructional ecosystem around a product: accessibility, digital usability, assessment integration, implementation support, multilingual learner supports, teacher flexibility, and increasingly, how technology fits into classroom instruction without adding more complexity. The expectations for educational products are evolving quickly, and honestly, they should be. It’s pushing curriculum and product teams to think much more holistically about the teacher and student experience, not just what is taught, but how it’s accessed, implemented, supported, and sustained in real classrooms.

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Exciting advancements in AI are paving the way for innovative solutions in K-12 education! If you're an IT admin looking to implement AI securely and ethically, our latest guide is just for you. Learn about enhancing learning, safeguarding privacy, and developing effective policies to ensure a smooth transition. Check it out here: https://okt.to/xYEPMR #Education #ITAdmins #EdTech #ITinEducation #Security #AI

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As AI in K-12 shifts from experimentation to essential infrastructure, is your school data ready to adjust? We are thrilled to announce Project Unicorn’s new Quarterly AI & Interoperability Briefs. Designed for education leaders, these reports provide actionable insights on: ➤ Building Infrastructure: Moving from technical debt to data magic ➤ 2026 Trend Analysis: The real pulse of the industry ➤ Field Reports: Real-world case studies and tools you can use today Don't ignore the signals. Stay ahead of the curve here: https://lnkd.in/ejA69dNn #K12 #AI #Interoperability

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