The vast majority of K-12 schools have adopted collaboration tools, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now sustained through hybrid and project-based learning models. By 2022, 96 percent of public schools provided digital devices to students who needed them, establishing the hardware foundation required for collaboration. Daily use of digital instructional materials jumped from 28 percent to more than 52 percent.
Despite high adoption rates, many districts face ongoing hurdles. Some large districts still spend less than 3 percent of their budget on IT, leading to reliance on legacy systems. A lack of specialized IT staff in many schools makes managing advanced cybersecurity and hybrid-cloud services difficult.
Many schools also have a fragmented array of collaboration tools, which can sap productivity and create frustration among teachers, students and staff. Schools need a comprehensive strategy for modernizing legacy platforms and standardizing on tools that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.
The Foundational Role of Collaboration
According to a recent report by Infrastructure, the average K-12 classroom used 45 different edtech tools in 2024. The average school district used more than 2,739, more than triple the number in 2018.
These tools encompass more than collaboration. Forward-thinking schools are using gamification, virtual reality and other technologies to create new learning experiences. Adoption of generative AI has been remarkably swift. As of late 2025, 86 percent of education organizations were using generative AI to assist with lesson planning and content creation,
However, collaboration plays a foundational role in education technology. Virtual whiteboards and video conferencing enable students to gain communication skills, work together as teams and connect with experts around the world. Tools such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for Education allow students to edit documents simultaneously and collaborate in real time. Most schools have adopted these technologies but face significant hurdles in moving toward effective, high-impact use.
Technology Challenges in the Classroom
Many districts suffer from a fragmented technology ecosystem, with an array of tools that don’t integrate with one another. Educators suffer from technology fatigue caused by navigating dozens of different logins and interfaces.
The rapid introduction of new tools, particularly generative AI, has outpaced professional development. Teachers overwhelmingly report a lack of time for the planning needed to use these tools effectively. Constant technological shifts also require continuous training and professional development. Without it, digital tools are often underutilized or misapplied, failing to improve academic outcomes.
Districts face increasing pressure to prove that technology is genuinely moving the needle on student achievement. They’re also grappling with increasing cybersecurity risk, and the potential for sensitive information to be leaked via collaboration tools or shared with third-party vendors.
Creating a Robust Collaboration Framework
These challenges cannot be overcome by simply implementing more tools. K-12 schools need to develop a strategic plan for creating a fully integrated, collaboration-rich environment. This starts by assessing the collaboration tools that are in place and determining what upgrades are needed. Schools are rapidly moving from legacy, on-premises platforms to cloud-based United Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) systems.
UCaaS integrates features such as video and chat for greater efficiency and accessibility at lower costs. It facilitates remote education and enhances parent engagement, creating a foundation for improved learning. UCaaS also better prepares schools to support hybrid learning models and adapt to evolving technology demands.
Cerium is here to help schools navigate these challenges and select the best collaboration tools for their environments. We have strong vendor partnerships and deep expertise in the major collaboration platforms, enabling us to provide end-to-end design, implementation and support services. We can also help schools integrate their collaboration platforms with existing tools and workflows. Let us help you create an integrated learning environment that fosters communication and collaboration.
