The Office of Educational Technology (OET) at the U.S. Department of Education plays a pivotal role in guiding schools and districts as they integrate technology into teaching and learning. By connecting policy, research, and practical resources, the Office of Educational Technology aims to raise student achievement, expand access to high-quality digital tools, and support educators as they navigate a rapidly changing classroom landscape. The work of the Office of Educational Technology is built on a clear vision: technology should strengthen learning for every student, empower teachers, and help schools operate more effectively and securely.

Why the Office of Educational Technology matters for teachers and leaders

Educators and school leaders often encounter a maze of tools, standards, and funding streams. The Office of Educational Technology helps simplify this landscape by publishing guidance, evaluating new technologies, and promoting practices that are evidence-based and scalable. Through the Office of Educational Technology, districts gain access to resources designed to improve instruction, support data-informed decision‑making, and foster collaborative networks among schools. When schools adopt the recommendations of the Office of Educational Technology, they are better positioned to select technologies that align with learning goals, student needs, and local contexts.

Digital equity and access: closing the opportunity gap

One of the core responsibilities of the Office of Educational Technology is advancing digital equity. This means ensuring that every student can participate fully in technology-enabled learning, regardless of where they live or what their background might be. The Office of Educational Technology emphasizes strategies to provide devices and reliable broadband, but it also frames digital equity as an issue of content accessibility and inclusive design. In practice, this translates into:

• Providing affordable or co‑funded devices and high-speed internet in underserved communities.
• Promoting accessible digital content that meets universal design for learning (UDL) principles.
• Supporting multilingual resources and culturally responsive materials that reflect diverse student populations.
• Encouraging interoperable systems so that students can seamlessly move between services, apps, and platforms without losing work or progress.

By guiding districts through these considerations, the Office of Educational Technology helps schools create learning environments where technology serves all students, not just a subset. The emphasis on digital equity ensures that the benefits of edtech are shared broadly and that gaps do not widen as new tools emerge.

Privacy, safety, and ethics in technology-enabled learning

With more data being generated through classroom tools, the Office of Educational Technology places a high priority on privacy, security, and ethical use of information. Guidance from the Office of Educational Technology covers how schools protect student data, manage third‑party apps, and maintain transparency with families. The focus is not solely on compliance; it is about creating trustworthy learning environments where students can explore, collaborate, and grow with confidence. The Office of Educational Technology highlights practices such as:

• Clear data governance policies that define who can access information and for what purpose.
• Selection criteria for apps and platforms that emphasize privacy-by-design and data minimization.
• Professional development for staff on recognizing and mitigating risks associated with digital tools.
• Support for developing a culture of digital citizenship among students, families, and school staff.

Through these efforts, the Office of Educational Technology helps districts build what some call a Trusted Learning Environment, where safety and innovation are balanced to support learning outcomes.

Policy guidance and the National Education Technology Plan

The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) provides the strategic framework for how technology can support modern learning across the country. The Office of Educational Technology leads updates to NETP, drawing on research, practitioner experience, and stakeholder input. The plan outlines ambitious but attainable goals—improving digital literacy, expanding the use of data to improve instruction, and promoting equitable access to high-quality digital resources. By aligning technology efforts with NETP, the Office of Educational Technology helps schools align their local initiatives with nationwide priorities, ensuring that investments yield meaningful and measurable results.

Beyond NETP, the Office of Educational Technology issues policy guidance on interoperability standards, open educational resources (OER), and scalable pilot programs. This guidance helps districts avoid vendor lock-in, encourages the sharing of best practices, and supports efforts to evaluate impact with consistent metrics. The Office of Educational Technology also emphasizes the importance of equity-oriented procurement that prioritizes open standards and long-term maintenance over short-term savings.

Resources, programs, and capacity building

Educators rely on practical tools and evidence-based resources to translate policy into classroom impact. The Office of Educational Technology curates a range of supports, including:

• Open Educational Resources (OER) and strategies for adopting high-quality, cost-effective digital content.
• Professional development modules that help teachers integrate technology into early literacy, math, science, and other subjects.
• Guidelines for the use of learning management systems, assessment platforms, and assistive technologies to support diverse learners.
• Evidence summaries, case studies, and tool reviews that help leaders compare options and plan for scale.
• Support for state and local education agencies to design, implement, and evaluate technology pilots.

Through these programs, the Office of Educational Technology aims to build capacity at the district level, enabling schools to extend the reach of technology-enabled learning while maintaining a focus on student outcomes.

Measuring impact and accountability

Effective technology adoption requires clear metrics and ongoing evaluation. The Office of Educational Technology advocates for data-informed decision making, aligning indicators with NETP goals and district priorities. Typical measures include student engagement with digital tools, improvement in achievement in core subjects, and progress in digital literacy. In addition, the Office of Educational Technology encourages districts to track teacher instructional practices, the quality of digital content, and the equity of access across schools and subgroups. By collecting and analyzing these data, schools can refine curricula, adjust professional learning plans, and reallocate resources to where they are most needed.

Collaboration, partnerships, and how schools can engage

Implementing technology with impact is rarely a solo effort. The Office of Educational Technology emphasizes collaboration among educators, administrators, families, and community partners. Schools that engage with OET resources often form cross‑district learning networks, participate in pilot projects, and contribute to shared research about what works in diverse settings. Opportunities to engage include attending webinars, reviewing guidance documents, and participating in feedback loops that influence future updates to NETP and related initiatives. The Office of Educational Technology also supports intergovernmental collaboration with state education agencies to ensure coherence between federal guidance and local practice.

Getting started: practical steps for districts

If your district is planning to advance technology-enabled learning, the Office of Educational Technology suggests a practical starting sequence:

1. Ground your plan in NETP principles and the district’s learning goals.
2. Assess digital access and safety needs to ensure a baseline for all students.
3. Choose tools and resources that align with instructional goals, universal design, and data privacy standards.
4. Invest in professional development that builds teachers’ confidence and capability with new technologies.
5. Establish evaluation metrics and a feedback system to measure progress and inform adjustments.
6. Foster community partnerships to broaden access, support, and sustainability.

The Office of Educational Technology can serve as a guiding partner throughout this process, helping districts navigate choices, share lessons learned, and align investments with long-term educational outcomes.

Key takeaways for maximizing impact with technology

• Technology should be a means to improve learning, not a goal in itself. The Office of Educational Technology emphasizes pedagogical alignment and outcomes-driven use of tools.
• Equity and access are foundational. The Office of Educational Technology frames digital equity as both device access and inclusive content that supports all learners.
• Privacy, safety, and ethical use are non-negotiable. Guidance from the Office of Educational Technology helps schools build trustworthy environments for students and families.
• Open standards and OER can expand opportunity. The Office of Educational Technology promotes interoperability and cost-effective access to high-quality resources.
• Continuous learning for educators is essential. The Office of Educational Technology prioritizes professional development that translates into improved classroom practice.

In sum, the Office of Educational Technology serves as a catalyst for thoughtful, equitable, and effective integration of technology in education. By offering policy guidance, practical resources, and a clear vision through NETP, the Office of Educational Technology helps districts design learning environments where students not only consume information but also create, collaborate, and think critically. Schools that engage with these principles—grounded in research and real-world experience—are better positioned to prepare students for success in college, careers, and citizenship in a digital age.