FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025
Media contact: communications@doe.virginia.gov
kenita.matthews@doe.virginia.gov
RICHMOND, VA -- The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) formally supported the EdTech Index during a mainstage session at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, June 29. The support highlights a major step in helping educators more efficiently identify education tools that value student privacy and security.
Developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the EdTech Index features high-quality digital learning solutions vetted through research-driven evaluation by leading education organizations. VDOE noted that by streamlining access to effective tools, the EdTech Index is projected to save educators more than 1,000 hours annually that can be reinvested in instructional planning and student engagement. In its announcement, ISTE also emphasized the value of school divisions procuring top-tier educational tools to ensure students have the best resources available to prepare them for enrollment, enlistment, or employment.
“The collaboration with ISTE+ASCD reinforces our mission to support educators with solutions that make a difference in the classroom and set students up for future success,” said Calypso Gilstrap, associate director of the Office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education. “With the ISTE EdTech Index, we’re helping schools make informed choices about the educational technology tools they will approve for use in the classroom.”
The announcement drew a warm reception from ISTELive 25 attendees, including school and district leaders, developers, and teachers, who applauded the forward-thinking commitment to student-centered technology adoption.
For more information about the ISTE EdTech Index, visit https://iste.org/edtech-index.
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