Takeaways from ISTE 2025

ISTE 25, rebranded as ISTE+ASCD to reflect the joint venture between the merged organization, mirrored the change not only within the parent organization but also in the larger K12 market overall. Given this year’s upheaval in the K12 market, including the unexpected news that the Trump administration decided to withhold nearly $7B promised to the states on July 1 (the middle of the ISTE show), a sense of overall uncertainty about the future expectedly permeated sessions, booth conversations, and networking events. The changes at the federal level are causing ripple effects, not only in K12 schools, but also with vendors that serve those schools and B2B providers that serve those vendors. 

When uncertainty becomes the norm, the question becomes how to weather and grow within this unpredictable environment. As school budgets become increasingly strained, the conversation shifts to fostering relationships that help students, institutions, and organizations. 

Schools are seeking relationships that can help them navigate constrained budgets while still delivering exemplary outcomes for students. As outlined in the analysis provided at the event by EdWeek Market Brief, vendors who can demonstrate ease of implementation, high engagement rates, and verifiable improvements in student outcomes are most likely to withstand budget cutbacks. Additionally, vendors that help schools identify alternative funding sources to replace federal dollars bolster relationships with the institutions they serve.

Similarly, strategic relationships within the provider space deliver long-term value for schools. Much of Compro’s experience at ISTE centered on these types of relationships. Discussions focused on helping publishers and edtech companies reduce overhead expenses and streamline the process of delivering their products to schools. Compro also explored partnerships with other best-in-class organizations, such as Instructure, Seedling Learning, and Ednition, to find ways to augment the work of our respective organizations and expand the edtech ecosystem, providing more value and ease of use to schools, teachers, and students. The Advancing Global EDU breakfast, held at the Mexican Cultural Institute and sponsored by Compro, also highlighted these values and provided organizations with opportunities to explore and brainstorm ways to deepen their collaboration. 

ISTE demonstrated that the path forward in this uncertain landscape isn't about competing for shrinking resources—it's about cultivating meaningful partnerships that create mutual value. When organizations collaborate to streamline processes, share expertise, and leverage each other's strengths, they build resilience that benefits everyone in the education ecosystem. Schools get more effective solutions, vendors achieve sustainable growth, and students receive better educational experiences. Despite the likelihood of continued uncertainty (or perhaps because of it), the organizations that prioritize collaboration over competition will be the ones that thrive. If you're looking to explore how strategic partnerships can enhance your position in the education market, we'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how we might collaborate.